Serious? Smoke screen? Or proving a point?

[pravata]

The lineup for the GM search looks like this so far,

Jim Beattie, former GM of the Expos (1996-2001) and Orioles (2003-05),
Ed Wade, former GM of the Phillies from 1998-2005,
Muzzy Jackson, a former assistant GM for the Reds and current special assistant to the general manager for the Kansas City Royals.

Each interview lasted between 2 and 2 1/2 hours.

On Thursday, the Astros will meet with more GM candidates.
Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has been widely reported to be on the schedule. (I heard they're interviewing 3 today from Tal Smith on the radio, I can't find more names.)

Next week the Astros will interview three more candidates:
current Astros assistant GM Dave Gottfried
current Astros assistant GM Ricky Bennett,
former GM Bob Watson, who currently is serving as the vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball.
Link

McLane, Smith and former president of business operations Bob McClaren sat in on all three interviews, (No Pam?) Link

Robert S. McClaren, President & CEO
Bob McClaren founded McClaren Sports after more than a decade of service to Drayton McLane and the Houston Astros. As the Astros' President of Business Operations, he was responsible for all revenue functions of the team, financial disciplines, customer service, legal affairs, ballpark operations, technology and media relations. He played a leading role in the Astros move to Minute Maid Park in 2000. Before moving to Houston, he was Vice President and General Counsel of McLane Group, LP. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Memorial Hermann Healthcare System - Continuing Care and at Second Baptist Church and is a former member of the Board of Trustees of Houston Baptist University. Bob graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law and received his BBA-Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Link

Ed Wade?  Seriously? Or is Tal Smith trying to prove to the media that there are many people lining up to work for Drayton Mclane?

 

[BudGirl]

Anyone know anything about Ruben Amaro Jr.?

[MusicMan]

Ed Wade?  Seriously?

This was my reaction upon seeing his name.

OF course, anyone who acquires Bobby Abreu for Kevin Stocker can't be all bad.

[pravata]

Anyone know anything about Ruben Amaro Jr.?

I think he might be one of the names that is obligatory when scouting a GM.  He became assistant GM in Phil. in 99 right after he retired.  Since then, the Phil Inquirer notes "He previously had interviewed for GM vacancies with the Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles."  It's hard to tell what he's done, being the assistant.  But he does do a lot of the talking.  Way more than the Astros assistant.  Philly fans hate him, but they are also on the fence about their mothers.

[Noe in Austin]

This was my reaction upon seeing his name.

OF course, anyone who acquires Bobby Abreu for Kevin Stocker can't be all bad.

Ed Wade and Tal Smith are very close, as close as father/son relationship as you can find in the MLB.  Yeah, Randy Smith was where the rumors were flying, but they were off on the name.  It should be Ed Wade.  Wade was with this organization in the late 70s and early 80s that were the highlights of the team's success.  Wade learned under then GM Tal Smith, who was named Executive of the Year in 1980.  Smith was then fired that offseason and Ed Wade quit because of it.  His association with Smith never went by the wayside though and when in Houston, Wade would stay with Gerry Hunsicker, another Tal Smith protoge.

Ed Wade, however, was notorious in Philly (by the fans primarily and some of the media) for being incompetent in evaluating the right mix of players/talent to build a team.  He knew how to make good trades, he knew how to sign good veteran players... he just didn't know how to put together a "team".  That was his knock.

[Noe in Austin]

The lineup for the GM search looks like this so far,
McLane, Smith and former president of business operations Bob McClaren sat in on all three interviews, (No Pam?) Link

Robert S. McClaren, President & CEO
Bob McClaren founded McClaren Sports after more than a decade of service to Drayton McLane and the Houston Astros. As the Astros' President of Business Operations, he was responsible for all revenue functions of the team, financial disciplines, customer service, legal affairs, ballpark operations, technology and media relations. He played a leading role in the Astros move to Minute Maid Park in 2000. Before moving to Houston, he was Vice President and General Counsel of McLane Group, LP. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Memorial Hermann Healthcare System - Continuing Care and at Second Baptist Church and is a former member of the Board of Trustees of Houston Baptist University. Bob graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law and received his BBA-Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Link

Bob McLaren no longer works for the Houston Astros but he most certainly works for Drayton McLane.  The best thing to a right hand man you'll find in a good ol' boys network.  And he was Pam Gardner's boss and mentor.  Pam may not be there, but what she would bring to the table in these interviews is there with Bob McLaren.  A business man all the way and well versed in the needs of customer service.

[pravata]

Ed Wade and Tal Smith are very close, as close as father/son relationship as you can find in the MLB.  ...

And here's a quote from Ruben Amaro Jr.

"I learned a lot from Ed Wade and owe a lot to what he's done for my career. I couldn't have been more fortunate to have worked for him."

Round and round.

[Noe in Austin]

And here's a quote from Ruben Amaro Jr.

"I learned a lot from Ed Wade and owe a lot to what he's done for my career. I couldn't have been more fortunate to have worked for him."

Round and round.

Amaro Jr. may be the candidate that Wade is putting out there in case he's eliminated for Tal Smith to consider.  The more ammo Smith has, the better he'll do for the baseball side of operations in McLane-ville.

[pravata]

The Houstonist Link has it's own review of the GM conga line, and links to our very own solid wall of crap.  Also includes an excellent seperated at birth for the Acting Like a GM Tal Smith. 

[Astroholic]

The Houstonist Link has it's own review of the GM conga line, and links to our very own solid wall of crap.  Also includes an excellent seperated at birth for the Acting Like a GM Tal Smith. 

Exxxxxxxellllllent!   M. Burns

[Astroholic]

Exxxxxxxellllllent!   M. Burns

That link reminded me of another site to waste some precious work time.

http://www.thesimpsonsquotes.com


Still my Fav by far.

Homer: Are you saying you're never going to eat any animal again? What about bacon?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Ham?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Pork chops?
Lisa: Dad, those all come from the same animal.
Homer: Heh heh heh. Ooh, yeah, right, Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal.

[DVauthrin]

The Houstonist Link has it's own review of the GM conga line, and links to our very own solid wall of crap.  Also includes an excellent seperated at birth for the Acting Like a GM Tal Smith. 

if it's a wall of crap, how can it really be solid?

[pravata]

if it's a wall of crap, how can it really be solid?

You're going to have to trust me on this one.

[Andyzipp]

Leave it out in the sun for a couple of days...

[Mr. Happy]

Braun's a rookie, buhe hould have known better. Aomeone hit dot him over that.

[BudGirl]

Braun's a rookie, buhe hould have known better. Aomeone hit dot him over that.

Are you and Fredia becoming a couple?  She seems to have rubbed off on you.

[homer]

Braun's a rookie, buhe hould have known better. Aomeone hit dot him over that.

Your impersonation of Fredia needs some work.

[pravata]

Leave it out in the sun for a couple of days...

Entire civilizations have prospered or declined based on their ability to judge the density of various kinds of crap.  Bet the Houstonist is regretting that link right about now.

[homer]

Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has been widely reported to be on the schedule. (I heard they're interviewing 3 today from Tal Smith on the radio, I can't find more names.)

Three today:

"The Astros met with Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr., Cleveland Indians director of player personnel Steve Lubratich and Cardinals assistant GM John Mozeliak."

Also a rumor of:

"Logan White, a Dodgers assistant general manager in charge of scouting."

http://houston.astros.mlb...mp;fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

[Noe in Austin]

Three today:

"The Astros met with Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr., Cleveland Indians director of player personnel Steve Lubratich and Cardinals assistant GM John Mozeliak."

Also a rumor of:

"Logan White, a Dodgers assistant general manager in charge of scouting."

http://houston.astros.mlb...mp;fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

Looks like a bunch of Tim Purpura lights when he was heir apparent for a GM job back in 2004.  Do they really want to go through a GM rookie going through the learning process of how to make a deal with the veteran GMs?