Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
May 28, 2006
Can You Fire the Owner?

Joe Posnanski continues to pound Royals owner David Glass over his treatment of Allard Baird:

Actually, watching Royals general manager Allard Baird at work says it all. Let's be honest, Baird was publicly fired almost four weeks ago. David Glass told three different news operations that he was going to make major changes. When pressed, he left no doubt that Baird was going to be fired. Not that this was wrong: The Royals have lost 100 games in three of Baird's five full seasons. They’re going to lose 100 games this season.

Baird had to be fired. That’s sports. That’s life.

But here's the thing. Glass did not fire Baird then. He did not fire Baird after a week or two weeks either. He still has not fired Baird. According to Baird, David Glass has not even called. The amateur draft is in about a week, and Glass has not given Baird a budget. People throughout the organization call Baird every day to ask him what's happening. Baird does not know what to tell them.

“I say, ‘Look, we've got a job to do,’ ” Baird says. “Let's do it.”

But there's a big positive in the story, too. Glass is talking to Dayton Moore:

David Glass has done one impressive thing. He has offered his general manager's job to Dayton Moore. True, you would have liked to see Glass mention something about this to his current general manager first. But in any case, Moore is admired throughout baseball. He would make a terrific choice. Many people around the game are impressed (and stunned) that Glass was even able to get Moore to listen to a Royals offer.

Of course, even here there is trouble lurking. Moore is reportedly nervous about taking the job because of … well, David and Dan Glass. He apparently needs assurances in writing that he will be given complete control of baseball operations. The fact that one of the best young minds in baseball needs assurances that he will be free of meddling from Royals president Dan Glass — who prepared for his baseball career by working in jewelry retail and real estate development — just about says it all.

Posnanski goes so far as to say the league should step in if Moore refuses the job because he won't be in control:

I do know this: If David Glass loses Dayton Moore because he refuses to cede all baseball authority — and I mean all baseball authority — well, the league office should step in, as the NBA did when former owner Ted Stepien was running the Cleveland Cavaliers into the ground. Because if the Glasses aren't smart enough to realize they're not smart enough to turn this team around … there’s no hope.

This whole article makes me wonder if the Royals problems are a result of Baird doing a bad job, or Baird being forced to do a bad job.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:01 AM | Management | TrackBack (0)
Comments

pinto -- formatting problems with the apostrophes in your quoted material.

Posted by: Morisseau at May 28, 2006 12:11 PM

it is a walmart operation from the word go.

lousy coaches and managers in the minors. lousy scouting. lousy ML managers - bob boone??? tony muser???? buddy bell????

el cheapo crap.

i am really surprised someone like dayton moore would even agree to interview.

and the whole draft thing - this way they don't need to draft anyone thay have to pay and they can blame a guy who already gone and glass can pocket even MORE of georges $$$$$

pretty smart you ask me

Posted by: lisa gray at May 30, 2006 02:08 AM
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