Chris Antonetti expected to replace Mark Shapiro as GM

[Noodle]

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2010/02/chris_antonetti_maybe_replacin.html

Chris Antonetti expected to replace Mark Shapiro as Cleveland Indians GM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer
February 18, 2010, 9:31AM
CLEVELAND -- There could be changes at the top of the Indians organization. Team President Paul Dolan has a press conference scheduled for 1:30 p.m. to discuss matter.

One possibility is that GM Mark Shapiro could take another job in the organization and be replaced by Chris Antonneti, his assistant. The rumored change would not take place until after the 2010 season.

This will be Shapiro's ninth season as general manager. He started working for the Indians in 1992 and worked his way to the top spot on the baseball side of the front office. Antonetti has been Shapiro's top assistant and vice president of baseball operations since Shapiro replaced John Hart in November of 2001.

Antonetti has turned down at least one GM's job and several interview opportunities with other teams to stay with the Indians. He's a graduate of Georgetown University. He joined the Indians in 1996 as an assistant to the baseball operations department.

[Tribegrl85]

Well It doesn't surprise me.

[ndog]

I think everyone could see this coming when Antonetti turned down the Cardinal GM position.

[Crash Davis]

Paul Dolan is listening to the fans. He is quietly "firing" Shapiro for screwing up on all his recent trades. I wasn't going to renew but I'm now gonna buy season tickets!!!

[Yinzer Hater]

If the Dolans sell the team, give me a call. Until then, the identity of the head coupon clipper won't make much difference at all.

[pup]

Tomato, Tomahto

[DrPoove]

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/02/the-indians-call-a-press-conference-did-they-sign-russell-branyan.html.php

[Dellucci TailGator]

A "We're Signing Russell Branyan" press conference would have been one of the five greatest moments in Cleveland sports history for reasons of perspective and hilarity.

Almost as funny that the Indians rolled out a red carpet and had a press conference for signing Aaron Boone. Almost.

[pup]

Ever seen a puppet as a puppeteer?

You will soon.

[Yinzer Hater]

But why announce now if its not happening til the end of the year? Way to try and steal thunder from the CAVS today who actually have an owner who wants to win CHAMPIONSHIPS. I'll bet Shapiro isn't even getting a raise for this so called "promotion"

[Watt]

The Indians are making a big announcement today that is of little surprise.

In a front-office shakeup set to take place upon the conclusion of the 2010 season, GM Mark Shapiro will be promoted to team president, while his assistant, Chris Antonetti, will assume the GM role. Current president Paul Dolan, meanwhile, will become the club's chairman and CEO.

http://castrovince.mlblogs.com/archives ... rez_a.html

[OrangeElf]

CAVS=Yankees
WIZARDS=Indians

[cozmeesah]

Well whoopdeedoo.

[bac5665]

I understand the point you are trying to make, but equating any Cleveland sports team with the Yankees is highly offensive.

[tommieskoski]

Mark Shapiro is a lousy GM so we promote him. Is this a Seinfeid episode?

[cozmeesah]

Funny how non-news like this brings the people that never post out of the woodwork.

[TOTribeFan]

Mark Shapiro is a lousy GM so we promote him. Is this a Seinfeid episode?

I hope we get body-suit man out of it at least...

[OrangeElf]

I understand the point you are trying to make, but equating any Cleveland sports team with the Yankees is highly offensive.

I won't deny that everyone in baseball is broke but the Yankees but the Cavaliers will lose money this year. The Yankees and Red Sox lost money last year. But thier owners wanted to win more than they wanted every last dollar or to show a profit on the team. The Dolans would rather see the profit. Sure, they want to win, but only on their terms. They just dont have the "balls out" desire to win like Gilbert, the Steinbrenners or whoever owns the Red Sox do. Its just fact, they dont want "it". Their actions and their explainations speak for themselves.

[hermanfontenot]

I understand the point you are trying to make, but equating any Cleveland sports team with the Yankees is highly offensive.

"We are the New York Yankees of pro football."

- Paul Brown on the Browns

[The Tribe Zone]

Mark Shapiro is a lousy GM so we promote him. Is this a Seinfeid episode?

No.

Mark will be made team pres. and then he'll pass out millions in bonuses to his staff...

[The Tribe Zone]

How apra po, this article comes out also....from Forbes

This year Cleveland takes the top spot in our third annual ranking of America's Most Miserable Cities. Cleveland secured the position thanks to its high unemployment, high taxes, lousy weather, corruption by public officials and crummy sports teams (Cavaliers of the NBA excepted).

'crummy sports teams' (Cavs an exception)

[dazindiansfanuk]

Antonetti has been coveted by teams with GM openings but passed with the understanding he would receive his chance in Cleveland. He has taken on a larger role in personnel decisions recently, orchestrating the trade that sent former AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee to Philadelphia last summer for prospects.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4924534

[Eckersley]

So, to sum it up...

Larry Dolan is out
Paul Dolan moves to Larry's office
Shapiro moves to Paul's office
Antonetti moves to Shapiro's office

Sounds like everything stays pretty much the same. All they need to do is fill Antonetti's former spot.

[cozmeesah]

This reminds me of the one skit from Robin Williams' HBO special from several years ago where he talked about bombing Afghanistan:

"Today's bombing raid has increased the hole from yesterday's bombing raid.... we've moved rubble from here to here..... Operation Extreme Redundancy continues"

[Rocky55]

We replace Shap with his clone.

I can guarantee that Antowhoever will be less successful than Shap was. Shap's best moves came at the expense of the Mariners who have since hired the best, IMO, GM in baseball in Jack Zduriencik. No more Benuardo for Choo/Cabrera trades. Any GM not named Bavasi will kick Shaptonetti's ass in trades.

Antonetti has only one thing going for him. Mirabelli's no longer in charge of the draft.

[skatingtripods]

Just curious what everyone's evidence is that confirms Antonetti is a Shapiro clone. You've all been in the room while they discuss things?

[cozmeesah]

Just curious what everyone's evidence is that confirms Antonetti is a Shapiro clone. You've all been in the room while they discuss things?

To me it's not so much that, as I believe that Shapiro will probably still make most of the decisions regardless of what title he holds.

I'd love it if I were wrong though, and admittedly I don't know a damn thing about what Antonetti is like.

[pup]

Just curious what everyone's evidence is that confirms Antonetti is a Shapiro clone. You've all been in the room while they discuss things?

Because he promoted him.

[pup]

So, to sum it up...

Larry Dolan is out
Paul Dolan moves to Larry's office
Shapiro moves to Paul's office
Antonetti moves to Shapiro's office

Sounds like everything stays pretty much the same. All they need to do is fill Antonetti's former spot.

Paging Eric Wedge...

[Eckersley]

So, to sum it up...

Larry Dolan is out
Paul Dolan moves to Larry's office
Shapiro moves to Paul's office
Antonetti moves to Shapiro's office

Sounds like everything stays pretty much the same. All they need to do is fill Antonetti's former spot.

Paging Eric Wedge...

Pup, I bet Shapiro would be chomping at the bit to bring back his bosom buddy.

I pray somebody is stupid enough to hire that moron before Antonetti moves into the GM position.

[Rat_Tail]

This really doesn't do anything. Antonetti who basically learned everything from Shapiro is going to replace him. The puppet is replacing the puppet master.

[skatingtripods]

Because he promoted him.

There's no evidence that he's a clone in that.

[pup]

Because he promoted him.

There's no evidence that he's a clone in that.

Have you ever seen Shapiro do anything that does not inflate his own ego? Anything?

You think Shap is going to advocate his thrown and let someone else run things a different way? What is they win doing things differently? How would he ever get his autobiography published?

[Eckersley]

This quote from Paul Dolan takes the cake....

“I strongly believe we have a very solid leadership team that will be the core of this franchise for years to come,” Dolan said. “(Shapiro) has built a culture here that is the envy of the industry.”

I thought a winning culture was the envy of the industry. Guess I was wrong on that one.

[IronMike]

Eck, he really brought a unique culture here with the manager he hand picked. I've noticed no one has rushed out to pluck him from the unemployment line.

[dazindiansfanuk]

I've noticed no one has rushed out to pluck him from the unemployment line.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading somewhere (don't remember where, so can't give a link) that Wedge had job offers, but wanted to take a year out to spend with his family.

Can't blame the guy when he's getting paid anyway!

[Noodle]

I've noticed no one has rushed out to pluck him from the unemployment line.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading somewhere (don't remember where, so can't give a link) that Wedge had job offers, but wanted to take a year out to spend with his family.

Can't blame the guy when he's getting paid anyway!

I thought he got picked up to be a bench coach with the Mets.

[dazindiansfanuk]

I've noticed no one has rushed out to pluck him from the unemployment line.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading somewhere (don't remember where, so can't give a link) that Wedge had job offers, but wanted to take a year out to spend with his family.

Can't blame the guy when he's getting paid anyway!

I thought he got picked up to be a bench coach with the Mets.

I think Wedge was a candidate, but he definately didn't get the job.

[pod2dawg]

GREAT!!!......This merry-go-round kind of makes one feel like this little fellow with the red butt..... ...............ouch!

Maybe we can ship in somebody here from the Pirates to take over Antonetti's old gig.

Indian Fever..be a believer.

[ole uncle charle]

So, to sum it up...

Larry Dolan is out
Paul Dolan moves to Larry's office
Shapiro moves to Paul's office
Antonetti moves to Shapiro's office

Sounds like everything stays pretty much the same. All they need to do is fill Antonetti's former spot.

Too much money and effort to change offices, my guess is that they just have new name plates made. The only real question here is this move more, smoke and mirrors or the ole shell game.

[ArtGold]

The Indians are really getting strange.

My questions would be why is this significant, and how does it change the team's direction?

And the answers are...it isn't significant and the institutionalized processes will continue.

Wow, big deal.

[Rocky55]

Just curious what everyone's evidence is that confirms Antonetti is a Shapiro clone. You've all been in the room while they discuss things?

Just curious, do you believe that Antonetti is going to scrap Diamond Vision & is going to empty the FO of Shapiro hires.

Shapiro will remain Antonetti's boss. Shap obviously believes in his system. I'm not implying that Antonetti won't have any leeway or power, but I believe that the leash will tighten if he strays too far from the Shapiro orthodoxy.

I don't believe that one needs to be "in the room" to come to that conclusion.

[skatingtripods]

Just curious what everyone's evidence is that confirms Antonetti is a Shapiro clone. You've all been in the room while they discuss things?

Just curious, do you believe that Antonetti is going to scrap Diamond Vision & is going to empty the FO of Shapiro hires.

Shapiro will remain Antonetti's boss. Shap obviously believes in his system. I'm not implying that Antonetti won't have any leeway or power, but I believe that the leash will tighten if he strays too far from the Shapiro orthodoxy.

I don't believe that one needs to be "in the room" to come to that conclusion.

Again, I don't see where this makes him a clone. He's keeping people in the positions they've been in, and likely, as Team President, those decisions defer to Shapiro.

I'm sure Antonetti has some different thoughts of how to handle trade and contract negotiations.

I'm not saying that we're going to stray from what we've been doing. But who honestly knows anything about Antonetti? None of us. So, give the guy a little bit of time before we begin crucifying him like Shapiro has been of late.

[Rocky55]

Just curious what everyone's evidence is that confirms Antonetti is a Shapiro clone. You've all been in the room while they discuss things?

Just curious, do you believe that Antonetti is going to scrap Diamond Vision & is going to empty the FO of Shapiro hires.

Shapiro will remain Antonetti's boss. Shap obviously believes in his system. I'm not implying that Antonetti won't have any leeway or power, but I believe that the leash will tighten if he strays too far from the Shapiro orthodoxy.

I don't believe that one needs to be "in the room" to come to that conclusion.

Again, I don't see where this makes him a clone. He's keeping people in the positions they've been in, and likely, as Team President, those decisions defer to Shapiro.

I'm sure Antonetti has some different thoughts of how to handle trade and contract negotiations.

I'm not saying that we're going to stray from what we've been doing. But who honestly knows anything about Antonetti? None of us. So, give the guy a little bit of time before we begin crucifying him like Shapiro has been of late.

Antonetti's staff decisions defer to Shapiro?

Substitute "protege" for "clone". Is that better.

You assume that comparing Antonetti to Shap equals disparagement. I was merely implying that we, as Tribe fans, could expect more of the same from the FO. No departures here.

[PPark]

I think this is the right position for Shapiro but don't know about Antonetti. Bottomline? I'm with Art on this move.


Pup,

It's not my intent to be an a**hole but in some circles passing along information might place me in that light. For future reference it's "abdicate his throne".

[Eckersley]

Eck, he really brought a unique culture here with the manager he hand picked. I've noticed no one has rushed out to pluck him from the unemployment line.

Yeah, this is what Shapiro said...."I had visions of always working with one manager throughout my entire career," Shapiro said. "The fact that we weren't able to do that will always be a disappointment for me. I look at that more as a collective failure."

Working with 1 manager is a good thing if he had hand picked a good or even mediocre manager. He chose a bottom of the barrel moron & still didn't realize it 7 years later. It took Paul Dolan forcing his hand or Wedge would still be managing the Tribe.

[GameTimeAllTheTime]

The Indians are making a big announcement today that is of little surprise.

In a front-office shakeup set to take place upon the conclusion of the 2010 season, GM Mark Shapiro will be promoted to team president, while his assistant, Chris Antonetti, will assume the GM role. Current president Paul Dolan, meanwhile, will become the club's chairman and CEO.

http://castrovince.mlblogs.com/archives ... rez_a.html