Orioles Hire ‘Director of Strategy’ from Astros

[Aristotelian]

2 minutes ago, Camden_yardbird said:

If he was a player valuation and economics guy then he was involved in payroll and contracts.

As a director of strategy I would think this signals that the Orioles are ready to spend money and want to do it with a director in place whose sole job it is to make sure the money works over the long term.

This is both a good and a bad sign.  Good because it signals a long term spending strategy.  Bad because WTF were they doing for the last two years?  Maybe their $10 million an off season budget didn't require that.

The conspiracy theorist in me says that someone higher than Elias saw the Lyles signing and told Elias he better get a player valuation guy because he clearly doesn't have the skills.

Player valuation could also signal a push toward using trades to acquire talent now that we have more assets. 

[Frobby]

28 minutes ago, Aristotelian said:

I can't imagine in game strategy would be a full time job, plus isn't that the manager's job? Sounds more like Assistant GM to me based on the guy's background. 

First of all, I think you are right about what his job likely is.    But the other alternative I had in mind was not making actual in-game decisions, but gathering data and information in advance that would help the manager in making in-game decisions.   I won’t get into it further, since I doubt that’s the job.   Perhaps Elias will elaborate, or maybe some reporter can score an interview with Fournie and ask what he’ll be doing.  

[Frobby]

This news from Roch perhaps illuminates what Fournie will be doing:

“Bill Wilkes shifts from advance scouting operations manager to major league strategy manager. Ben Sussman-Hyde is promoted from major league video/advance scouting coordinator to major league video/run creation strategist manager. Ryan Klimek goes from major league scouting coordinator to pitching strategy manager.”

Strategy, strategy, strategy.   But it seems this relates to advance scouting, no?   
https://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2021/12/orioles-announce-2022-coaching-staff.html

[Sports Guy]

Probably just made up a title to make it look like it was a promotion.  I think that’s the only way you can poach from another organization. 

[Camden_yardbird]

3 minutes ago, Frobby said:

This news from Roch perhaps illuminates what Fournie will be doing:

“Bill Wilkes shifts from advance scouting operations manager to major league strategy manager. Ben Sussman-Hyde is promoted from major league video/advance scouting coordinator to major league video/run creation strategist manager. Ryan Klimek goes from major league scouting coordinator to pitching strategy manager.”

Strategy, strategy, strategy.   But it seems this relates to advance scouting, no?   
https://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2021/12/orioles-announce-2022-coaching-staff.html

I disagree, I think they created an entire class of strategist managers across the organization.  You don't take a player valuation/ economics guy and make him a director for scouting unless you are a moron.  You make him a trade/ contracts manager with the only nexus being scouting goes into trade valuation.

I think he is the contracts guy.  A lot of teams will need more staff like this if they anticipate more complex payroll requirements in the new CBA.

[Frobby]

25 minutes ago, Camden_yardbird said:

I disagree, I think they created an entire class of strategist managers across the organization.  You don't take a player valuation/ economics guy and make him a director for scouting unless you are a moron.  You make him a trade/ contracts manager with the only nexus being scouting goes into trade valuation.

I think he is the contracts guy.  A lot of teams will need more staff like this if they anticipate more complex payroll requirements in the new CBA.

Seems like a weird title for a contracts guy.   Hopefully we will get some elaboration at some point.   

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Seems like a weird title for a contracts guy.   Hopefully we will get some elaboration at some point.   

Nebulous yet impressive sounding titles is the new market inefficiency.

Going to draw in all the exciting Zoomer talent.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

2 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Seems like a weird title for a contracts guy.   Hopefully we will get some elaboration at some point.   

Maybe Elias will bring in some consultants to evaluate the operation of the franchise. 

[Aristotelian]

40 minutes ago, Frobby said:

This news from Roch perhaps illuminates what Fournie will be doing:

“Bill Wilkes shifts from advance scouting operations manager to major league strategy manager. Ben Sussman-Hyde is promoted from major league video/advance scouting coordinator to major league video/run creation strategist manager. Ryan Klimek goes from major league scouting coordinator to pitching strategy manager.”

Strategy, strategy, strategy.   But it seems this relates to advance scouting, no?   
https://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2021/12/orioles-announce-2022-coaching-staff.html

These moves do appear to be rebranding the advance scouting work as "strategy". Not sure if they are related to Fournie's job. Would be weird to have a "major league strategy manager" and "director of strategy" both focused on scouting. One thing is clear, "strategy" is Mike's new favorite word.

[Camden_yardbird]

1 hour ago, Frobby said:

Seems like a weird title for a contracts guy.   Hopefully we will get some elaboration at some point.   

Think of it like the cap gurus in football.  Thats all strategy.

[Moose Milligan]

15 hours ago, wildcard said:

Of Course Elias knows him from the Astros. 

Change in Strategy:

Step 1: Buy a metal trash can

This was funny. I did laugh out loud.

[Jammer7]

2 hours ago, Sports Guy said:

Probably just made up a title to make it look like it was a promotion.  I think that’s the only way you can poach from another organization. 

This is what I was thinking about his title.

Good to see the organization building is continuing. To get an endorsement from Kevin Goldstein is huge to me. 

[interloper]

The Os have one of the best brain trusts in the game. Their FO is stacked with extremely smart people. It hasn't translated to the field yet but I love the people they have in place.

[Sanfran327]

I assume this guy has a plaque on his wall that says "Never Make the First or Third Out at Third Base"

That's good strategy, boys.

[Can_of_corn]

3 minutes ago, Sanfran327 said:

I assume this guy has a plaque on his wall that says "Never Make the First or Third Out at Third Base"

That's good strategy, boys.

Never get involved in a land war in Asia.