Perhaps you aren’t aware that Omar Minaya is currently in the midst of a contest.
The other contestants are Brian Sabean in San Francisco and Dayton Moore in Kansas City.
Maybe you’ve guessed the subject of this one-upsmanship competition. Yes, they are locked in a fierce battle for the worst GM in baseball. And the chronological account of their competition is making the rounds on the interwebbings.
Just look at this blow-by-blow snarkfest put on by Matt Klaasen at FanGraphs. Amazing! The artist formerly known as devil_fingers has put together an excoriating account of Moore and Minaya’s moves, and put in that light, it’s pretty ridiculous.
Here’s the money shot, the timeline of The Contest:
* Dayton acquires Mike Jacobs, Kyle Farnsworth, Horacio Ramirez, and Willie Bloomquist as part of a misguided attempt to contend.
* Omar responds by giving Oliver Perez three years and $36 million (aka, “The Jose Guillen Special”).
* The same week that the Royals trade prospects for Yuniesky Betancourt, the Mets trade Ryan Church for Jeff Francoeur (the latter must really have burned Dayton up inside).
* Omar accuses a reporter critical of a fired Mets official of gunning for a job with the Mets.
[My insertion: This mirrors Rany Jazayerli's banishment from anything Royal for criticizing KC's medical staff.]
* In the midst of a near 100-loss season, Dayton lectures Royals fans on their lust for instant gratification and admonishes them to “trust the process.”
* Dayton understandably allows two below-average catchers to walk (Miguel Olivo and John Buck), but then signs Zombie Jason Kendall for more than either Olivo or Buck get on the open market.
* Omar, bidding against himself, manages to overpay Jason Bay by at least $15-$20 million.
Since then, we have to add Scott Podsednik (a minus) and Rick Ankiel (a positive if only on upside and the cheap price) on the Moore side of the balance, which seems about neutral. And, as Richard pointed out, the mostly pointless move of giving the Angels Brian Stokes for the right to pay Gary Mathews Jr. a couple million dollars over the next two years. Touche say The Contest viewers. One for Minaya there.
Minaya lost out on overpaying Bengie Molina last week, but that money is still burning a whole in his pocket. Just look at the results of the USAToday poll, which references The Contest. Jon Garland could be the next shot that puts Minaya ahead for good!
(Here’s the movie poster for The Contest H/T to Amazin Avenue)
