ESPN.com presents The GM's Office by Jim Bowden Jim Bowden http://espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/ 60 en-us Wed, 16 May 2012 12:59:36 webmaster@espn.go.com http://assets.espn.go.com/i/espn/teamlogos/lrg/trans/espn_dotcom_black.gif 110 110 Both the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies are unaccustomed to approaching the July 31 trade deadline as “sellers.” And yet, that’s perhaps their best course of action. Despite extremely slow starts, the two teams still have enough collective talent to contend for at least wild-card berths this season. A couple of winning streaks and the Red Sox or Phillies could find themselves back in the thick of a division race. And their places in the standings might determine whether the sell or buy.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=4035 Wed, 16 May 2012 11:15:49 EDT 4035 Setting expectations is one thing. Meeting them is another. For first-round picks and even players who experience some success very early in their careers, those expectations can get out of hand, especially with teams that have experienced little success themselves. The players become the organization’s life preserver to a certain extent and the expectations can grow to unrealistic proportions. For the following five players, the hope didn’t meet the hype, and in time, they’ve shown to be less than what everyone -- fair or not -- originally expected.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=4019 Fri, 11 May 2012 10:00:26 EDT 4019 As I watched Josh Hamilton’s fourth home run leave Camden Yards last night, I couldn’t help but be taken back to Sept. 7, 1993, when Mark Whiten hit four home runs against my Cincinnati Reds. I was 32, a rookie general manager and interim president and had the worst pitching staff during a nightmare season. Hamilton, on the other hand, is living the dream. He leads the American League in home runs, RBIs and OPS. And the impending free agent soon will be paid handsomely for it.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=4007 Wed, 9 May 2012 10:45:40 EDT 4007 When Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels admitted to purposefully hitting Washington Nationals rookie Bryce Harper in the first inning of Sunday’s game in Washington, he allowed misguided logic to steer his actions. Labeling it as an act of “old-school” baseball, Hamels more or less admitted he did it because of Harper's reputation as a cocky player, and MLB was completely justified in suspending Hamels for five games.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=3977 Mon, 7 May 2012 17:20:26 EDT 3977 There aren’t many teams that could withstand losing a sure-fire future Hall of Famer. But the New York Yankees can. While much of Gotham was trying to figure out who the Yankees should target in trades, the fact is the Yankees own significant bullpen depth that might make a trade unnecessary. When Mariano Rivera went down in a heap after tearing his ACL shagging a fly ball in Kansas City on Thursday, it already was a natural assumption that setup man David Robertson would slide into the closer’s role.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=3955 Sat, 5 May 2012 09:42:13 EDT 3955 A contract never starts off “bad,” per se. Obviously, a general manager signs a player to a contract with the intent that the player will help the team win, even if the GM knows the criticism over dollars and years is out there. The contract often infuses hope and renewed optimism; there’s excitement in the franchise and the fan base. One need only look in Anaheim, where a gargantuan 10-year, $240 million contract for Albert Pujols left Angels fans agog not only from the sheer size of the contract but by what they hoped Pujols would bring -- success.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=3921 Fri, 4 May 2012 12:22:45 EDT 3921 When it comes to the July 31 trade deadline, good things do not come to those who wait. With the first month of the season in the books, general managers around the major leagues already have begun to deploy scouts to evaluate other teams and their farm systems as well as take stock of their own major-league 25-man roster and farm system. By now, most GMs have a good grasp of their team’s main strengths and weaknesses. They have begun to target the possible sellers at the trade deadline and who might be their competition for a particular player.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=3898 Wed, 2 May 2012 12:15:25 EDT 3898 It’s only fitting that Washington Nationals prospect Bryce Harper will make his major league debut basking in Hollywood’s shadow, because the 19-year-old’s story is cut from a movie script. By now everyone knows his background as the baseball wunderkind who amazed YouTube viewers with Paul Bunyan-like hitting feats. As a Las Vegas-area high schooler, he graced the covers of national magazines and even graduated early and enrolled in junior college because he needed the upgrade in competition.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=3880 Sat, 28 Apr 2012 10:55:55 EDT 3880 Earlier this week, Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said he’s already talked to the team’s new ownership about a contract extension for outfielder Andre Ethier. At 30, Ethier is a two-time All-Star, has earned Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards and is in the prime of his career. He currently leads the majors in RBIs with 23. He also leads a list of seven players who should be signed to contract extensions now. Most of these players are in or are entering their most productive years, or perhaps are talented young players whose stardom is easily projectable.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=3859 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:30:16 EDT 3859 The basement is an unappetizing venue for the Boston Red Sox. At 5-10, they sit at the bottom of the American League East behind a number of excellent teams. But unlike last year, when the club also started 5-10, the 2012 team is not good enough to make a dramatic turnaround as last year’s team did when it went on a torrid 45-25 run from May through July. Coupled with manager Bobby Valentine’s media miscues last week, pressure is mounting for rookie general manager Ben Cherington to make a move to help his ballclub.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=3845 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:22:49 EDT 3845