Kim Ng: Potential first woman GM

by Matt Rox on Oct 18, 2009 3:29 PM EDT Comment 52 comments

I have been a baseball fan since 1978, and I find it fantastic that a woman gets a chance to prove her self behind the Padres desk. Rotoworld, often wrong, said that the chances of her inking the job are slim.

For those who don't know, Kevin Towers, former Pads GM, was the longest tenured GM--in work since 96'

Brian Sabean is now the longest GM.

What do you think of a women running a team. I have seen smart women reporters, such as Erin Andrews and Jaymee Sire, but the GM job is more challenging.

I think that the only roadblock stopping her from taking the seat is her sex. However, she has experience.

Thew only thing I question about her is if she knows all the players in the MLB right now.

What does the minor league ball community think? Would she make a good GM if hired, or not?

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i don't really know how she would do

i don’t know enough about her credentials to comment on that, but i don’t think she gets the job. personally this sounds more like the Padres playing the PC card than anything else. could be wrong though.

baseball rules.

by doublestix on Oct 18, 2009 3:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kim Ng has been qualified for her own GM job for at least five years.

The only thing that could keep her from being a successful GM is the prejudice of others.

Derek and Dave at USS Mariner have been Ng supporters since before the Bavasi reign.

by PissedMick on Oct 18, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If the OP and the first comment are anything to go by, "the prejudice of others" is a pretty large problem

Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving

by PaulThomas on Oct 18, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no kidding

by jibs on Oct 18, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup

by larry on Oct 18, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

She definetly deserves the job

she was seriously considered for the dodgers opening a couple years ago

by Ion293 on Oct 18, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know nothing about her - Who is she?

TheSouthWing.com - A Magazine of essays, prose and poems

by OldProspects on Oct 18, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

She's the Dodgers' assistant GM

by PaulThomas on Oct 18, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh cool

TheSouthWing.com - A Magazine of essays, prose and poems

by OldProspects on Oct 18, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bull

Nobody “deserves” any job. It’ll go to whoever THEY think is best qualified.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

by WayneCampbell08 on Oct 18, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What?

Wouldn’t the person who is best qualified “deserve” the job?

by sunking1056 on Oct 19, 2009 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is turning into semantics.

WC here seems to have made those comments because he believes that Ion is declaring Ng to be the one to get the job because of her gender. IE, that because she’s been turned down already, and because she’s a woman, she deserves the job. That’s not what Ion meant, and WC is flying off base here a bit.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Oct 19, 2009 3:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It should be DePodesta

I know very little about Kim Ng, but I do think DePodesta deserves another GM gig. I was hoping my Pirates would have hired him instead of Neal Huntington.

by jar75 on Oct 18, 2009 5:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i don't think depo is ready for another GM gig just yet.

his tenure in LA was mixed, and while he did deserve another season at the helm, he had a lot to learn about heading up an organization, and i don’t think he’s there yet.

human beings, who are almost unique in their ability to learn from the experiences of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

by variablesdont on Oct 18, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correction.

DePodesta has a lot to learn about licking the anus of Bill Plaschke like media hate mongers. He’s not a good PR guy, which is something a GM needs to have in this day and age. What he really needs is some place where he doesn’t have to answer to egotistical sports columnists in the local fish wrap.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Oct 18, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

there was more to it than that

depo never learned to account for the fact that he might be wrong. the PR thing was a problem, but it was secondary. he came in like hot shit, and when the situation was ripe, the doge pounced.

if he wants it, he’ll get another GM post. i just think he’s got a little bit more to learn.

human beings, who are almost unique in their ability to learn from the experiences of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

by variablesdont on Oct 19, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The PR problem wasn't secondary.

It was primary, secondary, AND tertiary.

Confidence in a GM is not a problem. Besides, the fact that the great bulk of his moves turned out very well for the Dodgers helps his case a bit.

Depodesta traded Paul LoDuca, and people stupider than he never forgave him for it.

by PissedMick on Oct 19, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, and he already has that place

Namely, assistant GM of the Padres.

He’s also not going anywhere for family reasons.

by PaulThomas on Oct 19, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure to say that DePodesta is 100% not at fault.

But he could slide into the Padres GM job without leaving his family.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Oct 19, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True, but maybe he thinks there's more job security at AGM?

Or just doesn’t care to spend more time away from home?

There are a lot of considerations involved here. Maybe he wants the job, but it wouldn’t be irrational for him to turn it down.

by PaulThomas on Oct 19, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Erin Andrews

+11111111111111111

Who loves orange soda?

by Kenan and Kel on Oct 18, 2009 5:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+3242144

Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.

by Frederick0220 on Oct 18, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jaymee Sire +

more than that

"Chicks dig the long ball, although fat chicks will settle for warning track power" - Nick Diamond

by hero66 on Oct 18, 2009 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

don't get drool on your Twinkies

children

by gogotabata on Oct 18, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How could you wonder

whether or not she knows all the players in the MLB? She’s just as qualified as any man who in an equal position, or else she wouldn’t have the job she has. She’s working in the front office of the Los Angeles Dodgers, its not like she’s some random person off the streets…

by astrosfanforever on Oct 18, 2009 8:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kim Ng

“What do you think of a women running a team.”

I’m not sure why you think gender/race would have anything to do with a GM being successful or unsuccessful.

“Thew only thing I question about her is if she knows all the players in the MLB right now.”

Are you kidding me? She’s the assistant GM for the Dodgers! The stereotyping of women is apparently formulating your opinion on Kim NG before knowing anything about her. FWIW I think Kim Ng would be be a great GM. She tends to lean towards the quantitative side of the baseball spectrum.

by legger06 on Oct 18, 2009 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

this was my reaction to the OP

that kind of mindset is precisely why Ms. Ng has no chance to get this job. always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Oct 18, 2009 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed. Our individual biases only contribute to your losses, not your gains.

When Jack Zduriencik was hired as the Mariners new GM, the first thought was that he was another good scouting type GM, old school enough for our stupid front office to accept. I figured that meant good talent evaluation, but I knew we weren’t getting the Stats & Scouts type GM that we wanted. I thought we were going to be the West Coast Twins instead of the West Coast Red Sox.

Then he blew my mind by creating an entire department dedicated to stats analysis. Brought on Tom Tango, one of the smartest minds in SABR today. And basically transformed the Mariners overnight into the West Coast Devil Rays. Needless to say, I’m satisfied.

But I didn’t give him a chance at first. That would have been my loss.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Oct 18, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

She also interviewed for the Mariners job last year

Was in the final three, if I’m not mistaken.

And saying Rotoworld is often wrong isn’t entirely fair, either. They just collect stories from other sources. In fact, the quote you attribute to them is actually from Jon Heyman, where he claims it’s a “long shot”.

by ajake57 on Oct 19, 2009 12:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Does Rotoworld EVER break their own stories?

Because that comment looks pretty silly to me. It’s like saying the grocery store often doesn’t grow good produce.

by PissedMick on Oct 19, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rotoworld occasionally breaks stories, usually trades

A lot of the stuff they don’t source is generally fantasy oriented commentary.

Their biggest problem is a direct result of their strength/appeal though. They have a lot of grammatical and mistakes because their role is to pump out breaking news as fast as they an in an easily digestible form.

Don't believe in yourself.
Believe in Me who believes in You.

by Zonis on Oct 20, 2009 3:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What I mean is Rotoworld only passes along stories.

They aren’t a primary source for any news, as far as I know.

by PissedMick on Oct 20, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rotoworld is getting worse by the day

The blurbs have started becoming more sarcastic and are often editorializing. Rather than a medium for news, its now become just one more stop to read a group of dopes’ opinions. For instance, Brian Fuentes. Rotoworld was on a friggin crusade against the guy all year. Not one positive blurb – and the guy led the league in saves. Go look at his player page. They even declared Mike Soscia had removed him from the job and was going to give opportunites to Jepsen sometime in August (I think) – Never happened and that wasnt at all what Soscia said. Theyve been even worse this year with fantasy football. They really need to clean up their act. Its a joke over there compared to what it used to be.

by alskor on Oct 20, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anybody who had the title "Angels Closer" all year...

would’ve led baseball in saves. Fuentes wasn’t a very good pitcher this year.

by PissedMick on Oct 20, 2009 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you're missing alskor's point.

And I agree with him. I’m okay with offering criticism on questionable moves and other confusing behavior, but when we’re talking about player analysis, a little more than “He just isn’t that good” isn’t good enough.

Rotoworld has gotten away from being constructive and analytical and has become another blog dedicated to snark.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Oct 20, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No one is saying Fuentes is a good pitcher

Don’t get me wrong. BUT if you listened to rotoworld you would have lost out on 40+ saves. Go here: http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&id=3277. This guy led the league in Saves. That’s a pretty big friggin category. No one expected Fuentes to be a good ratios pitchers, but whoever is the Angels Closer always will get a lot of Saves and that makes Fuentes pretty worth owning. He has a handful of updates/blurbs about him over the course of the entire year. WTF is that? Where was rotoworld? Ill tell you where: Whatever writer covers the Angels expected Fuentes to fail all year and so ignored anything positive. That’s what rotoworld is now. That kind of crap.

What used to be a great source – the first stop/clearinghouse for all the NEWS that was going on – now has become just one more fantasy source with some news and heavily slanted “analysis” that really just boils down to the likes and dislikes of a few writers… and not particularly good ones at that.

The typical rotoworld blurb used to be:

-News item with link to source
-Sometimes (not even all the time) a sentence or two discussing the implications in a neutral way.

Nowadays a blurb there looks like:

-Quasi news item (ie. “Beat writer speculates on radio that Willie Parker may lose carries!”)
-Sarcastic comment/Bad attempt at humor (Willie Parker sucks anyway, since this ain’t 2005 anymore!")

Really, if someone had the money and the backing (like MSN for rotoworld), Im pretty sure they could steal rotoworld’s model and pass them in popularity in a couple years if they would get back to the core product above that made rotoworld so popular.

by alskor on Oct 21, 2009 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1....... this is without a doubt the truth.

The blurbs have started becoming more sarcastic and are often editorializing. Rather than a medium for news, its now become just one more stop to read a group of dopes’ opinions.

baseball rules.

by doublestix on Oct 20, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Glad to know i’m not the only one who feels this way

by sunking1056 on Oct 21, 2009 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait

Women are allowed to watch baseball now? Who knew! But their brains are smaller than men’s, so she probably doesn’t know who all the players in MLB are. That’s a real shame! Maybe she can get another job, like birthing babies and having periods.

by Lt Melmo on Oct 19, 2009 3:18 AM EDT reply actions 7 recs

Recced.

by PissedMick on Oct 19, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree - women shouldn't worry their pretty little heads about running baseball teams, but should instead concentrate on knitting, and cooking their husband's dinner...

by DeJay on Oct 19, 2009 7:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and not attracting wild bears to the baseball stadium once a month

by gogotabata on Oct 19, 2009 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They need a man who invented the wheel and built the Eiffel Tower out of metal and brawn. That's what kind of man they need.

by Zabat on Oct 19, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or discovering radioactivity

TheSouthWing.com - A Magazine of essays, prose and poems

by OldProspects on Oct 19, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kim Ng needs to spend more time being super hottt and memorizing the names of MLB players if she wants to play GM with the big boys.

by gogotabata on Oct 19, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You hear that Ed? Bears.

Now you’re putting the whole station in jeopardy.

Keep in mind, of course, that "the best defense of Derek Jeter's life" ranks somewhere in between "the best fiscal responsibility of Mike Tyson's life" and "the best not-getting-assassinated-ness of James Garfield's life." -FJM

by travdog6 on Oct 22, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont want Ng to become a GM to be the first female GM in Baseball.

I want her to get hired because she’s good at her job.

I hate doing things for the sake of doing it (in this case; hiring Ng to be the GM just because you want to have the first female GM).

And even on that note, it would be very similar to DePodesta’s case in a way. The first female GM must succeed and have both public and private support, or it will be crushing and people will just use it as proof that Girls dont belong in baseball, similar to how DePo was received as part of the Moneyball / Non-Scout crowed by Placekick and co.

Don't believe in yourself.
Believe in Me who believes in You.

by Zonis on Oct 20, 2009 3:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't know

I’d imagine she’d be pretty good, just based on being Assistant GM to a team with a usually-well-stocked farm system. I have no idea who the Assistant GM is on the Braves or the A’s or the Red Sox or most other teams, but just based on her position, I’d assume her to be qualified.

The wind is in the buffalo.

by journeymen on Oct 20, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

David Forst of the A's is probably equally qualified,

but he’s already going to be GM of Oakland soon (probably within 5 years, I’d say) so he doesn’t really have any incentive to move.

by PaulThomas on Oct 20, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jed Hoyer

is the Boston Assistant GM. He’s an upcoming star and will be a GM fairly soon, and the Sox will be the less for it. There are a number of other brilliant minds in their baseball ops and player development who you’ll be hearing about in the next few years.

by alskor on Oct 20, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs