John Hart Wants Back In
by oc on Aug 29, 2008 9:01 PM PDT
19 comments
Word is that former Cleveland GM John Hart has phoned Seattle and informed the Mariners that he'd like to come out of retirement and run a team again. Hart currently is working as a consultant for the Rangers.
...Funny how this is worded... "former Cleveland GM"... instead of "former Texas GM"...
Quick story on Hart's last go-around with the Rangers...
When Doug Melvin was fired in 2000, Texas owner Tom Hicks had two suitors to his GM throne; Dave Dombrowski and John Hart.
It's assumed that Dombrowski's interview didn't fly over too well with the Rangers brass. The dreaded "R" word was thrown around... a youth movement was advocated. The Rangers were only a year removed from having won the West... and had put together a nice run during the late 90's... but, it was clear that no progress was being made, as the team succumbed to three first-round playoff exits in four years.
Hart, on the other hand, believed the Rangers were on the cusp; a mere one or two players away. Tom Hicks, being the 'win-now' dingleberry he is, liked what he heard, and Hart was hired.
What followed was a series of disastrous free-agent signings and trades: Rafael Palmeiro, Ruben Sierra, Juan Gonzalez, Chan Ho Park, Jay Powell, Todd Van Poppel, Richard Hidalgo, Hideki Irabu, John Rocker, Ismael Valdez, Andres Galarragga, Ken Caminiti ... has-beens, have-nots...
...And even though he was worth every penny while he played here, the A-Rod contract was (sigh) a stretch.
His drafts were hit-and-miss... Colby Lewis, Mark Teixeira, Vince Sinisi, Ian Kinsler, John Mayberry, Drew Meyer (Meyer was more of a Grady Fuson pick (assistant GM); but, because of Hart's bogus spending spree the previous off-season, the Rangers 2002 draft did not net a pick in Rounds 2 - 5)...
In a nutshell, Hart set this team back years... when it all ended, many of us were left to wonder what it would have been like with Davey-D at the helm.
It baffles me that he still collects a paycheck with the Rangers, but... whatever.
The first reaction is usually the correct one. - Akeem
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Why would he want to be the GM in Seattle?
Isn’t it too rainy to be able to consistently get a good tee time?
by Inkara1 on Aug 29, 2008 9:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
If you think about it, I don't think there's too much to worry about here.
Even with Howie and Chuck running the organization.
Hart did absolutely nothing while in Texas to make himself appealing. It looks even worse if you call up begging for a job.
by BrianL on Aug 29, 2008 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He had a good run with Cleveland FWIW
Perez (Oliver or Odalis)
by JI on Aug 29, 2008 10:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Does anyone get a job this way in that line of work?
Seems desperate.
by SethGrandpa on Aug 29, 2008 10:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That's kind of what I was thinking
Maybe we should all give phone calls and say we’re interested as well. Heck, it beats my day job. Maybe that’s how I would persuade them.
I have a cousin with 1 testicle, when they yell play ball, he smiles.
by Montucky on Sep 2, 2008 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jeff...
…I have gone back and capitalized my sentences in this post.
May I please have the first half of my headline back?
by oc on Aug 29, 2008 10:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Hart's pretty good, actually
He’s been a huge mentor to a lot of the guys who are currently the hot young GMs running sabermetric teams. He gave shots to Shapiro, Byrnes, and O’Dowd, and cultivated the organizations that gave those guys authority to do things in new ways.
Actually, just read this.
by davidcameron on Aug 30, 2008 6:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice article, thanks for the counterpoint.
I’ve been judging him off his Texas performance. The guy has really found some great subordinates in his career, that Bill Walsh comparison is pretty apt, I was thinking myself that after finishing the first paragraph. It’s a nice reminder how important the people under the man in charge can be.
"Have love... will travel." The Sonics.
by dpseadv on Aug 30, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
Hart could actually be a very nice fit – he’s old school/experienced enough to convince Lincoln/Armstrong to back off, but has a proclivity for finding smart young guys and enabling them to build the core of a really strong organization.
by davidcameron on Aug 30, 2008 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
None of this address his flop of a tenure in Texas.
no, money down!
by oc on Aug 31, 2008 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just now read this article.
Do Want.
by ThundaPC on Sep 4, 2008 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The article and your comments have me thinking. Ouch.
It’s a busted season but the rebuilding process is engaging, as a fan it has my attention every bit as much as a successful team fighting for a pennant. I can’t help but think the choices made from the moment Lee started calling (or not calling) the shots are shaping the next era of this team. And the next generation of fans that will develop with it. I’m getting a little worn thinking of cute ways to bash this team, players, and FO with my friends, so posts like this are nice. A little more future, a little less past. Definitely healthier diet for my mental state as a fan.
"Have love... will travel." The Sonics.
by dpseadv on Aug 30, 2008 9:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Crap, needs more reply button. Response to "Yep".
"Have love... will travel." The Sonics.
by dpseadv on Aug 30, 2008 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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