Comments on: M’s looking at USSM-endorsed candidates

By: Jeff Nye

Jeff Nye — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:59:05 +0000

Reposted from another thread on behalf of justinh:

Speaking of trades, doesn’t look like Forst will be making the moves for us.

According to Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News, the A’s assistant general manager David Forst has turned down all interview requests. The feeling is that Forst is expected to take over for Billy Beane as Oakland GM as early as next season.

It has been reported previously that Beane would like to test his Moneyball strategies in soccer. A’s owner Lewis Wolff also owns the San Jose Earthquakes of MLS and Beane may decide to focus his attention on the soccer franchise in ‘09. It is unclear whether Beane will remain involved with the baseball operations.

By: avideo

avideo — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:55:28 +0000

Well IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE SOMEONE WITH SOME NEW VISION IN THE GM’s OFFICE. It can’t happen too soon in my opinion. As a half season ticket holder myself for the past three years, I have frankly lost my usually upbeat enthusiasm for the Mariners this season. As I never went to a Mariners game until 1992, I am unaware of how awful the team was prior to that date. But this year’s team has to qualify as one of the worst ever given their abysmal record.
For whatever it’s worth, I just signed up for half season tickets for the Portland Trailblazers – and I’m not exactly a raving NBA basketball fan. But at least they have a serious shot at the playoffs this coming season.
One can hope for the best after spring training in 2009!

By: Jeff Nye

Jeff Nye — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:17:29 +0000

Why would you still trust Peter Gammons?

He has good contacts, yes, but he says crazy things all the time.

By: gwangung

gwangung — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:16:17 +0000

One should ask. And you can be somewhat persistent at it…But they shouldn’t be the sole targets…

By: msb

msb — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:54:29 +0000

I think I would trust Gammons and his contacts when he says in his most recent blog that Antonetti (and Forst) isn’t coming.

I think most people feel that is the case, as they are so entrenched in their heir-apparent jobs. Doesn’t mean one can’t hope, or ask, though.

By: VictorB

VictorB — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:46:19 +0000

I think I would trust Gammons and his contacts when he says in his most recent blog that Antonetti (and Forst) isn’t coming.

By: scottiedawg

scottiedawg — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:32:05 +0000

In a chat on Baseball Prospectus with Dayn Perry, when asked about the Mariner GM opening, offered Antonetti’s name as the one guy he liked the most and would most like to see get a shot. Let’s hope this engine gathers steam.

By: Teej

Teej — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:16:58 +0000

If anyone wants to get at least a cursory glance at David Forst, check out the Q&A he did with Jonah Keri, ESPN writer, "friend of USSM" and editor of the BP "Baseball Between the Numbers" book. It's a good read.

By: Omerta

Omerta — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:26:59 +0000

Yes please, on any of the four. Armstrong and Lincoln can go a long way in mending open wounds by hiring one of these fine canidates, all of whom seriously depart from Bavasi-isms in their technique.

By: PositivePaul

PositivePaul — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:03:43 +0000

So, they’re looking at them eh? Probably looking at them in the context of “Hey — we have a couple of stat guys already, do we really need more?”

Or it could be they’re indeed looking at them. And laughing at us. “We’d hire one of these folks? HAHAHAHAHAHA Rrrrriiiight…”