Thoughts on Minor League Reform and Giants Manager Search

We have a request for thoughts on MLB's proposed minor league reform.  I agree there is a huge amount of room for improvement in the whole talent acquisition/minor league/player development axis, but as always, the devil is in the details.  The proposal, as I understand it, is a radical reorganization of the minor leagues eliminated A- and R+ short season leagues.  Camp leagues like the AZL and GCL would remain.  The draft would be held later in the summer after the college playoffs are completed.  Whole new leagues would be carved out of current ones to create more regionality for organizations.  Cities with substandard facilities would be at risk for elimination.  The draft would be shortened to around 20 rounds as there would be less need to draft players just to fill rosters.  The benefits would be increased regionality, improved facilities and presumably higher pay for players, although jobs would be contracted.  There would be a creation of a "Dream League" for undrafted players and minor league free agents which would be some sort of hybrid between affiliated leagues and independent leagues presumably with more support from MLB than indy leagues currently receive.

Comments:

1.  The draft needs to be shortened.  Some teams already start punting picks at about round 25.  Most teams punt picks after round 30.

2.  There is a need for more regionality as distances right now are ridiculous and not conducive to player health and development.

3.  It is true that many players are currently drafted and signed for no other reason than to fill out rosters, so there is room for consolidation.

4.  The trend toward more teaching and applying learned skills and less reliance on simply relying on more innings and more PA's for player development, which I think is a good thing.

5.  Most organization currently use AAA more as an extended MLB bench than for player development.  It's not clear if reorganization would change this.

Concerns:

1.  There are already large gaps in talent and skills between levels which may get worse with reorganization.

2.  Elimination of jobs to fund a pay raise seems unnecessary and disingenuous.

3.  Converting the Northwest League to full season is going to produce a lot of rainouts in April and May.

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The Giants manager search grinds on.  Early word was Zaidi planned to interview 7-8 candidates.  I think he's already done that but we keep hearing more names added to the list.  I honestly don't have much of an opinion about who would make a good manager except this:  I think Gabe Kapler would be a big mistake and I am intrigued by Will Venable.

I saw all I need to see of Kapler during a in-game interview in a game against the Giants.  After pulling Jake Arrieta from the game, he had what appeared to be a tense discussion in the dugout.  When asked about what he said to Arrieta, Kapler responded in a faux drill sergeant voice "I told him he was a warrior and had given everything he had and left it on the field and it was time to let his teammates take if from here" or something to that effect.  My reaction was the same as when I heard Bobby Valentine talk on broadcasts, "Sheesh!  Can you imagine listening to that every day you go to work?"  So, it's a definite no for me on Kapler.

Will Venable might be the perfect mix of new blood and Giants history.  He's young, Princeton educated.  Has experience in several organizations.....and he's Max and Molly's kid!  He has also lived in Japan and the Dominican Republic.  I'll assume he is well versed in statistics and how to use them.  The next Giants manager is going to be constantly compared to Bruce Bochy which could lead to difficult relationships with the press and fans.  What he would have going for him is Kruk and Kuip who absolutely fawned over him every time he came to town with a visiting team.  So, I'd be on board with Will Venable.  The only downside for me would be how many times I had to listen to Kruk and Kuip go on about "Max and Molly's Kid"!