2K12 Baltimore Orioles

[Bodhizefa]

It looks like Dan Duquette is going to take the plunge and snag the O's GM job. I didn't pay much attention to baseball back in his Expos and Red Sox days, so I don't know exactly what to expect. Anyone out there remember some Duquette stories?

[DJBeasties]

Yes he almost and should have -- and could have won a World Series with the Expos but the strike ruined that. Good GM in Boston but was very criticized by the Boston media. Did not handle the media at all and had really bad fallouts with Mo Vaughn and Roger Clemens. Early on he was a farm system guru but increasingly became obsessed with finding the last big piece to the puzzle with veteran players. Helped close out the racism era in Boston which took 30+ years to do. Responsible for drafting Kevin Youkilis and Jon Lester but overall the farm system ended up being barren on his watch. Stole Pedro Martinez from the Expos in a deal for Carl Pavano and Tony Armas. Stole Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek from Seattle for Heathcliff Slocumb. Signed Manny to a monster contract.

In 1996 declared Clemens was in the twighlight of his career. Signed Steve Avery to a huge deal after Clemens left and he sucked. Also signed Jose Offerman to a big deal and he sucked.

He signed Tim Wakefield in 1995 and Wake is still here. Oddly, he signed Mike Maddux in 1995 as well and Maddux is now interviewing for the Red Sox manager gig. Duquette was fired when John Henry and Co. bought the team from John Harrington. He laid the groundwork though for Theo Epstein and guys that Duquette brought in (like Pedro, Lowe, Varitek, Damon and Manny) were big parts of the '04 championship

[Erik]

It got really ugly between him and the Boston media toward the end of his run.

He also sided with the players when they mutinied against Jimy Williams, and fired Williams.

The media thought he was arrogant, judging from the NY Times account of his firing:

Duquette, a Massachusetts native and the team's general manager for eight years, personified that image with his distant treatment of fans and the news media, his questionable assessment of certain players and his refusal to back his manager over a player. John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino plan to make other moves, Lucchino said, but this one had to be first.

His cousin is Jim Duquette, the man who traded Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano.

[virgonomic]

See thread: 2K11 Baltimore Orioles.