Trading in the Cowboy for the Number Cruncher

Staff members here at Lasorda’s Lair thought the first move the Dodgers should make this offseason was to cut Ned Colletti. I didn’t think the Dodgers would just up and fire Colletti, and I suppose we were all a bit right. The Dodgers ended Ned’s GM chapter in the Dodger history book, and they brought aboard a sought after baseball mind in Andrew Friedman to the table.

The Dodgers continue to make great strides in order to improve their franchise since Frank McCourt exited the scene two years ago. Ned Colletti, one of the final remnants from that often dark and suppressed Dodger era under McCourt, has now retired to greener pastures in the front office with a shiny new title of Special Advisor to the President.

Before I move on to ushering in the new era under Andrew Friedman’s leadership, I’d like to take a moment to reminisce on Ned Colletti and the time he had at the

Ned Colletti talked highly of Juan Uribe at Blogger Night in 2013. I will miss asking him Uribe questions. Photo: Stacie Wheeler

general helm for the Dodgers.

I had an inkling that some major moves were brewing or being kept on the lowdown when the annual Blogger Night at Dodger Stadium was not held this year. It was to be the seventh installment of Blogger Night, a hosted Dodger game which featured a Q&A session from Ned Colletti. Last year Stan Kasten spoke as well. Usually Blogger Night is held at the end of the season, and this year’s late season division win compared to last year’s early clinch along with some underlying management changes apparently in the works, put Blogger Night on ice (hopefully to triumphantly return in 2015). Kasten and Colletti were not to be available for any speaking engagement in front of bloggers who have been known to ask the hard hitting questions… like “what is up with the Wi-Fi at Dodger Stadium?”

The Wi-Fi is a lot better by the way. That only took two seasons to nail down, but the Dodgers finally have nailed down a smart young Andrew Friedman to take the reins when it comes to baseball operations. By retaining Colletti in a supervisory role, they can still utilizes his vast baseball knowledge and years of experience.

During my personal encounters with Ned Colletti during press conferences, Blogger Night Q&A or other Dodger media events, I have been truly impressed with Colletti’s candor and almost photographic memory of baseball. While some questions go unanswered if they delve in too deep into his general management strategies, other times he used specific examples of baseball history in order to back up his reasoning or choices. While Colletti and Friedman are clearly different in their respective styles of management, both men can work together to obtain optimum benefit to the Dodgers.

Sure, Colletti’s gut feeling about such free agent busts like Jason Schmidt, Andruw Jones and Brandon League was none to successful, but he deserves recognition when it comes to the great signings he has made over his nine seasons as the Dodgers’ GM. Handcuffed by budgetary woes during the McCourt regime and controlled by the current front office when it came to dealing any of the Dodgers’ top prospects this past year when the bullpen clearly needed upgrading, Ned Colletti did the best he could with what he had.

For every Jason Schmidt there’s a Hyun-jin Ryu. For every Andruw Jones, there is a Manny Ramirez. For every Brandon League, there is a Justin Turner. How many GMs get it right every time? Of course, I still am trying to accept that Brian Wilson and Brandon League will be on the roster another year, and the Dodgers still have to pay Carl Crawford and Andre Ethier for another decade. Silver lining: the book has finally closed on Andruw Jones’s contract with the conclusion of the 2014 season.

Nobody’s perfect. Baseball isn’t perfect. Even with the perfect combination of statistical analysis, scouting reports and a lucky eye, a general manager may make moves that not everyone is happy with. Yet, with Colletti’s transition out of the general manager position, it opens up a new refreshed path for the Dodgers in their player development program and their quest to win a world championship.

We can’t blame Colletti for non-moves this past season when Stan Kasten and ownership was likely holding him back from making any significant deals. Maybe the Dodgers could have dealt Zach Lee or Joc Pederson for some pitching, but that would not have guaranteed anything. It may have just disrupted Friedman’s availability of pieces in which to make future deals with. Those future deals could benefit the Dodgers in the long run instead of the very short term.

"“I expect us to become a home-grown organization,” said Kasten. “We will get young and will wind up with a lower payroll. But it’s never payroll just driving decisions. Phase 1 was to get the best team on the field. Phase 2 is to transition to home grown. With the kind of energy and success Andrew has had, he’ll really do well here.”"

I can’t herald Friedman as the next best thing right out of the gate. Let’s not gloss over the fact that he was a financial analyst for the now debunk Bear Stearns (1999-2002). Number crunching may be a part of the financial aspect of the business of baseball, but translating that to wins on the baseball diamond is what the Dodgers’ ownership is looking for from Friedman.

Ned Colletti speaks at the Winter Development Program at Dodger Stadium. January, 2014. Photo: Stacie Wheeler

Friedman turned the Tampa Bays around, and his rebuilt franchise made it to the postseason for the first time in Rays history. The once last place Rays made it all the way to the World Series by winning the American League pennant. Yet, the Rays failed to win the golden prize in 2008, and they have not won their division since 2010.

The Dodgers have been successful under Ned Colletti, but have yet to clinch a world series berth in 26 years. The new ownership regime promised a world championship, and they continue to collect all the tools they need in order to make progress toward that goal. After consecutive failed bids at the National League pennant, I have become extremely frustrated with the Dodgers and their postseason exits. While I’m excited for this new era in Dodger baseball to be ushered in, I’m still hesitant in heralding Friedman as the end all solution.

With an expanded statistical department, more growth in international player development and scouting, and a new focus on developing the younger players in the system rather than making exorbitant free agent signings, I feel like the Dodgers are heading in the right direction. There may be growing pains, but the Dodgers are still trying to reinvent themselves after breaking free from the chains put in place by McCourt.

Change is good. The Dodgers are making change, and I’m optimistic about the direction Kasten and company are taking the franchise. While we shouldn’t expect Friedman to bring us a world championship in the first season he is on board, the seemingly stalled Dodgers can hopefully go on to that next level with the new management taking shape.

The changes are not done yet either. I expect Friedman to hire a new general manager, and Don Mattingly might be already looking around for a new job as well in the near future. Ownership is looking to build a Dodger dynasty, and their vision is coming together with the newest piece to the puzzle being Friedman.

The old school cowboy GM has been traded in for the Wall Street number cruncher. Hopefully the Dodgers can succeed with a strategy which utilizes both perspectives.

Now, please go get a catcher and some bullpen help, Mr. Friedman.