[GERRY HUNSICKER] Rays Biggest Loss This Off-Season Could Be Gerry Hunsicker
Andrew Friedman, Gerry Hunsicker, Nolan Ryan September 1st. 2008, 1:24pmThis is a week old, but we just found it while scouring for something else.
We have heard previously that new Rangers’ president Nolan Ryan may have his sights on Gerry Hunsicker to be the Rangers’ GM. But this is the first time we heard anything about Hunsicker’s intentions.
In one of his weekly videos, Ken Rosenthal reports that Ryan may fire the Rangers’ current GM, Jon Daniels following the season. If that happens, Hunsicker would be one of two choices to replace Daniels. Rosenthal adds that people close to Hunsicker say he “is itching to get back to a General Manager’s position.”
Hunsicker and Ryan know each from when both were involved with the Astros organization. Hunsicker was the Astros‘ GM for 10 seasons until 2004 and Ryan owned the Astros‘ triple-A affiliate.
While it is Andrew Friedman that receives most of credit associated with changes to the Rays’ roster, losing Hunsicker is something that cannot be taken lightly. There is a reason we always refer to “Friedman and Co.” 90% of the “Co.” is Hunsicker. Both bring a different perspective to the meetings and the personnel decisions. To say Friedman is a the “numbers guy” and Hunsicker is the “baseball guy” would be oversimplifying things, but it does give a sense of what each contributes, and the results indicate that the two compliment each other very well.
We showed recently that the Rays’ current success has been built through shrewd trades and free agent signings. Two people are more responsible than any others, Friedman and Hunsicker. The Rays may be on the verge of losing one of those minds, and the Rays will be weaker because of it.
Ken Rosenthal’s Full Count [Fox Sports]
Aki Rescues The Rays [Rays Index]
Debunking The Myth: Rays Are Good Because Of All The High Draft Picks [Rays Index]
It would be a big loss. Part of the Rays’ success has been in hiring the right people at all levels of the organization, and Hunsicker’s arrival was one of the earliest signs that this group knew what they were doing.
There was a question at the recent BP event at the Trop about Hunsicker and Friedman, asking Andy to estimate the % of influence each had in decisions with Friedman as the numbers guy and Hunsicker as the baseball (scout) oriented person.
Naturally he could not and did not answer with a number, but he did state that the Rays are “slaves to information”, seeking it from every possible source, and I am sure Hunsicker was a major source.
Incidentally, I do not remember the names, but Friedman did identify some people responsible for the Latin American academies, hailed them as major influences in that market and said that those academies are primed to feed some young talent into the pipeline. The impression was it should be happening very soon.
Those academies may become among some of the best investments the Rays have made.
Mission accomplished. He turned us around taking a back seat. Alot of credit should go Gerry’s way.
“Mission accomplished. He turned us around taking a back seat. Alot of credit should go Gerry’s way.”
And losing him could be horrible…
… this is some bad offday news here…
I wouldn’t overstress the point. Hunsicker has been terrific, but there are plenty of other people who can be hired in his place. He is a loss, if he goes, but hardly a disaster.