In Boston, Alex Speier notes members of the Red Sox' baseball operations department last Friday "assembled inside Fenway Park to discuss the new direction of the organization" under new Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom. The room "exploded in applause" when they were told Assistant GM Brian O'Halloran would be promoted to GM under the new leadership structure. Much of O'Halloran's work has "come in contract negotiations" and in a "mastery of baseball rules, particularly critical for an organization that frequently dances with luxury-tax concerns." But O'Halloran also has had a "significant role in organizing the medical, sports science, and behavioral health departments" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/30).
RIGHTING THE SHIP: In Pittsburgh, Nubyjas Wilborn writes one of the "loudest questions" from Pirates fans is: Does Owner Bob Nutting "care about the team other than making money?" There will be fans who will not believe Nutting wants to win until he "spends more on payroll and the team gets results." But by cleaning house in the team's front office, for the "first time in a while, messaging from the Pirates was human." Nutting is the owner, and he has "made it clear that he's not going anywhere" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 10/30).
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS: In Baltimore, Peter Schmuck notes the Orioles have been "fairly tight-lipped" about the reasons for ending the annual Orioles FanFest, and have been "rather vague about alternative ways to reach out to fans." The "main reason is obvious enough," as what was "once a two-day affair that drew huge crowds has winnowed down to a Saturday event that drew an estimated 8,000 fans" last January. Putting the event on is an "expensive proposition," so it "probably makes economic sense to come up with a more cost-efficient approach to fan engagement" (BALTIMORE SUN, 10/30).
