Zduriencik Brings Statistically Inclined Assistant from Milwaukee

by aws on Oct 27, 2008 7:32 PM PDT

M's GM Jack Zduriencik expected to hire two members of Brewers staff

Larry Stone is reporting that Zduriencik is bringing Tony Blengino and Tom McNamara with him to Seattle. Stone claims that Blengino “has a strong background in statistical analysis.”

Dave over at U.S.S. Mariner posted this link to an article about Blengino’s view on statistics in his "Thoughts From Milwaukee" piece.

This isn’t what I would call a strong background in statistics, but it’s hard to see this hire as anything other than encouraging. Hopefully it is the first of many good hires, and a move towards more progressive thinking.

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Awesome

by Scrupio on Oct 27, 2008 7:46 PM PDT reply actions

woo.

by brayden04 on Oct 27, 2008 8:33 PM PDT reply actions

well...

This isn’t what I would call a strong background in statistics,

But the CPA background is VERY encouraging. And the SABRE background is a helluva lot more progressive than anything HowChuck has ever done with stats….IMAO…..

by rtang on Oct 27, 2008 9:39 PM PDT reply actions

ERA is a stat...

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Oct 27, 2008 9:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Haha, passing this comment to CPA girlfriend.

by batura on Oct 27, 2008 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions

My CPA dad would have a chuckle as well.

by Wilder. on Oct 27, 2008 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions

It won't change the fact that Zduriencik is old, white, and bald, meaning that he is no different than Bavasi and we are doomed thanks a lot chuck and howie way to set us back several years i'm not a fan of this team anymore fuck this shit

by JLC on Oct 27, 2008 10:34 PM PDT reply actions

sooooo...another round, sir?

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Oct 27, 2008 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Well that was meant to mock the some of the pessimists with regards to the new GM

but man does that read like a drunken rant

by JLC on Oct 28, 2008 1:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Quick sign Kimbo Slice!

by Slica on Oct 27, 2008 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions

I would pay to see Kimbo Slice vs Slica

by Gomez on Oct 27, 2008 11:57 PM PDT up reply actions

I would pay to see Kimbo Slice vs. Silva

Silva might win

by seattlebruin on Oct 28, 2008 6:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Oooh. This is pretty sweet. Better then bavasi ever did

54!

by joof on Oct 27, 2008 10:51 PM PDT reply actions

Bob Fontaine has been fired.

Per Larry Stone. Unmercifully apparently.

by ThundaPC on Oct 28, 2008 12:29 AM PDT reply actions

I did not see that coming at all.

J.K.L.

by Aaron Campeau on Oct 28, 2008 12:41 AM PDT up reply actions

And now I'm pretty bummed.

J.K.L.

by Aaron Campeau on Oct 28, 2008 12:42 AM PDT up reply actions

2nd.

by brayden04 on Oct 28, 2008 2:57 AM PDT up reply actions

I third that disappointment.

Indie.

by .Taylor on Oct 28, 2008 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions

Okay

This I don’t get. It’s like giving away cheap talent. Or giving away cake. Why would you do such a thing?

by JLC on Oct 28, 2008 1:44 AM PDT up reply actions

Giving one of his own guys a shot?

Coach Z’s biggest strength is scouting and player evaluation… I’m sure we’ll be fine.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Oct 28, 2008 1:47 AM PDT up reply actions

Still, we're talking about one of only a few guys in the organization who have been good at their jobs.

Seems like you could at least find a spot for him somewhere within the scouting structure. Offer him a slight demotion and see if he accepts it before just firing him point-blank.

by Teej on Oct 28, 2008 8:23 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh I agree.

And I hate to see the guys we want to keep or the ones who aren’t the problems go. All I’m saying is that I don’t think the Mariners are harmed by this move. If Z wants one of his guys in Fontaine’s position, where would that leave Fontaine? He’s a guy capable of going and running anybody’s scouting department, why would he step down for someone else?

Speculation, of course, because I don’t know the circumstances and it sounds like Bob got the raw deal. I’m just not surprised that a guy with a heavy scouting background went for the scouting department first in his house cleaning and wanted to put his guy in place.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Oct 28, 2008 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions

20 years from now that mustache will be the only thing I remember from my time on LL

by Robert on Oct 28, 2008 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions

:(

by Graham MacAree on Oct 28, 2008 8:35 AM PDT up reply actions

I expected this. Fontaine was never going to keep the authority he had

and he shouldn’t. Jack was hired in large part due to his ability to put together one of the best scouting and development systems in MLB. He is going to want his people in charge. And Im sure the role he had for Fontaine (if any) wasnt nearly as influential as the position Bob has held for the Bavasi era.

As long as he doesnt get rid of Engle, I really dont care if he fires every other person in our scouting department

by DarkLou on Oct 28, 2008 9:25 AM PDT reply actions