Menu
Franchises

MLB Franchise Notes: New Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos Getting Caught Up To Speed

In Atlanta, David O'Brien notes new Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos will be "listening intently" to advice from Senior Advisor John Hart, even though the latter "no longer" has a say in baseball operations. Anthopoulos said Hart is "going to be pretty important to help just get me acclimated and get me up to speed." Anthopoulos: "It’s going to take me some time. I have some opinions from the outside, but look, those guys are way more informed than I am." Anthopoulos added he will "lean on" Hart and the front office's guidance (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 11/15).

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
: In Chicago, Chris Kuc writes the White Sox' "window of contention" is "expected to be wide open" around '20. It is around that time that it "will be determined" if Senior VP & GM Rick Hahn was the "right man for the job of tearing the Sox down to the studs and rebuilding." By all accounts, he has been "on point in the early stages." Since being promoted to GM in ’12, he has been "tasked with compiling a winning roster." Having "failed to do that in recent seasons, Hahn is now the face of the rebuild and it ultimately will decide his legacy with the team" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/15).

SOCIAL STANDING
: In Boston, Peter Abraham writes the Red Sox "need to consider that, as it stands today, they are a less interesting, relatable, and likable team to fans than the Patriots and Celtics." How the Red Sox "use social media, how they handle media relations, how their players interact with fans all needs to be examined closely and improved." It is "not the fault of any one individual, it’s more of an institutional issue that should be addressed." Abraham: "How did it get to the point that a first-place team is perceived so badly?" For instance, "not one active player turned out" for new manager Alex Cora’s introductory press conference. Abraham: "Not even one player could have been persuaded to show some public support?" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/15).

DIFFERENT STROKES
: In DC, Jorge Castillo notes the Nationals "veered from their usual way of handling managers" when they agreed to give Dave Martinez a three-year contract -- "the industry norm -- with an option for a fourth year." They had previously "refused to budge beyond two-year guaranteed deals for managers." A source said that Martinez will accrue $2.8M over the first three years of his contract, and the fourth-year option is worth $1.2M. The source added that Martinez' base salary for four years is what former Nationals manager Dusty Baker "made in two, but it’s also in the range of what the Red Sox will pay" Cora, another first-time manager (WASHINGTON POST, 11/15).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2017/11/15/Franchises/MLB-Fran-Notes.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2017/11/15/Franchises/MLB-Fran-Notes.aspx

CLOSE