Bill Stoneman steps down too? @!#$ the heck?

by abbreviatedman on Oct 15, 2007 8:47 PM EDT

What's with GMs this year? Did someone get hold of an illicit photograph with all of them in it?

I've never been the biggest fan of Stoneman, given he hasn't managed to maximize his prospects very well, but with his lack of major moves, he also hasn't made any major mistakes. I wonder if we'll hear why he stepped down.

It's strange, a lot of GMs leaving the position without being fired...

Per Rotoworld:

Bill Stoneman is stepping down as the Angels' general manager and taking a consultant role with the team.

According to CBS Sportsline, the Angels are leaning towards going with their director of player development, Tony Reagins, as his their successor. Still, it'd be a surprise if they didn't at least check in with Walt Jocketty first. The Angels have reached the postseason four times in the last six years under Stoneman.

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bizarre

ryan, jocketty, schuerholz, and now stoneman. that is a ridiculous amount of GM brainpower to disappear in a single off-season.

by jpahk on Oct 15, 2007 8:44 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe..

They were using HGH and have been avoiding the public issues when it comes out later this month.

by ChrisRef19 on Oct 15, 2007 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

and

Beinfest in Miami...

Future Fish

by Maverick @ Minor League Ball on Oct 15, 2007 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions

hrmm....

Anybody notice that these are all "old school" GM's? The sort who rely more heavily on scouting...

by GuyinNY on Oct 15, 2007 8:53 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe none of them

could along with Jeff Luhnow ;)

by siddfynch on Oct 15, 2007 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

When

did 'What' become a curse word?

God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Oct 15, 2007 9:03 PM EDT reply actions

FJM

It's a Fire Joe Morgan joke. Some bad writer wrote "@#*@ the heck?" in an article, and it's been a running joke since.

by abbreviatedman on Oct 15, 2007 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions

It's an inside joke from FireJoeMorgan

stands for fuc|< the heck.

http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2007/07/idioms.html

by AucklandGM on Oct 15, 2007 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Savaged

I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but Bill Stoneman has been absolutely savaged by the LA press. He wouldn't be the first GM they've run out of town.

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 15, 2007 9:10 PM EDT reply actions

What are you talking about?

No chance in hell that the "press" has run Stoneman out of town... especially since he'll be staying with the team as a consultant.

It was written into his contract when he re-upped a few years ago that he would/could serve as team consultant from 2008-2010 after his contract ran out. He could've returned as GM if he wanted to, but he's 62 years old. He's tired.

Tony Reagins or Ken Forsch will be replacing him.

by nzach54 on Oct 15, 2007 9:50 PM EDT reply actions

Tired?

Did I say the press ran him out of town? I'm just commenting on what I've been reading in the LA Times. Guys like TJ Simers and Bill Plaschke have been all over Stoneman and Scioscia. I said I don't know if this had anything to do with it. Those two were sure successful in running Paul DePodesta out of town.

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 15, 2007 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Plaschke is such a moron

Really, it's true.

by mraver on Oct 15, 2007 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I know.

I hate that guy.

by abbreviatedman on Oct 15, 2007 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Tired? Addendum

I forgot to comment on why I put that title up. I used to think Bill Stoneman was one of the best GM's in the game, but maybe he is burned out. Stoneman got into a tiff with his scouting director a few years ago and replaced him. Angels drafts have been pretty lackluster the last 2-3 years. Their farm system just ain't as strong as it once was. In additon, Stoneman has been way timid about trading for a power hitter to back up Vlad. Kinda like what us Giants fans have gone through with Bonds since Kent left. Probably time for a fresh start in Angel Land.

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 15, 2007 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions

The problem with Stoneman

was that he tend to overvalue his prospects specifically position prospects who were help by hitting in great hitter's ballparks and more times than not went the conservative route.

PS: Bill Plaschke is no question a moron but then again find me a well known sport columnist who isn't? Besides he's better than Jay Mariotti right?

by NYYLover1000 on Oct 15, 2007 10:51 PM EDT reply actions

Woody Paige

Is much better than Mariotti who called Adrian Peterson the next Eric Dickerson after 5 games.

by Bravesin07 on Oct 15, 2007 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions

gee whiz!

who would make such an outlandish comp based on a small sample size?

WHO i ask you?

he should be burned at the stake.

by bleedjaxblue on Oct 16, 2007 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Quiet you

Adrian Peterson isn't half the football player that Carlos Gomez is and you know it

by mrkupe on Oct 16, 2007 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

AP

Though in Mariotti's defense (I can't believe I just typed those words), Adrian Peterson is an awesome back and will be, barring injury, the second best RB going into next year after LT. Watch.

by drjim on Oct 16, 2007 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

Peterson is sick.

by Pawtucket Pat on Oct 16, 2007 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions

+2

That's funny, Pawtucket Pat. I had written the exact same post as you...+1, Peterson is sick...but I didn't actually post it because I thought it was too obvious. Haha.

by ajohnst1 on Oct 16, 2007 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

lol

That is funny. Great minds think alike, I guess.

by Pawtucket Pat on Oct 16, 2007 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Eric Dickerson

That was exactly his scouting report coming out of HS. "Best back out of Texas since Eric Dickerson." The comparison has been there since his days in HS. It's nothing new and it will continue throughout his career.

by Tyler on Oct 16, 2007 7:22 AM EDT up reply actions

true and I hope he becomes great

but geez, he could breakdown again next week.

by Bravesin07 on Oct 16, 2007 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions

lol

Eric Dickerson

That was exactly his scouting report coming out of HS. "Best back out of Texas since Eric Dickerson."

i know you meant peterson, but the way you wrote it makes it seem like when eric dickerson was in HS, the scouts called him the best back since eric dickerson. which reminded me of this great sports pickle article:

http://www.sportspickle.com/tirsh/volume5/2006-0125.html

January 26, 1961 - Wayne Gretzky is born in Brantford, Ontario. The youngster was immediately dubbed "The Next Gretzky."

by jpahk on Oct 16, 2007 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

It'll only be a matter of time

That fans will realize that national columnists just can't do as good of a job at evaluating a certain team or a certain player that a good blogger can. It's completely and totally impossible. We live in a time where any true diehard fan with Tivo can become the best of his team.

Unfortunately, while it's a steady process, it's also a slow one. It'll take years longer.

by elrey34 on Oct 17, 2007 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions

I can see why

He never got the big bat he always needed, and money has never been a problem. He's had one of the best cores in the game to work with (much of which was put together before he was with the team). I'm not going to say he deserved to be fired, but I can see why this makes sense.

by MontrealMets on Oct 16, 2007 3:33 PM EDT reply actions

big bat

maybe not in a trade, but he did bring in vlad

by fewgoodcards on Oct 16, 2007 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Plus...

He took a gamble on Kelvin Escobar that REALLY paid off.

by abbreviatedman on Oct 16, 2007 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Bat?

They needed a power bat at 3B after McPherson got hurt and underperformed. Problem is, what was available? I suppose they could have gone after Aramis Ramirez, but they'd already spent a lot of money on FA's. If Shea Hillenbrand was what the press had in mind, then Stoneman was right not to bite.

by DrBGiantsfan on Oct 16, 2007 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly.

There really hasn't been one that they could get, and the ones that were available on the market just decided to sign elsewhere (Ramirez, Konerko). They could have traded for one (they almost did with Miguel Tejada), but people tend to forget how rare a blockbuster trade for a true, valuable superstar occurs. And nobody stops to think how difficult they are to pull off. Not only are you detracting great value to the other team, trading a beloved superstar away is a PR disaster in most cases.

I think they'll get A-Rod this year though.

by elrey34 on Oct 17, 2007 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions

escobar

i was going to mention that, but the guy was talking about bats. however, the escobar signing was widely criticized at the time, but he has been awesome.

by fewgoodcards on Oct 17, 2007 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Hm

I took Vlad as a given. Though he always deserved credit for Vlad, that team has desperately needed another real power bat for years. Vlad had decent protection in 2004, and he won the MVP; the last three seasons, he's had no one in the lineup to help him out. Vlad's one of my favorite players, it's a pity that he hasn't been able to win bigger the last few seasons, and I'd like to see the numbers he could put up in a stacked lineup (even though Anaheim seems a great fit for him).

by MontrealMets on Oct 16, 2007 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions