Well, it's become apparent Kim Ng was prescient in leaving -- the writing was already on the wall. Though she successfully brought in some genuine talent that resulted in boosting the Fish into the playoffs, it was her other signings that put the question mark in her future. Her tenure left the Fish pond sadly depleted. She owns that. Now Peter Bendix owns this. He sure seemed uncomfortable in his interview with Kelly Saco last night. He kept looking over his shoulder like a man hiding from a lynch mob. His answers to all her questions were evasive and tentative. His kept using "we" in all his responses, except when he didn't. It was the part about "my vision for the future" and "I have the full support of ownership" that tells me this whole fiasco was his invention. This trade will tell us all we need to know about PB. Still, good to see the guys bounce back last night. Now let's see how Dodgertown treats them.
One thing in Kim's defense: While she was GM for 3 seasons, Jeter ran everything for the first year and really for her first 2 offseasons (she was hired in November of 2020, and he didn't depart until February of 2022). He was behind the Avi Garcia signing, for example. She didn't have full autonomy until Jeter's departure, meaning it was all her for one full offseason (the winter of 2022-23). And all 3 of "her" drafts were run by Jeter's hand-picked VP of Scouting. I'm not denying she made mistakes. She didn't bat 1.000. No GM does. But she didn't exactly have a lot of time to make a long-term mark.
As far as I can see, the only way to fix MLB's systemic and increasingly untenable inequities is too further dilute the value of the regular season by adding several additional "playoff" slots in each league. Deeper playoffs open the door for Cinderellas to win titles and leverage the "just get in" strategy. Fans of the NBA and NHL accept these overtly wink-and-a-nod, money-making machinations by their owners despite long and relatively meaningless regular seasons.
As always thanks for the commentary. Things just keep getting worse. I agree totally with another comment that Bendix was out negotiated. To get back some iffy prospects is bad enough, but to pay most of Arraez salary? I do not see things ever getting better as long as Sherman owns the team. My only hope is that somehow, someone shows up wanting to buy the team who is willing to overpay like Sherman did. Someone with deeper pockets who genuinely wants to win. I know that's not a likely scenario. But for now and the foreseeable future, that seems to the only hope I can hold onto.
Well, it's become apparent Kim Ng was prescient in leaving -- the writing was already on the wall. Though she successfully brought in some genuine talent that resulted in boosting the Fish into the playoffs, it was her other signings that put the question mark in her future. Her tenure left the Fish pond sadly depleted. She owns that. Now Peter Bendix owns this. He sure seemed uncomfortable in his interview with Kelly Saco last night. He kept looking over his shoulder like a man hiding from a lynch mob. His answers to all her questions were evasive and tentative. His kept using "we" in all his responses, except when he didn't. It was the part about "my vision for the future" and "I have the full support of ownership" that tells me this whole fiasco was his invention. This trade will tell us all we need to know about PB. Still, good to see the guys bounce back last night. Now let's see how Dodgertown treats them.
One thing in Kim's defense: While she was GM for 3 seasons, Jeter ran everything for the first year and really for her first 2 offseasons (she was hired in November of 2020, and he didn't depart until February of 2022). He was behind the Avi Garcia signing, for example. She didn't have full autonomy until Jeter's departure, meaning it was all her for one full offseason (the winter of 2022-23). And all 3 of "her" drafts were run by Jeter's hand-picked VP of Scouting. I'm not denying she made mistakes. She didn't bat 1.000. No GM does. But she didn't exactly have a lot of time to make a long-term mark.
As far as I can see, the only way to fix MLB's systemic and increasingly untenable inequities is too further dilute the value of the regular season by adding several additional "playoff" slots in each league. Deeper playoffs open the door for Cinderellas to win titles and leverage the "just get in" strategy. Fans of the NBA and NHL accept these overtly wink-and-a-nod, money-making machinations by their owners despite long and relatively meaningless regular seasons.
Or a relegation system! It'll never happen, but it's fun to think about.
Ahh, your new article! Nice segue!
As always thanks for the commentary. Things just keep getting worse. I agree totally with another comment that Bendix was out negotiated. To get back some iffy prospects is bad enough, but to pay most of Arraez salary? I do not see things ever getting better as long as Sherman owns the team. My only hope is that somehow, someone shows up wanting to buy the team who is willing to overpay like Sherman did. Someone with deeper pockets who genuinely wants to win. I know that's not a likely scenario. But for now and the foreseeable future, that seems to the only hope I can hold onto.
I'm thinking about starting a Go Fund Me to buy the club.
I agree with everything you wrote pertaining to the trade. The Fish
were out negotiated in every way.
Very frustrating to observe. Just
plain incompetence.
Thanks, Bob. Hope you're doing well!