Finding Consensus Part 2 of 4: Duquette, Showalter & Chain-of-Command

In the last day, I’ve posted interviews with six different writers, getting their thoughts on the Orioles. This is Part 2 of a 4 part series, where we are taking a closer look at the collective responses received.

The six writers interviewed (with links to their individual interviews) were:

Dan Szymborski, BBTF / ESPN
https://baltimoresportsandlife.com/?p=3285

Jonathan Mitchell, MLB Dirt
https://baltimoresportsandlife.com/?p=3280

Bob Harkins, NBC Sports
https://baltimoresportsandlife.com/?p=3278

Matt Klaassen, FanGraphs / Beyond the Boxscore
https://baltimoresportsandlife.com/?p=3276

David Pinto, Baseball Musings / Baseball Analytics
https://baltimoresportsandlife.com/?p=3272

Gary Armida, Baseball Report / Baseball Digest
https://baltimoresportsandlife.com/?p=3265

Here in Part 2, we are going to look at the question of Chain-of-Command between Duquette and Showalter. Specifically:

“Presumably, Duquette and Showalter are currently on the same page. However, if it becomes apparent that Duquette, and Showalter have differing philosophies of how the organization should be built (both in the immediate, and long-term) do you agree that Showalter’s opinions should be considered, but that the Manager reports to the GM; and thus the GM should have autonomy to make the moves they desire? If the O’s are going to listen to Showalter first, should he have been the one named the GM?”

Szymborski: “Duquette should take Showalter’s opinions into consideration, but the buck should stop with Duquette.  If Showalter wants to be the GM, then he should’ve put his name into consideration.  It’s very difficult to have a productive organization when responsibilities are vague and who answers to who is fluid.  If Duquette is only “sorta” Showalter’s boss, then his stint as GM has already failed.”

Mitchell: “I believe Showalter’s input needs to be considered but at the end of the day it is Duquette who has the final say. If Showalter knows the direction of the organization and has agreed to it then I see no problem unless Duquette deviates from the plan.”

Harkins: “Managers typically are consulted on moves, but the GM makes the final call, and that’s how it should be, and that’s also why you usually hire your GM first, and then the GM chooses a manager he is comfortable working with. The Orioles’ situation is unusual, and you have to wonder if Showalter’s influence was a reason the Orioles had so much trouble filling the position, and which man will win out of the two do eventually butt heads over the construction of the roster. I wonder if Angelos ever considered moving Showalter to the GM’s chair, and if Showalter actually would want the job.”

Klaassen: “I don’t have anything original to say here. Yeah, if the Orioles are going to listen to Buck Showalter first, he should be the GM. What could possibly go wrong?  Look, we all doubted Mike Scioscia’s abilities to judge Mike Napoli, but after the Angels traded him, Napoli was terrible and we learned that, indeed, he was just a part-time  player. Oh, wait. Buck Showalter was credited by some with the “turnaround” of the Orioles pitching after he took over in the middle of 2010, people who totally did not think that was random variation. Shouldn’t he then take the blame for the pitching disaster of 2011?

Managers are close to the game and the player every day, and obviously their opinions should be taken into consideration. But there is not way Showalter (or pretty much any other manager) should be able to bypass the GM, modern baseball just does not work that way. Or at least it should not.

I do not know whether Duquette is the right man for the GM job, but if he has to negotiate withg Buck Showalter (or any other manager) over  his moves, he’s already operating at a handicap. For the sake of Orioles fans, I hope he got a guarantee of autonomy from that nonsense before he signed the contract.”

Pinto: “Yes, the GM should have power over the manager.  Managers should have a say, but in the end follow the line the GM puts down.  If the owners don’t like the GM, they should fire him, but not because the manager goes over his head.”

Armida: “I do believe in chain of command. The GM has to have the overrule button so to speak. But, a team works better when the manager and GM work together. Showalter has worked well with GM’s in the past. If he was on the committee to hire Duquette, I would believe he’s good right now. Showalter’s opinion should definitely be heard, acknowledged, and worked with. He’s a great baseball man and great baseball men cannot be ignored. I think Duquette is smart enough to know that, know the landscape, and avoid the potential pitfalls, at least early on.”