Jack must stay!

Then again, Pittsburgh didn’t want him, so it’s a little early to be concerned.

I was wondering about this for a while now: how does everyone feel about Jack Zduriencik? I mean, he’s done a great job of rebuilding our farm system, and it’s great we have him, but how badly do you want to keep him in the organization? Would you kick Melvin to the curb and install Z as GM, if that were the only way to prevent him from leaving?

I guess…I’m leery about assuming he’d be a fantastic GM. As good a job as he’s done with the draft, to be fair, he’s had a lot of high first-round picks to work with.

[Speaking of which, Rickie was a second overall pick in the 2003 draft, IIRC. Although it’s still possible he’ll figure things out and become an upper echelon player, at what point does one consider that Jack missed with this pick? Granted, at the time, Rickie and Delmon Young were heads and shoulders above everyone else. Still, others who went in the first round of the 2003 draft include Paul Maholm (2008: 3.71 ERA in 31 starts for the Rats), Nick Markakis (career OPS: .851), Conor Jackson (career OPS: .810), and Chad Cordero (career ERA: 2.78). If you could trade Rickie for any one of these players, would you? Granted, maybe the Brewers rushed him through the minors, maybe he’ll blossom into a great player, and the 1st round of that draft is littered with players I haven’t heard of. Still, at some point, it might be fair to call Weeks a bust as the second overall pick in 2003.]

I guess…remember 3 or 4 years ago, when Mike Maddux was considered a sooper genius for turning around pitchers like Doug Davis and that Turnbow character? I wonder if we aren’t overestimating Zduriencik as well. Although Melvin’s made some boneheaded decisions, I think he is an above-average GM, and I wouldn’t be quick to replace him with Zduriencik.

:(

That probably means he has a very good chance. Any idea when they are going to choose their new GM?

This is terrible news.