WJ out. Can TLR Be Far Behind?

[Ewttexas]

This is the worst news we've had since not making the post season.
My reaction is shock. The Cards fire the best GM in baseball. I can't believe it. I doubt that there is any way that TLR will return now. I'm guessing that Duncan will ask out as well. I'm sure that there's more to the story but I'm not a happy camper. It will take years to rebuild to the point that WJ, Tony and Dunc have taken this team.
I'll collect my thoughts and post later.

[BleacherBum593]

WOW!!!!

Here's a link to Bernie's story in the Post Jocketty out as Cards' general manager By Bernie Miklasz / POST-DISPATCH SPORTS COLUMNIST

John Mozeliak has been promoted to acting GM.

Press Conference at 4PM today to announce the firing of WJ.

Why would you want to get rid of 1 of the BEST GM's in the game? Under Walt, the Cards franchise has had one of its best runs in Cardinal history. Hard to believe. Will Luhnow get the job to succeed Walt?

[BleacherBum593]

EWT - I think your probably pretty close to being right on TLR and DD leaving also.

If they are firing Walt, it sounds like a house cleaning is coming to town.

[tulcard]

Originally Posted by BleacherBum593

EWT - I think your probably pretty close to being right on TLR and DD leaving also.

If they are firing Walt, it sounds like a house cleaning is coming to town.

Not necessarily....power struggles rarely come up roses and we don't know what has actually been taking place. TLR has said his future with the club is NOT tied to Jocketty....

Still I am shocked and saddened by WJ's ousting. Guess we'll have to sit back and see what we have left after the dust has settled.

If anyone can report on the news conference I'd appreciate it as we don't get it here....that is if there is anything to report other than the standard corporate jargon....

[Coop]

I've been posting that I thought the management staff was staying, as I did just this morning. I thought they would want Walt enough to provide salaries. I read they are the 6th wealthiest franchise. I think a lot of that was Walt working some miracles. I sure wanted him to stay.

DeWitt still says he's going to add some salary. We'll see.

[GoCrazyFolks]

I did not see this coming. I can't help but think this will be a decision DeWitt will regret. Personally, I'm glad the Astros have already filled their position.

I guess Mezoliak is odds on to replace him. Any other potential candidates that spring to mind? I hear Dave Littlefield is available

[AutobodyCAD]

the comment I heard was that there was some dissatisfaction with the scouting system. Be that Walt's dissatisfaction of things he can't control, or DeWitt's view of Walt's management of the overall scouting system, I wasn't clear on.

[Nighthawk]

Not entirely surprising, but a bit disappointing. The boat was sinking a bit, our scouting/minors performance has been spotty of late and our recent signings have been mostly disasters (unlike our trades, which have been WJ specialities and almost all worked out). I would presume that this is the prelude to ditching TLR, since I understand the two are a package deal (but as tul notes maybe that isn't the case). It's time to clean house and air out the living room. This isn't a disaster, but a chance to push ahead.

[BleacherBum593]

Following are links to the stories today concerning the firing of Walt Jocketty.

I'll be updating the links as I run across stories today. The first link is a must read. If you weren't able to listen to yesterday's press conference via radio or via an internet radio link (i.e. KFNS Radio), Derrick Goold of the Post took the time and transcribed the press conference in his Birdland Blog. It'll answer some of your questions.

The second link is also a good read. The Post listed what it considers to be the early leaders or should I say potential interviewees for the GM post. I think John Mozeliak has the inside track, but I would keep an eye on Terry Ryan, the former GM of the Twins.

- DeWitt Unabridged: The “Parting Ways” Presser By Derrick Goold / Birdland Blog – St Louis Post-Dispatch

- Replacement hopefuls by the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

- Cardinals and Jocketty part ways By Joe Strauss / ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

- Mozeliak must steer Cards through state of flux By Derrick Goold / ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

- Given Jocketty's unhappiness, his departure isn't surprising By Bernie Miklasz / ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

- La Russa's future may not be tied to Jocketty by David Wilhelm / Belleville News-Democrat

- Cardinals and GM Walt Jocketty part ways by David Wilhelm / Belleville News-Democrat

- Jocketty out as Cards' general manager By R.B. FALLSTROM AP Sports Writer / Denver Post

[Nighthawk]

Thanks for the linkage, Bleach.

Ng would be a daring statement hire. I'd be fascinated to see what she could do, and it would make us trailblazers. Don't be surprised if we end up with Ryan or DePodesta. I actually said immediately when I heard about WJ 'Since Leyland just got extended, we're gonna end up dragging Ryan out of semi-retirement'. We'll see...

[BrotherBri]

I'm not sure how unforseen this could really have been. With the insane price of pitching (Meche, Suppan, Lilly, Marquis), the aging of Edmonds, the backloading of contracts -- I think I heard that in '09, the contracts of Carp, Pujols and Rolen will total $45 mil -- and the approaching arbitration years of Molina, Ankiel and Duncan, the Cards had to get ready to fill in personnel gaps with less expensive players. DeWitt has been aware of this for years, and his promotion of Luhnow, whatever you may think of him, gives an expression to that awareness.

Tony prefers veterans to kids, and Jocketty has always worked better (a) with baseball men rather than stat geeks, and (b) as a harmonizer tailoring his acquisitions to the manager he has. Had Tony stayed, Walt would have been dealing with stat geeks he doesn't care for, and would have been restricted from pursuing the veterans Tony wants. He would have been MISERABLE. Bernie, among others, has been clear that it benefits no one to have TLR or Walt stay if they are miserable, and it was highly likely they both would have been. This move, while regrettable in many respects, was both sensible and predictable, given DeWitt's commitment to a direction Walt and TLR weren't committed to.

Am I happy about it? No. I dislike the stat geek approach, as anyone who has watched me post would attest. So my greatest despair goes to the fear that stat geeks will ruin this organization. And I will watch with a peculiar interest over the next few years, praying that my fear is unfounded. But in spite of that fear, I see reason and sense behind it ... and pray that the new regime will balance the love of power with an appreciation of speed and defense. Not a rejection of Tonypower for Whiteyball, but a desire to blend the best of both worlds.

One note of interest -- Bernie and Randy pointed out on 1380 that most of Walt's masterstrokes -- McGwire, Edmonds, Kile, Will Clark, Finley, Walker -- took place before revenue sharing funds grew larger for the Royals and Pirates of MLB. In those days, the offseasons were easier, since fewer teams could drive up the price of a Suppan or Izzy. And in-season, more teams had salaries they HAD to dump, AND there were fewer teams that could absorb those salaries. Now, the Rockies don't HAVE to dump Helton ... they can hang onto him longer. The Brewers can sign Suppan, and the Royals can drive up the price on a Meche. So, could Jocketty's magic even continue? An interesting question.

[BleacherBum593]

Pittsburgh fired their manager (Tracy) this morning. With new ownership taking over the Pirates, I know earlier this summer that the Pirates had talked about replacing their GM also. Does anyone know if this has been done?

Also, earlier in the summer it was rumored that WJ would be approaced about running the Pirates organization. Could the stars be aligning for that to happen now?

And it was also rumored this summer that the Cincinnati owner (a former Cardinal minority partner) was interested in bringing WJ on board as GM and Tony as manager. Anyone heard anything on that in the last couple of days?

Guess I'll have to start following the Pittsburgh/Cincinnati papers for that type of info in the upcoming weeks.

[BleacherBum593]

Ask and Google shall find the info for you

Ripples from Cards' shakeup reach Cincinnati By Gerry Fraley, Sporting News

His (Cincinnati interim manager Pete Mackanin) chances of getting the job on a full-time basis decreased on Wednesday. So did the job security of Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky.

Reds owner Robert Castellini has deep admiration for Jocketty and manager Tony La Russa. Castellini watched them operate while a Cardinals minority owner.

Castellini recognizes he must do something to make his club relevant again. The Reds have had seven consecutive losing seasons and seemed doomed to more second-division finishes even in the lightweight National League Central.

What better way to jump-start the Reds than to bring in a proven pair of winners in Jocketty and La Russa, whose contract with the Cardinals has expired?

DeWitt is guilty of creating the problem that led to Jocketty's departure.

The move came about 13 months after DeWitt changed the organizational flow chart and stripped Jocketty of some authority by giving Ivy League neophyte Jeff Luhnow full control over amateur scouting and player development. DeWitt thought he was reinventing the wheel, but his move was a slap in Jocketty's face.

My money is on both Jocketty and LaRussa being signed to contracts in Cincinnati within the next 10 days.

[tulcard]

....and Duncan gone as well possibly. "If" TLR is gone I just hope we make the correct (Hiring) choices....and if the coaching staff is gone I would favor Pendleton or Oquendo as manager at this point....

[BleacherBum593]

And I would assume Dave Mckay would also follow them to their new destination. There could also be several others in the organization who would follow also.

At this point, I don't think DeWitt has realized the domino effect that will follow his firing of Walt Jocketty. This could pretty much "gut" the Cardinal front office and the on-field managing team.