Hiatt out, Stanley in

by squirrel on Oct 12, 2007 12:01 PM PDT Comment 42 comments

The Giants promoted former major leaguer Fred Stanley on Friday to replace Jack Hiatt as the team's director of player development.

Hiatt, a former Giants catcher, stepped down after 16 years in the role. During his tenure, the farm system has produced eight All-Stars, two Rolaids Relief Award winners, a batting title winner and a 20-game winner.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Allf5h2ETl4heHbgsdlLAs0o0bYF?slug=ap-giants-frontoffice&pr ov=ap&type=lgns

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Stanley probably couldn't be any worse.

WE FIGHT WARS! WE CHEAT ON OUR SPOUSES! WE LISTEN! TO THE STEVE MILLER BAND! BUT IF;! WE THROW OURSELVES INTO SOMETHING AS GLORIOUS AS BASEBALL ALL IS FORGIVEN!

by nick on Oct 12, 2007 11:53 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

16 years, 11 players. 2 of them relief pitchers. Nice Resume.

Dave Righetti: You don't know him. / Read My Blog, Because I Write It

by howtheyscored on Oct 12, 2007 11:55 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Not that I can pin it all one him. There's drafting, and trading, and plenty GM stuff that gets in the way.

But it still seems pretty abysmal.

Dave Righetti: You don't know him. / Read My Blog, Because I Write It

by howtheyscored on Oct 12, 2007 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

First Lefebvre, now Hiatt. This winter is starting off pretty well.

Thank God that's over.

by southcitysteve on Oct 12, 2007 12:45 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Now if they'll just fire that Chevron ad in left field, all will be right at the PhonePark.

Dave Righetti: You don't know him. / Read My Blog, Because I Write It

by howtheyscored on Oct 12, 2007 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Nope...It's going to take more than that. Don't forget about the Cammy firing.

Screw the Giants, but not Omar. I'm getting drunk and watching some footy.

by PacBellBoozer on Oct 12, 2007 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Cammy is not the right person for developing the young talent we need in the stands.

We need someone young and hot. Maybe Baron Davis can get Jessica Alba to be the go-to Bay Area sports interview chick. And then maybe he can get her to sleep with me. That will really improve the Giants' chances next year. Especially if Jessica Alba sleeps with me.

Thank God that's over.

by southcitysteve on Oct 12, 2007 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Seriously though, screw ARod, if the Giants want to fill AT&T next year they need to go after Alba.

Thank God that's over.

by southcitysteve on Oct 12, 2007 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

ctrl+F/replace all/find: A-Rod/Replace With: Jessica Alba/

Dave Righetti: You don't know him. / Read My Blog, Because I Write It

by howtheyscored on Oct 12, 2007 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Also, apply to entire site. This would add a little spice to the whoop whoop task force. Plus, I'd love to see the new image.

Dave Righetti: You don't know him. / Read My Blog, Because I Write It

by howtheyscored on Oct 12, 2007 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Would that have to include Rainman with a condom on his head?

"When Jackson Williams thinks of how many times Madison Bumgarner has tried to kill Tyler Walker..."

by multiphasic on Oct 12, 2007 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions

head joke... too... easy...

must... restrain... self...!

But I think I would kind of like it as is, foil hat and all.

Dave Righetti: You don't know him. / Read My Blog, Because I Write It

by howtheyscored on Oct 12, 2007 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

I've got a whole task force behind me now?!? Woohoo! On my orders....unleash HELL !!!

Screw the Giants, but not Omar. I'm getting drunk and watching some footy.

by PacBellBoozer on Oct 12, 2007 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions

WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP

Screw the Giants, but not Omar. I'm getting drunk and watching some footy.

by PacBellBoozer on Oct 12, 2007 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP

I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't post this lil' ditty.

Screw the Giants, but not Omar. I'm getting drunk and watching some footy.

by PacBellBoozer on Oct 12, 2007 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP

My replace all doesn't seem to have worked... :/

Dave Righetti: You don't know him. / Read My Blog, Because I Write It

by howtheyscored on Oct 12, 2007 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP

Well, I AM looking for a second in command. I'd love to bestow the powers of the mighty Whoop Whoop to you good buddy. Perhaps you could cook up a little something with her in a scantily clothed number. You hearin' me here?!?

THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED.

Screw the Giants, but not Omar. I'm getting drunk and watching some footy.

by PacBellBoozer on Oct 12, 2007 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP

I wish I could, but no me havey teh photoshop :(

Dave Righetti: You don't know him. / Read My Blog, Because I Write It

by howtheyscored on Oct 12, 2007 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP

No problem...I'll lend a hand if you promise to post it every time she's mentioned. Well there's a whole secret handshake you'll have to learn, but we'll go over that later.

Gimme some time and because I'm a loser, I'll cook something up for you tonight. Photoshopping THIS image, probably isn't something I should be doing in the office for all to see.

Screw the Giants, but not Omar. I'm getting drunk and watching some footy.

by PacBellBoozer on Oct 12, 2007 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP

maybe Natto should use this for his gameday thread K counter

by wilriv21 on Oct 12, 2007 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP

You should photoshop Cammie's face onto a giant toe and call it "The Cammie Toe."

Thank God that's over.

by southcitysteve on Oct 12, 2007 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP, WHOOOOP

You sick leetle monkey.

SJ Giants, 2007 Cal League champs! Couldn't have done it without the All-Father.

by EliminateMe on Oct 12, 2007 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

I'm too lazy to do this, but can anyone come up with the actual players referred to in the article? Hiatt's resume sounds bad enough as it is, but I suspect it's even worse when you consider how little any of these players actually helped the Giants. For example, I'm pretty sure that batting title winner is Bill Mueller who won it with the Red Sox.

Rajai Davis: fast.

by Mike Benjamin Hit King on Oct 12, 2007 1:12 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Yeah, I think most of those may have been achieved with other teams. lol.

Fairley odd parent to Wendell...

by Mark carry on on Oct 12, 2007 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

This is a good question. I just looked at the full list of Rolaids Relief Award Winners, and the only possible people they could be referring to are Keith Foulke and Rod Beck. But Beck was a rookie in '91 (pitching over 50 innings) while Hiatt couldn't have taken the postion until the '92 season (since he's been on the job 16 years). So how could the system have produced Beck during his tenure?

The Batting Champ obviously was Mueller (with Boston), the 20 game winner Ortiz (with Atlanta), and as for All Stars, I can come up with Estes, Foulke, Ortiz, Nathan, Aurilia, and Liriano but I'm short the other two, although if they're counting Beck he'd be 7. The other one escapes me.

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Oct 12, 2007 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

If they're counting Beck, maybe they're counting Burkett? Eh, that seems unlikely, he was drafted in '83...

Bochy: grounded until he stops hitting and running with slow runners and crappy hitters

by Stuttering John Tamargo on Oct 12, 2007 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Could they be counting Royce Clayton? He was drafted in 88 but was still in the Giants farm system in 91 and half of 92...

SJ Giants, 2007 Cal League champs! Couldn't have done it without the All-Father.

by EliminateMe on Oct 12, 2007 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Clayton was never an All-Star.

(looks it up)

Holy crap, he was!! :-0 :-0 :-0

Bochy: grounded until he stops hitting and running with slow runners and crappy hitters

by Stuttering John Tamargo on Oct 12, 2007 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

I'm guessing the 20-game winner refers to Ortiz, who won 21 for Atlanta in 2003. The Giants haven't had any 20-game winners since - Swift and Burkett, I believe?

SJ Giants, 2007 Cal League champs! Couldn't have done it without the All-Father.

by EliminateMe on Oct 12, 2007 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

20 game winner - Ortiz (Atlanta 2003)

Batting title winner - Mueller (Boston 2003)

Rolaids
1. Beck (1994)
2. Foulke (2003)

8 all-stars

1.    Ortiz
2.    Nathan
3.    Estes
4.    Foulke
5.    Liriano
6.    Aurilia
7.    Beck
8.    Royce Clayton (?)

Beck, Royce Clayton (1997AS) and Mike Remlinger (2002AS) all were on the roster in 1991 and subsequently became All-Stars at some point in their careers. Hiatt took over in 1991, so including them as players produced under his watch is probably not true. Remlinger was traded in 1991 in the Kevin Mitchell for Bill Swift deal and didn't pitch again in the majors until 1994 with the Mets after he was granted free agency. I'd say they'd all have to be counted or none of them should be.
To say that Aurilia was a product of the Giants system is a bit misleading. He was drafted by Texas in 1992. The Giants got him from Texas for Burkett in December 1994. He made his major league debut in September 1995, so it appears that he was probably already developed, though he sorta platooned for a few years after that.
Liriano was in A+ at the time he was traded in 2003. He began 2004 in A+ (Twins system) and moved to AA. He started at AA in 2005, moved up to AAA and made his debut later that season. He was at least partially "produced" by the Twins organization.

The bottom line is that, as little credit as Hiatt is getting, he deserves less than that. He should have been fired years ago.

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 12, 2007 3:42 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Actually, the bottom line is they chose to fill the position by promoting their coordinator of minor league instruction from within. A great chance to bring fresh eyes to the system goes for naught.

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Oct 12, 2007 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

While the Aurilia comment is factually accurate, remember that Hiatt's role was development and not acquisition, so who Richie started with doesn't matter as much as the time he spent in the Giants' system, under Hiatt's control.

While Aurilia indeed made his debut in 1995, it was at the end of the year. He appeared in 150 games in the minors as a Giant, nearly a third of his minor league career, so I don't think it's too misleading to say Hiatt had a significant hand in his development...and that's before considering whether or not Hiatt had a role in Aurilia's continued development interning as a major leaguer during those platoon years.

SFDugout.com - Returning Offseason 2007

by BruteSentiment on Oct 12, 2007 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

I agree with the assessment re: Aurilia. He, like Liriano, were "shared" development prospects. But I'm still confused how they can count Beck as being developed during his tenure. When exactly did Hiatt take this post? To me, 16 years counts back to the winter before the '92 season.

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Oct 13, 2007 7:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

I'm a little sad just because Hiatt really took the time to do one of the best interviews I ever did for SFDugout.com, an hour-plus long very candid discussion about Giants prospects, which when typed was nearly 15 pages of very interesting material.

But I'm not surprised.

SFDugout.com - Returning Offseason 2007

by BruteSentiment on Oct 12, 2007 4:05 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Let's hope Stanley (the manly?) is a good interview too, gracious and full of interesting info.

Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss: Not fascist: SF Dugout. Not boring nor fascist: CLE winning the World Series.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Oct 12, 2007 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Two things I must address...

First, eight All-Stars in 16 years??? Isn't that like Bill Clinton saying he tool Arkansas from 50th in education to 49th? I mean, that's a pretty straight up crappy resume, I'd think! And if you look at the above listed All-Stars, it's not like any of them are REAL stars. Remember the year the D-Rays were represented in the All Star game by a relief pitcher with an ERA soaring above 5.00? There's definitely a difference between a STAR and an ALL-Star.

And B, I was talking to someone recently who said that basically, the Director of Player Development doesn't really do anything. I think he handles promotions and demotions of minor league players, tells them they're being cut, and that's about it. If that's the case, then does it even matter what happened while Hiatt was here? If it's not true, anyone have insight as to what his job responsibilities are? Because I could tell a player he's out of a job.

"He called the sh** POOP!" -- Adam Sandler

by JRPhillips on Oct 12, 2007 4:16 PM PDT reply actions

Clinton "tooling" Arkansas

Best. Typo. Ever.

Bochy: grounded until he stops hitting and running with slow runners and crappy hitters

by Stuttering John Tamargo on Oct 12, 2007 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Things Hiatt would be involved in or in charge of (for better and worse):

Who plays on what level (bringing up the older players at a level debate)...and also what role players have (notably recently, the surprising assignment and discovery of closers like Brian Anderson and Dan Otero).
The focus of the coaching staff, and assignment of many roving instructors. (The arguments about Giants not focusing enough on hitting, plate discipline, etc., apply)
Deciding/suggesting who can/should be traded from the system. (All the trades for the Giants that have worked out because the traded players disappointed...or the one that was horrible for the Giants...Hiatt had a hand in noting who the Giants traded away)

SFDugout.com - Returning Offseason 2007

by BruteSentiment on Oct 12, 2007 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

hiatt out but tidrow still has his job??

what is wrong with this picture?

by bacci40 on Oct 12, 2007 10:47 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

It should be noted that this appears to have not been a firing, simply a retirement, so it wasn't (probably) part of the Giants house-cleaning.

The Giants' quick choice to fill the role, or at least not giving him a temporary status, does not bode well for an overall change of philosophy.

It should also be noted that Tidrow and Hiatt had two very different roles. They overlapped at places and worked together at times, but there was no chain of command linking them. Tidrow focuses on acquisition and some in-house assessment, while Hiatt's main job was working with who the Giants already had. So don't think that Hiatt was Tidrow's subordinate, or vice-versa.

SFDugout.com - Returning Offseason 2007

by BruteSentiment on Oct 12, 2007 11:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

The Giants' quick choice to fill the role, or at least not giving him a temporary status, does not bode well for an overall change of philosophy.

I wonder whether the Giants even considered anyone else. In a normal business, when one of your key people retires, you list the position, seek recommendations, hire head-hunters, interview several top candidates -- basically, do everything you can to make sure you're hiring the best possible person for the job. Maybe they did all that, but Stanley's hiring being announced as a fait accompli certainly encourages the impression that the Giants front office is fundamentally a clubhouse for Brian Sabean's cronies, rather than a place where they're trying to build the best baseball organization they can.

by Evan on Oct 13, 2007 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Hiatt out, Stanley in

Well, I don't know if I'd say that in a normal business that that's the rule and not the exception. I've seen it on occasion, but a lot of time, if it's a position that regards an ongoing project, they will often go in-house or at least give priority to it.

Now remember, just because we just found out about this move, but the Giants may have been aware of it for quite some time and took their time looking at the in-house options, giving Stanley a true interview...and were satisfied enough to not look outside the organization.

Considering the importance of making moves this offseason that will likely involve minor leaguers quickly, getting this position settled quickly makes sense, as it affects most of the staff. Since the AFL/HWB/Instructional League games are going on right now and assessments need to be made now, the promptness of the changeover makes sense.

SFDugout.com - Returning Offseason 2007

by BruteSentiment on Oct 13, 2007 11:53 PM PDT up reply actions