Quick update before Game 2: Phils have hired former Devil Rays GM Chuck LaMar to fill a new position of "director of professional scouting." This is interesting because LaMar could be another possible GM successor if Pat Gillick retires after '08. LaMar and assistant GM Mike Arbuckle, by the way, used to scout together for the Braves.Just talked to Gillick, and he says LaMar will evaluate pro and amateur players. Tampa Bay didn't win much with LaMar running the show, but it should be noted that he pulled off one of the best heists ever in July '04 when he dealt Victor Zambrano to the Mets for Scott Kazmir. At the time, I was covering Kazmir in double-A, and when the deal went down, nobody could believe it, especially Kazmir. Trust me, Mets fans are still shaking their heads.
Thoughts on LaMar?
2 comments:
Wasn't Steve Phillips the Mets GM at that time? If so, I'd look at the Kazmir deal as more his ineptitude than Lamarr's genius.
Paul W.: Jim Duquette was the Mets' GM. Phillips had already been fired. But I've long contended that the Kazmir trade was spearheaded by the owner's son (Jeff Wilpon) and pitching coach Rick Peterson and encouraged by Al Leiter and John Franco, who, at the time, had a big influence on the Mets' front office, especially Jeff Wilpon.
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