UPDATE: This poll is now closed.
Today's contest features the Mariners' Bill Bavasi (4) against Brian Sabean (1) of the Giants.
This is the moment we've all been waiting for, folks -- Sabean had a bye in the first round and then got a free pass through the second round after Wayne Krivsky was fired. But now, the legend has finally entered the ring.
If you want to appreciate Sabean's work, you should check out this hilarious article , which is supposed to be a defense of Sabean. The article has already been skewered pretty nicely by Fire Joe Morgan, but if you don't mind, I'd like to take that skewer and put it on the barbecue.
My kid and I write a blog together. In our latest offering, we argued who's a better general manager, Brian Sabean or Billy Beane, and I chose Sabean, although Beane is very good...
Sabean made the daring, unpopular trade of Matt Williams for Jeff Kent, which set up the Giants for years. Beane never makes trades like that. One reader pointed to Beane's Mark Mulder for Dan Haren, Daric Barton and Kiko Calero trade as proof Beane can deal like Sabean. Please. Haren already is gone. All Beane's good young guys already are gone -- Tim Hudson, Nick Swisher, Miguel Tejada. I could go on.
What difference does it make if Haren is already gone? If Beane held on to Haren rather than dealing him, wouldn't that make him popular and un-"daring"? Aren't "daring" trades pretty much Beane's entire M.O.? When's the last time Sabean made a "daring" trade? Forget it. Let's move on.
That sounds hot.
Yes, just like Haren never achieved anything worthwhile for the A's. And... Kansas City? Seriously? The A's got Jermaine Dye and Johnny Damon from Kansas City! Anyway, sorry, this is supposed to be about Sabean.
Wait, sorry, ladies and gentlemen, we've gotten it wrong. Stop the presses! We need a new headline! SMALL-TIME COLUMNIST "BELIEVES" SABEAN UNDER ORDERS TO ASSEMBLE RIDICULOUSLY CRAPPY TEAM. There, that's better.
By the way, what the hell is a "dumper"?
Keep in mind, again, that this is supposed to be a defense of Sabean.
And the other two players were Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser. And the Zito contract was the biggest one ever given to a pitcher. Nice work, Sabean.
Looks like everything's under control here. I'm going to go take a nap. Call me if you need me...
To be fair, there's also Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. But yeah, the guy's got a point. When's the last time Sabean drafted and developed a good hitter?
I'll go a step further -- I don't even feel confident about Velez! Davis, by the way, has already been designated for assignment.
Got that? The current composition of the team must not be Sabean's fault. I'm sure he was under orders to trade three good players for A.J. Pierzynski and to intentionally give away his first-round draft picks and to jerry-rig his farm system so as to not develop a good hitter in an entire decade. Not his fault! Now he's really in charge.
"I give up."
Make sure to check out my writeup about Bavasi before you vote.