Here would be my Top 10 qualifications to run an organization… not in any particular order..
1) See the entire picture, pursue improvements in Scouting and Player Development
2) Be able to work in a matrixed organization, dealing with multiple relationships… up and down the chain..
3) Cultivate relationships
4) Develop people…
5) Put people (not just players) in positions where they can be successful…
6) Deal effectively with the media…. treat them with respect, give information that conveys organizational direction, without giving away trade secrets..
7) Knowledge of MLB rules…
8) Understanding of team building, and sharing credit
9) Economics / Business background
10) Respect for the game, and people involved… combined with overall knowledge
Myself, I would need to be refined… would need to spend time working in both Player Development and Scouting…. continue to improve my base knowledge…. finish an MBA and probably Law School as well….I could deal with the media just as effectively as MacPhail does now…… I have spent the past 5 years dealing with Corporations at a CFO level on a daily basis… providing Customer Service to them requires an ability to communicate effectively.
I work with extremely large policies, with a lot of contractual language… but realistically, I would need to surround myself with MLB Rules Experts (similar to what Ed Kenney was with the O’s…) … would need an internal staff of lawyers to review contracts, and provide language… which everyteam has…
I have been responsible for Pricing, Policy Structure/Underwriting, Problem Resolution, and Risk Management…. and feel comfortable I could operate within any provided budget… but ultimately would need someone like what Joe Foss was, or a Robert Ames is now as the CFO…
I would need to surround myself with people that had contradictory opinions, as I would look to build concensus, but ultimately willing to rule.
I know I could succeed, and I trully believe plenty of others currently outside of MLB could as well…
Unless I ever put myself in the position to get the opportunity to work within Baseball Operations, this is all just an educated guess… which sounds boastful and naive… I get that.
I really do respect what MacPhail and other executives have accomplished to reach their positions in the game… and while I do not believe their jobs are ‘easy’, I do not believe they have some secret knowledge, or that that their jobs are as difficult as some would have you believe.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.