Baer has been a pillar of the local community and instrumental in the Giants' accomplishmentsGETTY IMAGES
The MLB Giants have been a "paragon of organizational stability" in recent history, but they now are "scrambling to figure out exactly how to run" the team after President & CEO Larry Baer announced he was taking a leave of absence, according to Henry Schulman of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The Giants for now "will be run by an 'executive team'" that will consist of President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi and four other veteran officials: Exec VP/Administration Alfonso Felder, Exec VP/Business Operations Mario Alioto, Exec VP/Communications & Senior Advisor to the CEO Staci Slaughter and Exec VP & General Counsel Jack Bair. They will report to a BOD made up of investors Charles Johnson, David Jenkins, Allan Byer and Rob Dean. Baer was the liaison between Zaidi, and the owners on the BOD. Zaidi now "might consult directly with the board." It is unclear whom the Giants "will appoint as the 'control person' who has voting authority at league meetings" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/5). In San Jose, Kerry Crowley notes it is "unclear if and when Baer will return" to the position he has held since '12 (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 3/5).
PLENTY OF QUESTIONS REMAIN: In S.F., Ann Killion in a front-page piece writes there are "plenty of questions surrounding the Giants and how the franchise moves forward." Killion: "How long will Baer be away? A short time, or permanently? Did Baer, as the statement said, really request 'personal time away' or did the ownership group demand it? Who makes the decisions if there is a big one to be made? ... Who controls the Mission Bay project?" The Giants "likely will continue to operate smoothly on a day-to-day basis," but "let’s not pretend this is not a big deal" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/5). Ray Ratto in a special to DEADSPIN wrote if Baer stepped down voluntary, then "presumably he can declare himself fit for work when he decides he can." Baer can "be as involved as he wants to be as long as" Johnson, who is the team's largest shareholder, "doesn’t mind." Fans must take Johnson and the other investors "at their word." Bosses "do find their own level of involvement, so this could be a measure of Baer’s off-site on-site control." Unless someone is "tasked with locking down his access to the levers of power, the nature and limits of Baer’s walkaway are entirely his creation" (DEADSPIN.com, 3/4).
HAVE TO GET THIS RIGHT: An S.F. CHRONICLE editorial states that Baer is "right to take a leave of absence." The Baers are "pillars of the community in so many ways." Larry Baer was "instrumental in delivering the vision of a waterfront park and building a team that won three World Series titles," while Pam Baer’s "innovative venture, For Goodness Sake, promotes charitable giving through e-commerce." They are "immersed in the world of Bay Area philanthropy." But even a "history of good deeds ... cannot preclude the need to fully investigate this incident." When it comes to domestic violence, zero tolerance "should be the standard, regardless of a player’s salary or impact on the field." Fans "should demand no less from the executives who sign their paychecks" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/5). ESPN's Trey Wingo said, "You can't just sweep it under the rug. You have to say, ‘We investigated it and this came out.’" MLB has had a "very heavy hand in dealing with issues of domestic violence.” At a "bare minimum," the league must "look at this as openly and as honestly as they can and make sure there is a thorough investigation so that everything is understood on what was and what wasn't happening” (“Golic & Wingo,” ESPN Radio, 3/5).
