Dave Stewart Ready To Become Arizona Diamondbacks General Manager
By Tony Fischer
Jun 3, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers former pitcher and agent for
Matt Kemp,
Dave Stewart, watches the game against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
It appears Tony LaRussa is about to make his second major decision since becoming the Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Chief. San Francisco Chronicle columnist John shea is reporting through twitter that Dave Stewart is set to take the general manager position.
According to reports Dave Stewart has been offered the position but has some legal hoops to jump through before taking the job.
Spoke with Dave Stewart. He's transferring his agency to ex-teammate Dave Henderson. That would clear way to become next #dbacks GM.
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) September 24, 2014
Dave Stewart didn't confirm or deny reports #dbacks offered him GM gig. But in interview, he sounded as if he's preparing to accept offer.
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) September 24, 2014
Dave Stewart certainly seems as if he is ready to take the position but does he have the skill set to be successful? In the interview with John Shea Stewart references his experience as a player under LaRussa as the basis for his qualification.
"“Building a team, building a championship,” Stewart said. “I’ve done it as a player. I’ve gotten to the World Series as a coach. So now as a GM, it would be really exciting and interesting to put together the right pieces to try to win a championship on this side of it. It’s the challenge of getting it done, and the word is ‘challenge.’ As an agent, I’m not challenged every day. But this job is 24 hours every day, and I’m looking forward to that.”"
The hiring of Stewart as general manager follows the current trend of placing former players in leadership positions regardless of previous managerial experience. The most notable example is Mike Matheny who succeeded Tony LaRusssa as manager in St. Louis. Matheny has had early success as the Cardinals manager and since then teams like Detroit have been trying to copy that success by hiring former players themselves.
Hiring Stewart is certainly a bold move by Tony LaRussa but is he primed to have the same success in the front office despite a lack of experience as a club executive?
Tell us what you think.