It's not yet a pipeline on par with the California Aqueduct, but the Dodgers have again tapped into the Bay Area for a general manager.
Ned Colletti, assistant general manager of the San Francisco Giants, will be named today to fill a Dodger position vacant since the Oct. 29 firing of Paul DePodesta, who was a product of the Oakland front office.
Colletti was chosen over Kim Ng, the Dodger assistant general manager of four years and one of two women in the major leagues to hold a high-level baseball operations position.
A previous address in Northern California, however, might be the only similarity between Colletti and DePodesta.
Colletti, 50, has a reputation of being an old-school executive, having learned the trade under hard-bitten Giant General Manager Brian Sabean. DePodesta, 32, represented the trend of young Ivy League-educated executives who are making their way into front offices.
Although DePodesta tried to dispel the notion that he relied on complicated statistical analysis in evaluating players, his perceived poor leadership and communication skills led to Dodger owner Frank McCourt's abruptly moving in a different direction 20 months after hiring him. The Dodgers won the West Division title in 2004 but after a roster overhaul finished 71-91 last season amid numerous injuries to key players.
The search for a new general manager took 18 days and included several misfires, including a rebuff from the first choice, veteran GM Pat Gillick, who instead filled a vacancy in Philadelphia. Several other experienced general managers, including Gerry Hunsicker, John Hart, Kevin Towers and Theo Epstein, also declined overtures from the Dodgers.
The selection of Colletti, whose deal is for at least three years, is likely to be applauded by many in the baseball industry. He is known as a shrewd contract negotiator and an excellent communicator.
In recent years Colletti put together several deals that allowed the Giants to add top-quality free agents despite a limited budget. Last off-season he negotiated back-loaded contracts for shortstop Omar Vizquel, catcher Mike Matheny and closer Armando Benitez. He also brokered trades and was the driving force behind the deal that brought outfielder Randy Winn to the Giants before the trading deadline in July.
Colletti interviewed for the vacancy in Cincinnati in 2003 and was a candidate when the Pittsburgh Pirates had an opening in 2001. He has never been a scout, leading some to question his skill at evaluating talent.
