There was something I missed in the Billy Beane interview that Athletics Nation did recently -- a lesson that could easily apply to a general manager in any team sport:
I'm not sure it's good management as a GM to rebuild, rebuild probably isn't the right word, but to start to make changes only after you've hit rock bottom. Because it takes five, six, seven years to get out of that in a small market. . . I'm not sure that any of our fans want me to stand up at the podium and say, "Hey, we're getting rid of everybody. We're going to lose 100 games over the next three years, now come and enjoy the show."
If that's the situation for small market teams in MLB, what does the situation look like for small market teams in the NHL? If you ask me, that's a lesson they've put into practice in Edmonton, where first Glen Sather and now Kevin Lowe have used spit and rubber bands to keep the Oilers in playoff contention.
So, while undoubtedly,the job that Lowe and Cal Nichols face in Edmonton is difficult, it isn't impossible. Maybe they need to be making a call to Oakland . . .
Thanks to Baseball Crank who featured the quote I pilfered.
