The NL West has a few of baseball's longest-tenured general managers and one of the game's newest. Here's what they were saying about the group back when they got their first GM jobs:
Jed Hoyer
“Hoyer, 35, clearly is among the new generation of young general managers who put a great deal of stock in statistics and quantitative analysis, but he's also said to place an equal emphasis on scouting. Perhaps most importantly, he has experience as an assistant GM under baseball's true Boy Wonder, Red Sox ramrod Theo Epstein.” – Chris Jenkins, The San Diego Union-Tribune, October 25th, 2009
Ned Colletti
“Colletti, 50, has a reputation of being an old-school executive, having learned the trade under hard-bitten Giant General Manager Brian Sabean. [Former Dodgers GM Paul] DePodesta, 32, represented the trend of young Ivy League-educated executives who are making their way into front offices.” – Steve Henson, The Los Angeles Times, November 16th, 2005
Dan O’Dowd
“O'Dowd, 41, oversaw the Indians' farm department from 1988 to 1992 and spent six years as the Indians director of baseball operations and assistant general manager. He renounced the final four years of a five-year, $1.5MM contract a year ago to pursue a general manager's job, initially interviewing but coming up short in Baltimore, the organization he worked in for five years before moving to Cleveland.” – Tracy Ringolsby, The Rocky Mountain News, September 21st, 1999
Brian Sabean
“Sabean emphatically said he will have the final say in all baseball matters, which will start this week with the expected changes in the coaching staff after a series of meetings with Manager Dusty Baker. Sabean was hired by [former GM Bob] Quinn as an assistant G.M. and director of scouting and player personnel and made such an impression in rebuilding the Giants' farm system that three teams sought permission to interview him as a G.M., [Managing General Partner Peter] Magowan said.” – Mark Gonzales, The San Jose Mercury News, October 1st, 1996
Kevin Towers
“Bright, personable and a Padre through and through – he was the organization's first-round draft choice in 1982 – Towers looks like a good hire. Any time you believe you have the right prospect in-house, it cuts down considerably on the education process. Kevin knows this organization – and what's needed – as well as anybody. And Towers is a former pitcher. You can talk all you want, but spotting good young arms is what makes a successful general manager.” Nick Canepa – The San Diego Union-Tribune, November 18th, 1995
O’Dowd oversaw the Indians Minor League System as a 19 year old!!
Check your math…
“O’Dowd, 41, oversaw the Indians’ farm department from 1988 to 1992…”
The year is 2010. 1988 was 22 years ago. 41-22=19
I’m not overly familiar with Mr. O’Dowd. Maybe he isn’t 41 as the article states.
He was 41 when the article was published, in 1999. He was born in 1958.
I think he was actually drafted, it’s likely he was playing minor league ball at 19.
Regardless, that post is written really weird. To me oversaw implies supervising in an official position not being around and watching. I guess I can put “oversaw Operation Deset Storm” and “oversaw construction of Comcast Corporate Headquarters” on my resume. Anyway, it’s all good fun.
Well yeah, whatever. Overseeing a minor league system at 30 is still quite impressive… I agree.
What’s a ramrod? Car ramrod?
Sabean should be in charge of the draft and have some say in trades but ZERO control over contracts!
DIE NED!