LaCava, and where the O’s go from here

Tony LaCava was classy in his public comments last night, explaining why he turned down becoming the O’s General Manager. MASN’s Kubatko, MLB.com’s Ghiroli, and The Sun each had direct quotes from Toronto’s Asst. GM saying his decision was based upon wanting to stay with Toronto, and nothing that he heard in his discussions with Baltimore.

That speaks well of LaCava, but is also to be expected. Other teams would be taking note of his comments, and if he were to be blasting the O’s as he walked out the door; it would be more difficult for him to obtain a similar interview somewhere down the road.

I readily admit, that while MASN, MLB.com, and The Sun each spoke to LaCava directly, I have not. I know reading a conflicting story to the direct public quotes LaCava made – will be difficult for some to believe. However, I do know people that have a direct line to LaCava, and LaCava told people in private a story that differs from some of the public quotes we saw last night.

LaCava felt low-balled by Peter Angelos, was bothered that Angelos would not budge on a few aspects, and most importantly felt he was being asked to right the ship with Showalter’s plan.

Logically, that all fits.

It surely fits better than the narrative presented that LaCava flew to Baltimore twice to interview for a position he did not want. I had heard Sunday night that LaCava was coming to Baltimore Monday. The understanding from nearly everyone was that a deal was likely to be announced today (Wednesday). Kubatko had a post Monday night / Tuesday morning that LaCava left that Monday interview encouraged, and would take the position if offered. Had LaCava not have wanted the position after meeting with Angelos’, we would not have read that LaCava wanted the position.

Yesterday, with LaCava (or at-least his Agent) still in-town, both-sides tried to orchestrate a deal. For whatever reason you want to believe, the bottom-line is that it did not get done.

So where do the O’s go from here?

You have already interviewed another legitimate option in DeJon Watson. Unlike the initial interview with LaCava, Angelos has already met Watson. Immediately after LaCava’s rejection last night, the O’s should have gone back to Watson and determined if he was still interested. Maybe he would not want to be seen as the ‘fall-back’ option. Maybe he is still willing to come here. Maybe he is also willing to take the job, but would have the same reservations LaCava had that would need to be addressed.

If Watson turned you down, to me you would be left with the following four options:

1) Promote John Stockstill.
2) Promote Matt Klentak.
3) Promote Showalter, and name Russell the Manager.
4) Bring in more external candidates.

Personally, I do not believe that either Stockstill, or Klentak should become the GM. I gave my reasoning against Stockstill here (http://baltimoresportsandlife.com/?p=3148). Klentak is seen throughout the game as a bright young mind. I know he is extremely well regarded with contract negotiation. I know he appeared on that MLB Trade Rumors listing of possible GM candidates. I would prefer him to Stockstill, but I have also heard that he has problems with his communication skills, and delegating to subordinates.

I’d like to see him get additional seasoning I guess.

My preference would be to bring in more external candidates. However, the pace and frequency of these interviews has to increase. MacPhail announced his decision on October 7^th. They interviewed their first candidate (Jerry Dipoto) on Tuesday, the 18^th.

The 11 days in-between MacPhail’s announcement, and that first interview, is now coming back to hurt the O’s. More importantly, between that Oct. 18^th interview with Dipoto, and today – the O’s have only interviewed Dipoto, LaCava, Watson, and Stockstill. Starting Monday Oct. 17^th, the O’s should have interviewed 7-10 candidates by Friday the 21^st. They should have had 2^nd round interviews Saturday, and Sunday the 22^nd, and 23^rd. A decision should have been in-place by Wednesday the 26^th.

Now you have Free Agency starting tomorrow, and the General Manager meetings in two weeks. Due to that, there will be desire from some in the Warehouse to just hand the title to Stockstill and be done with things.

I think the O’s should bring in several more qualified options, and work towards a Tuesday decision.

Some of the names I would like to see considered are:

Thad Levine, Texas Rangers Asst. GM
John Coppolella, Braves Director of Baseball Administration
Paul DePodesta, Mets Vice President of Player Development & Scouting
Bob Miller, Reds Vice President and Assistant General Manager
Rich Hahn, White Sox Vice President and Assistant General Manager
Gerry Hunsicker, Rays Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations
Kim Ng, Major League Baseball Vice President of Baseball Operations
Tyrone Brooks, Pirates Director of Baseball Operations (Maryland native)

The Dodger’s Logan White (Asst. GM/ Director of Amat. & International Scouting) and a former O’s West Coast Supervisor would be another good option, but after Waston interviewed here; maybe that is not an option. If he would interview, all the better.

Let’s say that of those 9 candidates, 4 of them were willing to interview. You could have interviews tomorrow (Thursday, November 3^rd), Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. You could hammer out a contract with the prospective hire Monday, and announce the decision Tuesday.

Let’s circle back to the beginning. If the comments LaCava made in public are accurate (that the O’s did everything right in the interview process, and that control was not an issue… that he just wanted to stay in Toronto) than the O’s should be able to present the same vision and offer they provided to LaCava to these other prospective hires.

If these options turn you down, to remain with their existing organizations, maybe the Warehouse will realize their ‘pitch’ is falling short.

On the other-hand, if the O’s internally realize that LaCava turned them down because he felt he was being asked to implement Showalter’s vision – than maybe the O’s should just go ahead and promote Showalter. If he is the only voice that is going to be listened to in the organization, and Showalter is going to insist on any potential candidate having similar philosophies, than maybe Showalter would be best served being the GM.

What do you think the O’s should do? What do you expect they will do?