Guys, take your bows; you're in the big leagues
By JOHN ROMANO
Published November 3, 2005
ST. PETERSBURG - Any minute now, you can begin wondering about his actual job title. Later today, you can worry about the extent of his input.
But for now, for the moment, understand this:
The Devil Rays have made an excellent hire.
Not just a good hire. Not simply an adequate acquisition. This is a legitimate coup for a franchise that so often behaved as if coup-less.
By joining forces with Gerry Hunsicker, the Rays front office has gotten wiser, more compassionate and far more experienced in the space of an hour.
The Rays have a new legitimacy, and a firmer grasp on reality. Hunsicker is a commodity. He is a winner. He is Billy Beane without the bestseller.
And, yes, I know what you're thinking. If the guy is so good, why was he available? Don't question it, just be thankful.
Be thankful Astros owner Drayton McLane seemed jealous of the acclaim Hunsicker received in Houston. Be thankful the men often butted heads. Mostly, be thankful the Phillies or Red Sox did not hire him first.
This was a general manager who worked with a middle-class budget, yet seemed to keep the Astros up to their mitts in champagne celebrations.
Five playoff appearances in his last eight seasons, all without the benefit of a top-10 payroll. Without ever having the biggest payroll in the division.
Hunsicker mastered the art of focusing on homegrown talent, then snatching the right veterans when they became available.
He got Randy Johnson at the trade deadline in 1998. He got Carlos Beltran for the stretch run in 2004. He signed Jeff Kent before the 2003 season and Ken Caminiti before 1999 and traded for Moises Alou in '97.
He was never timid, even though he worked without the safety net of a large payroll. This makes him perfect for the Rays, who will have to be both aggressive and creative to keep up with the heavyweights in the AL East.
Just be forewarned, you may hear unseemly whispers in Houston. The current Astros regime could get jobs in Hollywood the way they're rewriting history.
Based on their twisted circumstances and version of events, you would think Hunsicker had nothing to do with Houston reaching the World Series last month.
Here's the reality:
That ballclub was built by Hunsicker. Take away Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, who predated his arrival, and there are no players of consequence Hunsicker did not have a hand in acquiring.
The first and third basemen? Hunsicker. The catcher and starting rotation? Hunsicker. The closer and setup man? Hunsicker. The three outfielders? Hunsicker, Hunsicker and Hunsicker.
Yes, he has made mistakes in the past. After all, Hunsicker got even less in return for Bobby Abreu than Chuck LaMar did.
And it's not as if he is without fault. There are those who will tell you he does not have enough patience. And that, at times, he can be too demanding. He also is wound a little too tightly and does not swallow defeat easily.
But if those are the worst accusations that can be leveled at a man, I say hire a half-dozen more.
Rays owner Stuart Sternberg, along with wonder twins Matt Silverman and Andrew Friedman, have already made an impression on the bay area community. Now, it seems, they are making inroads in major-league circles.
Hunsicker was said to have been delighted with the openness of the new regime. Of the lack of cynicism and the impression of honesty.
At 55, Hunsicker may also have been attracted to the idea of serving more as a mentor than a commander. Of not having to be involved in every detail. He reportedly will keep a residence in Houston, where he still has ties, while living here for most of the year.
So really, at this point, only one issue remains. Now that they have lured him here, what do the Rays do with Hunsicker?
Does he have power similar to a general manager, or is he a talking head? Will he have input on big decisions, or is he merely supposed to nod politely instead of disagreeing with the company line?
Much like the hiring of Lou Piniella in 2002, this move makes sense only if the Rays give Hunsicker freedom to do his job and money to make it work.
If they seek his counsel, then fail to heed his advice, they have accomplished nothing. If they talk of increasing the payroll, then get cold feet, they have gone backward.
For now, at least, Hunsicker seems satisfied with the answers the Rays have provided, and they should be thrilled he has agreed to come aboard.
Will he be a true general manager? No.
Will he be a vice president of some type? Probably.
The semantics, at least today, are not important. The real issue is the Rays were wise enough to pursue a top-notch candidate. And he was impressed enough with their vision to sign his reputation on the dotted line.
For the Rays, it is a start.
And a very good one.