In the wake of Jim Bowden’s recent firing resignation from his position as general manager of the Washington Nationals, Buster Olney of ESPN took a look back at Bowden’s run with the team, and it wasn’t pretty (must have Insider account to read). Bowden’s firing resignation made me think about how strangely baseball teams handle the hiring of their most senior decision makers. It’s almost like you win the lottery if you get hired as a GM of a team because you’re likely to retain the job long after it’s been proven that you aren’t very good at it (Brian Sabean, I’m looking at you) and, if you actually do get fired, you’re probably going to get hired by another team just because you’ve been a GM before. Bowden is a perfect illustration of this dynamic.
It’s amazing (and impressive) that Bowden was a GM at the tender age of 32, when he took over the Reds following the 1992 season. The wunderkind started off hot, too, with the Reds compiling a solid 224-196 (.533) record from 1993-1995 (two of those seasons were strike-shortened). But other than solid seasons in 1999 and 2000, Bowden’s teams have not fared well. Over his 14.5 years as a GM, which includes 1993 to mid-2003 with the Reds and 2005-2008 with the Nationals, Bowden’s teams are 1101-1181 (.482). In those 15 seasons, Bowden’s squads could muster only one playoff appearance (1995).
It may not be totally fair to lay all of this on Bowden, since the Reds and Nationals have not been particularly well-funded over the years, but it illustrates the willingness of certain teams to put up with mediocrity and, in the case of the Nationals, hire someone who is likely to bring mediocrity with him. Also, all of those poor finishes over the years should have brought Bowden many high draft picks, but the only name that leaps out as a solid pick is Ryan Zimmerman in the 2005 draft (in fairness, there are probably some others, but I don’t have time to do a thorough search right now).
There are only 30 teams in MLB, so there are only 30 GM jobs. It’s a pretty exclusive job and there must be so many talented GM candidates out there. Yet, somehow, Bowden was a GM for nearly 15 seasons. If something isn’t working, it’s time to go in another direction – a lot of MLB teams don’t seem to get that.
As for the Nationals, hopefully they will expand their GM search beyond the usual suspects who have been there before and find someone who can be creative with the limited budget and roster that they have. As noted by Olney, Bowden leaves the Nationals as a team with a great deal of its offensive potential tied up in at least 7 first base/corner outfield types, in a league without the DH. Best of luck to his successor.
Then again, maybe I’m being too hard on the guy: at least he’s a Segway enthusiast.
Tags: Buster Olney, dunderheaded GMs, ESPN, Jim Bowden, mediocrity, Nationals, reds, Ryan Zimmerman, Segway, wunderkind
(4.74 out of 5)
When Epstein left the Red Sox in his gorilla suit, I sent the team a resume touting my skills as a potential GM. Surprisingly, I never heard back. Maybe it’s time to dust off that file and see if the Nationals are more impressed. To the city of Washington, I promise not to steal money from kids in Latin America in my day-to-day operations of the team.
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Sabean was an excellent GM from 1997 through 2002!! Not his fault Peter Magowan insisted on building around Bonds well beyond Bonds’ best years. Of course, that still doesn’t excuse the Pierzynski trade, signing Barry Zito, or the complete inability to draft and produce a position player in 10 years. When Pedro Feliz (career OBP of .290) is the jewel of your minor league system, something is wrong.
I need a drink.