GM Candidates For The Braves Part 2

Yesterday I looked at the obvious Braves GM candidate John Coppolella. Today I begin a look outside the organization at candidates that seem to fit the profile and widely considered as future GMs

Rumor Update:  Overnight tweets were posted that indicated that John Hart had been offered and was considering taking the job.After looking at Jeff Passan’s post on Yahoo there appears to be nothing in that not already published in David O’Brien’s AJC blog. After the original press conference when Hart was asked several times and replied times saying essentially that it might happen but wasn’t planned, he had this exchange with DOB who thinks he is a candidate and that JS hopes he takes it..

"“I’ve certainly had some opportunities here over the last X number of years, to jump back in it. I’m very comfortable right now with the way things are going. I’ve got a nice situation up there with the (MLB) Network. I love being part of the (Braves) club.. . . “But I think overall — and John and I have talked about this – I’m more comfortable being a part of this transition team, going out there and really combing what I think is a chance to be a really good group of potential candidates.. . . There’s a nice, thick body of guys that have done this before. . .And there’s a good group of young guys out there as well, guys that haven’t had an opportunity, that I think are certainly going to be included in this process. I’m happy right now to be a part of  (the process). . ."

My read is that while JS wants him to take the job Hart doesn’t want it. Now back to today’s regularly scheduled programming and a look at a superbly qualified gm candidate who can’t seem to get hired at the club level; Kim Ng.

External GM candidate – Kim Ng

Former Dodgers vice president and assistant general manager Kim Ng during spring training at Camelback Ranch. She’s qualified and ready to be a GM, will the Braves give her that chance? Photo Credit USA Today Sports images

If you’ve never heard of Kim Ng it wouldn’t surprise me. Most fans know few of the front office types who aren’t currently a GM. Inside baseball however Ms. Ng is well known and widely respected.

Born in the exotic world of Indianapolis, Indiana in November 1968,  Kim earned her BA in public policy from the university of Chicago where she was also an MVP infielder on their softball team.  She started her baseball career as as an intern for the White Sox and was hired full time as special projects analyst in 91. According to Sherri Eng in a post for SABRE:

"Then White Sox GM Dan Evans (soon replaced by Kenny Williams)  was impressed by Ng’s analytical ability and attention to detail. Her strong work ethic and dedication to delve into whatever she was working on were traits that convinced Evans that Ng had the makings of a future top baseball executive."

In 1995 Kenny Williams promoted her to assistant director of baseball operations with a special focus on arbitration. Later that year became the youngest person and first woman to present and win a salary arbitration case (Alex Fernandez).

In 1997 she moved to the American League  office as director of of waivers and records but the next year was plucked from that job to become AGM and Vice President of the New York Yankees under Brian Cashman. She was at that time the youngest woman ever to hold that position and one of only three women in baseball history to do so.

While at the Yankees she successfully negotiated the contracts of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Paul O’Neill, among others helping solidify the core of the team that made it to the World Series four times and won three championships. The Saber post had this quote on her time with the Yankees.

"“That team embodied a lot of ideals that I believe in—strength in unity, team chemistry, and unselfishness. They were the sum of the parts,” says Ng. “That is one of the greatest things you get from sports, is understanding what you can achieve with people who have the same goal in mind. That team did not revolve around any one guy; it was a true team.”"

In 2001 she resigned that position and in 2002 rejoined her original mentor Dan Evan then GM of the Dodgers. With the Dodgers she was once again heavily involved in arbitration but went to hearings only twice in nine years; she won both times.

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In 2005 the Dodgers replaced Evan as GM. Ng interviewed for the job GM but Ned Colletti was hired instead. Colletti insisted that Ng remain with the team saying that “She’s here because of how good she is and how hard she works,”

In 2008 Joe Torre told Tim Brown from Yahoo Sports how impressed he was with Ng.

"“Dealing with her this winter, this spring and so far this summer, I’ve been impressed with how ready she’d be for something like that,” said Dodgers manager Joe Torre, who also worked with Ng in New York. “I hope to hell it happens. She’d be a ground breaker not only for baseball but for women.”"

In the same post Jerry DePodesta called her, “smart, tough and strong,” concluding of her GM aspirations, “Yes, she could handle it.”

Following a difficult 2010 arbitration season when the Dodgers could easily have over spent on their nine arbitration eligible players ( two gold glove winners, four former all stars and two MVP candidates) Colletti once again praised Ng’s work.

"“She’s one of the best around,” says Colletti. “[Handling the 2010 arbitration cases] was a monstrous task and she came out of it and put the organization in a very good position. It was the best job I’ve ever seen anyone do.”"

In addition to arbitration Ng oversaw pro scouting for the Dodgers and was responsible for compiling the data used for free agent signings and trades. Many of the payers on the field today are there because of Ng.

In the Sabre post Ned Colletti emphasized that Ng was ready to be a GM.

"“As I told her [after the Padres interview]: ‘This is no longer up to you. You’re prepared. You just need the opportunity and someone to believe in you and give you a chance,’” says Colletti. “It’s beyond her control at this point. She’s done everything she can to put herself in that position. She deserves the opportunity and it will take someone willing to give her the opportunity to make it happen.”"

In 2011 MLBTR listed Ng as one of the top 20 GM candidates not yet in the job. Later that year Ng left the Dodgers and rejoined old friend from both the Yankees and Dodgers, Joe Torre at MLB Headquarters as Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations for Major League Baseball. MLBTR profiled her at that time adding insight into how she see things.

"With the Yankees, I did a lot of statistical research, helped Brian [Cashman] with trades, helped him with arbitration — typical assistant GM duties. I managed to get some great experience with the Dodgers. I was the interim farm director one year, I headed up the pro scouting effort and was very active in a lot of things I’m known for like rules, roster management and arbitration. My experience got broader and deeper with the Dodgers.I apply a balanced approach (to scouting and statistical analysis). For any of us to say that we think strictly off of numbers — that’s hard to do. And I think in today’s game you don’t go off of scouting alone. It is a mix and I think how you weigh it is what differentiates all of us.When I did pro scouting coordination, I was talking to scouts every day and getting their takes, how they look at things, what they’re looking for. Then you apply that and see what you think of people."

That’s A Wrap

Everyone seem to agree that Kim Ng is a genuinely qualified GM candidate. That being the case, why has no one hired her? She certainly has arbitration and contract chops as well as player development and statistical analysis credibility as well as working for and learning from some of the best. The answer I fear is the obvious one; she is a woman trying to shatter a glass ceiling thicker than the polar ice cap. She’s one of two women to be an AGM and after 23 years of success at the highest levels and being chosen by good baseball men for jobs with increasing responsibility there’s no other apparent reason.

There is no doubt that Ng would bring new insight and ideas to the Braves and potentially reopen the door to Pacific Rim countries so rudely slammed by Wren’s dealings with Kenshin Kawakami. Hiring her might also signal that real change was underway and give the team a new and progressive face. The Braves however are a traditionally conservative, slow to change organization. In spite of her qualifications and talent I doubt she gets a real look. That in itself is sad.