1 of 1- APIAD
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News from today
Cards replace Luhnow
"The Cardinals have hired a former member of their front office, Dan Kantrovitz, as director of amateur scouting less than four weeks after Jeff Luhnow's departure to become Houston Astros general manager.
Kantrovitz, 33, had served as Oakland A's coordinator of baseball operations and international operations until contacted last month by Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak.
Drafted in the 25th round as a collegiate outfielder by the Cardinals in 2001 and hired in 2004 as the organization's director of college scouting, Kantrovitz becomes the final piece in a front office that no longer lists a vice president in charge of player development and scouting. Luhnow held those titles until hired by the Astros on Dec. 7.
Kantrovitz possesses a background in analytics fostered as an undergraduate at Brown University, where he starred as a shortstop, and further developed as a graduate student at Harvard, where he earned a master's in statistics.
A graduate of John Burroughs, Kantrovitz assumes amateur scouting responsibilities held by Luhnow since 2005. Those duties include overseeing and coordinating the first-year player draft and may also carry some influence within international scouting. The Cardinals became increasingly reliant on both instruments during Luhnow's term, featuring six players on the World Series roster they drafted and developed since 2005.
Kantrovitz's playing career was curtailed because of a shoulder injury suffered in college. He later left the Cardinals' front office to attend Harvard and joined the A's upon completion of his degree.
Just as oversight of scouting and player development became a vice president level position upon Luhnow's ascendance, the title evaporated upon his departure. John Vuch was promoted to farm director in September 2010 and took control of day-to-day operations as Luhnow's responsibilities skewed more heavily toward scouting.
Mozeliak is now the only executive in baseball operations to hold the title of vice president.
Luhnow's exit created a further ripple in the Cardinals' front office as director of amateur draft analytics Sig Mejdal followed Luhnow to Houston. The Astros on Tuesday announced Mejdal as their first director of decision sciences. Mejdal earned two engineering degrees at Cal-Davis before working at Lockheed Martin and NASA
"
Last edited by APRTW (1/04/2012 11:34 am)
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Re: News from today
Torre to own the Dodger? TLR to take over executive vice president for baseball operations?
"
Joe Torre resigned Wednesday as Major League Baseball's executive vice president for baseball operations to join a group trying to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Torre managed the Dodgers from 2008-10, then retired and joined MLB last February as a top aide to Commissioner Bud Selig. He is joining a group headed by real estate developer Rick Caruso.
"I have made this decision because of a unique chance to join a group that plans to bid for the Dodgers," Torre said in a statement. "After leaving the field, this job was an incredible experience, one that I enjoyed very much."
The Dodgers were put up for sale by owner Frank McCourt in November, five months after the team filed for bankruptcy. Following months of bickering and accusations of mismanagement, an agreement between McCourt and MLB said the team is to be sold by April 30, which coincides with the deadline for McCourt to pay former wife Jamie a $131 million divorce settlement.
Initial bids for the team are due by Jan. 23 with the Blackstone Group, Frank McCourt's investment banker. The price likely will break the record for a baseball franchise, topping the $845 million paid by the Ricketts family for the Chicago Cubs in 2009.
"Joe has a proven track record of fielding winning teams and I am looking forward to our group benefiting from his unique experience," Caruso said in a statement. "I am a lifelong Angeleno; I love this city and have dedicated my career to creating world-class destinations that support this community and foster great customer experiences. Joe and I believe in the Dodgers and Dodger fans and know that together we will foster a winning culture."
Torre, the 1971 National League MVP, was a nine-time All-Star during a playing career from 1960-77, then managed the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals. After working as a broadcaster for the Angels, he managed the New York Yankees from 1996-07 and led them to four World Series titles.
With MLB, the 71-year-old Torre delegated much of the day-to-day work to three senior vice presidents he appointed in March: former Arizona GM Joe Garagiola Jr., former Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng and former Arizona assistant GM Peter Woodfork.
"Joe has been an invaluable resource for me and all of us at Major League Baseball this year," Selig said in a statement. "I understand his desire to pursue an opportunity in Los Angeles. Joe has been a lifelong friend and I know that will continue in the future."
Other potential bidders for the team include:
-Steven Cohen of the hedge fund SAC Capital Advisors.
-a group that includes former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson, former Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals president Stan Kasten and Guggenheim Partners chief executive officer Mark Walter.
-a group that includes former agent and current Chicago White Sox special assistant Dennis Gilbert, talk show host Larry King and Jason Reese of Imperial Capital.
-a group that includes former Dodgers general manager Fred Claire, former Oakland Athletics president Andy Dolich and former Dodgers batboy Ben Hwang, who brought in the financial backers
-former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley.
-a group that includes former Dodgers stars Orel Hershiser and Steve Garvey, and Joey Herrick of Natural Balance Pet Foods.
-Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
Winners of six World Series titles but none since 1988, the Dodgers have been in turmoil since October 2009, when the McCourts separated and Frank fired Jamie as the team's chief executive officer.
Selig installed former Texas Rangers president Tom Schieffer as the Dodgers' financial monitor in April, ruling he must approve any expense of $5,000 or more.
The Dodgers finished third in the NL West at 82-79, had just three sellouts and fell short of 3 million in home attendance in a full season for the first time since 1992."
Last edited by APRTW (1/04/2012 11:34 am)
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Thread Starter- forsberg_us
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Re: News from today
I have to admit when I saw the Torre story, the first thing I thought was that TLR might be next in line for that position.
Can you imagine TLR presiding over a disciplinary review for Nyjer Morgan?
- artie_fufkin
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Re: News from today
"Can you imagine TLR presiding over a disciplinary review for Nyjer Morgan?"
I hate to admit this, but my wife watches that "Baseball Wives" show. One of the women is T. Plush's ex-girlfriend. In the brief moments I've watched, she seems normal. Well, normal relative to Anna Benson.
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Re: News from today
artie_fufkin wrote:
"Can you imagine TLR presiding over a disciplinary review for Nyjer Morgan?"
I hate to admit this, but my wife watches that "Baseball Wives" show. One of the women is T. Plush's ex-girlfriend. In the brief moments I've watched, she seems normal. Well, normal relative to Anna Benson.
T-Plush is enough of a bitch for both for them.
Last edited by APRTW (1/04/2012 1:22 pm)
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Thread Starter- don.rob11
- Édgar Rentería
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Re: News from today
"T-Plush is enough of a bitch for both for them."
winner
- Max
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Re: News from today
I have to admit when I saw the Torre story, the first thing I thought was that TLR might be next in line for that position.
Can you imagine TLR presiding over a disciplinary review for Nyjer Morgan?
[retract: I misunderstood the role for La Russa, and thought it was meant to be with the Dodgers]
Or being GM across town from AP?
The Angles-AP contract is almost sure to be a poor bargain for the last half of it, at least, and if Pujols is still playing baseball at 41 years old, it's far from certain in my mind that it will be for the Angels.
Last edited by Max (1/04/2012 7:21 pm)
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Re: News from today
Torre to own the Dodger?
This one is just a bit odd. Wasn't Torre with MLB when they were forcing the Dodgers owners to sell? To then step in as a potential buyer smells a bit fishy.
- APIAD
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Re: News from today
Torre to own the Dodger?
This one is just a bit odd. Wasn't Torre with MLB when they were forcing the Dodgers owners to sell? To then step in as a potential buyer smells a bit fishy.
I guess it kind of does. I dont know that anyone disagreed with MLB forcing the Dodgers to sell though. If Bud has weight to throw around on the subject you have to think that Torre's ownership group will get the push.
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