Jeff Luhnow Is The Astros New General Manager

From what I know about the candidates, Luhnow seemed like the best choice to me. I have been following his career with the Cardinals from afar since 2005. He is a pioneer in bringing quantitative analysis into the Cardinals front office. MGL and Ron Shandler, well known names in the sabermetrics community, have been Cardinals consultants. He has a strong business management background (former consultant with McKinsey & Co., the largest management consulting firm) which should provide the skills for building an organization.

As I thought about this over the last few days, I came to the conclusion that he has done a better job than Wade in rebuilding a farm system which was regarded as low or even lower than the Astros’ system. And the Cards generally had low draft picks throughout the period of rebuilding. Given how bad the Cards’ system was regarded in the 2006 time frame, it’s surprising that the system is now in the top tier of farm systems. Sickels’ most recent article on Cardinals’ prospects starts with “You have to love this system.”

It’s a great PR move. Crane can market it as hiring “one of the key masterminds behind the 2011 World Series champion Cardinals”.

The visitor from VEB in an earlier thread provided a link to Viva El Birdos discussion of losing Luhnow. The fans seemed upset to lose Luhnow. I think it is somewhere at this link.

Comes from a winning organization, and has a good track record of developing talent. I’m happy with this.

Hopefully he didn’t have any involvement on the Pedro Feliz trade.

Campbell refers to a Callis tweet that Luhnow’s first three drafts produced more major leaguers (25) than any other team’s drafts. That kind of comparison can be misleading, but it’s worth noting if you want to feed your optimistic side.

In full disclosure, I don’t know enough about Jeff Luhnow to evaluate him.

But reading the posts here, I’m excited

Recalling yesterday’s thread on Ed Wade, I’m relieved Astros have a GM that just by signing adds support to a crumbling foundation.

I’m excited and relieved Astros have a GM that ’ll look forward instead of what he liked in the past.

but he does fit the criteria of what the Astros need: young, energetic, modern thinker.

There are those who are bashing this hire for one reason: He’s not Andrew Friedman.

Fact is, we never really had a chance. Credit to Crane/Postolous for doing their due diligence and taking their shot.

The first thing I’ll be interested to see is how Jeff revamps the scouting staff. They all need to go, Bobby Heck included.

I think you are a genius, if not, you’re very close.

Btw, I love this hire. I think Luhnow brings great enthusiam and effort.

Also, I LOVE what I’ve seen so far from Crane and Postolos, Crane really does mean business, he’s talked and he’s walked so far. He knows what he’s doing and realizes that being an owner consumes his life, he definetly seems prepared.