G ENERAL managers were in the spotlight this past week, thanks to last night’s midnight trading deadline. Their feelings are damaged by insulting trade offers. Their ears burn from taking so many calls. Their fingers ache from dialing so many numbers.
No better time to infuriate 29 of them by ranking the job performances of baseball’s 30 general managers.
1. John Schuerholz, Braves – Banking heavily on the wisdom of recently retired farm-system architect Paul Snyder, Schuerholz built a powerhouse and maintained it consistently. Even the best aren’t perfect. He once traded David Cone for Ed Hearn and twice signed washed-up Mark Davis.
2. Kevin Towers, Padres – Decisive, blessed with terrific eye for talent, managed to keep the defending National League champion Padres in the picture despite trimming payroll.
3. Steve Phillips, Mets – Not just because he made the trade of the year (Todd Hundley for Roger Cedeno and Armando Benitez) at the perfect time (in November, before Hundley could be scouted). Is bold, decisive and has a great feel for which young players to keep, which to trade. Did remarkable Houdini act in ridding Mets of Bernard Gilkey’s contract. Bobby Bonilla? Nobody bats a thousand.
4. Brian Sabean, Giants – Best bargain hunter in the game. Keen eye for talent, but ego in check enough to heavily weigh talent opinions of Dick Tidrow. Uses numbers cruncher Ned Colletti to stretch dollars and tap myriad industry contacts to find any skeletons.
5. Jim Bowden, Reds – A maverick molded in the image of Syd Thrift, Bowden doesn’t have many friends among peers. They resent the way he has a tendency to out-think them. A risk-taker adept at building teams with depth, Bowden isn’t afraid to listen to manager Jack McKeon.
6. John Hart, Indians – Sure would like to have Sean Casey back for Dave Burba, but Hart deserves credit for building and maintaining a powerhouse. Organization was a laughingstock when he took over.
7. Brian Cashman, Yankees – By GM standards, Cashman has a problem with the truth. The problem? He tells it. In the long run that will help him with fellow general managers, agents and players. His absence of ego is another plus. He won’t make a trade for the sake of making one, and has done an excellent job of holding onto young talent.
8. Dave Dombrowski, Marlins – Has done a terrific job of stockpiling young arms in aftermath of dismantling of World Series championship team. Scouts marvel at talent he received for Matt Mantei and Livan Hernandez.
9. Doug Melvin, Rangers – A manager’s dream. Forever mindful of how a new acquisition will fit into manager’s plans. Isn’t afraid to take a risk and is among the most thorough workers on the face of the earth.
10. Gerry Hunsicker, Astros – Stunned the world last season by landing Randy Johnson, which gave Astros chance to win it all. It didn’t work out that way but that wasn’t Big Unit’s fault.
11. Billy Beane, A’s – A former player, Beane understands the importance of acquiring players with drive, not just players with talent. John Jaha was a nice find.
12. Joe Garagiola Jr., Diamondbacks – Has gone far in a short time by mastering the following two words: “Yes, Buck.” Has least power of any GM in the game. Buck Showalter runs the show and Sandy Johnson is his chief confidant.
13. Ed Wade, Phillies – Who’s he? A dead ringer for George Will, only slighter and shorter. Has shown thick skin by not entertaining any trade offers for Curt Schilling, despite Schilling’s on-again, off-again efforts to get out of town.
14. Gord Ash, Blue Jays – Got off to slow start as Pat Gillick’s successor but has had a terrific run of late. The Roger Clemens deal has worked out well. Better yet, the Jays got shortstop Tony Batista and reliever John Frascatore for veteran left-handed reliever Dan Plesac. Second-most one-sided deal of year.
15. Walt Jocketty, Cardinals – Has made some mistakes and hasn’t assembled a decent pitching staff yet, but he did sign Mark McGwire and trade for Fernando Tatis. Had guts to sign J.D. Drew.
16. Dan Duquette, Red Sox – History of picking the right aging pitchers – Bret Saberhagen, Tim Wakefield – is a plus, distance from fans’ wishes a minus. Took too long to address need for more offense.
17. Ron Schueler, White Sox – Highly regarded assistant Dan Evans, in charge of contracts, forms solid tandem with Schueler, who still has scout’s eye.
18. Bob Gebhard, Rockies – Scouts everywhere had a good laugh at his expense when he made his first huge pitcher free-agent signing Darryl Kile, a curveball specialist. Curves flatten out in the thin air.
19. Cam Bonifay, Pirates – He gave up Jose Guillen for Joe Oliver, signed Pat Meares to four-year, $16 million contract and dealt Tony Womack, all bad moves. But he did acquire Brian Giles, Warren Morris and Ed Sprague, all wise pickups.
20. Terry Ryan, Twins – Though it hasn’t yet paid dividends, Chuck Knoblauch trade wasn’t as bad as advertised.
21. Sal Bando, Brewers – Small-market disadvantages can’t be blamed for everything. Brewers should have been able to build a farm system by now.
22. Randy Smith, Tigers – Tendency to want to acquire players he scouted and signed for Padres. Lucked out when banged-up Ken Caminiti turned down $27 million. Gave up on Jose Lima and Pods prospect Mike Darr too soon in separate deals.
23. Jim Beattie, Expos – Classic case of failure to pull trigger: Should have dealt either third baseman Shane Andrews or catcher Chris Widger, knowing one would step aside for Michael Barrett. Didn’t deal either, and Andrews’ value has vanished.
24. Chuck Lamar, Devil Rays – Put team together backward. Signed closer Roberto Hernandez before having a team that has enough leads to protect. Hasn’t traded enough veterans to stock farm system.
25. Frank Wren, Orioles – Jerry Hairston, a terrific young player, is in minors because Delino Deshields is signed through 2001. So is Mike Timlin. Ouch.
26. Bill Bavasi, Angels – Dealt big part of farm system for over-the-hill Jim Abbott, traded J.T. Snow for Allen Watson, gave Tim Belcher $10.2 million. Time to go.
27. Kevin Malone, Dodgers – Has had a brutal year, but he’s too scrappy to stay this unsuccessful forever.
28. Woody Woodward, Mariners – Excellent short game. Good off tee. Solid putter.
29. Ed Lynch, Cubs – Jon Lieber was his big offseason move.
30. Herk Robinson, Royals – Didn’t get anything for Jose Offerman, Dean Palmer or Tim Belcher a year ago even though he knew they all would bolt via free agency. Unforgivable.
