SATURDAY SURVEY

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A general manager in baseball is the figurehead of an organization.  In most cases, they have a team of people to advise them on what decisions to make.  Some, but not all, also allow department heads to make decisions.

The Tigers’ GM, Al Avila, has been in the position since 2015.  He oversaw one year of the team attempting to get back to the playoffs.  A year in which he signed Jordan Zimmermann.  At the time, the Tigers did not have an analytics department.

Since the end of 2016, the Tigers were in tear-down mode as salary dumps, presumably ordered by ownership, ruled the day.  Very few, if any, of the trades were deemed to be successful.

Behind the scenes, the Tigers were building an analytics department which was a stated priority for Avila.

After the 2020 season, the Tigers turned a corner.  They had a huge hit in the selection of Akil Baddoo during the Rule 5 draft.  Avila hired A. J. Hinch and allowed him to hand-select his own coaches.  The team performed much better, having winning months since May 8th but still finishing below .500 and ending up in third place.

And in September, the Player Development department was significantly revamped with important new hires and turnover.  The organization updated its personnel, strategy and player development methods.

Recently, the Tigers signed a new starting catcher and rotation pitcher in moves considered to be solid.

So how do you feel about Al Avila now?  Are you more confident about his decisions?

How would you rate Al Avila as a GM today?

(Please remember to limit your comments to 3-4 sentences and follow the rules for posting.)

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20 thoughts on “SATURDAY SURVEY”

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  2. I’ve felt right along that Al is a decent, likely savvy baseball guy who was promoted beyond his abilities to take on the GM role. Appearance-wise, he was done a great disservice by keeping JL and the cronies around; I doubt I’m the only one who wondered/suspected who was really calling the shots. With the apparent influence shift toward AJ, Garko, and the other new folks now on board, it’s ironic that Al is still in place, and I’m still wondering who’s really calling the shots.

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  3. The hire of Hinch was unlikely an Al Avila idea. The analytics department was little more than an after thought for the first 4 years of its existence and its recent elevation only occurred after Hinch’s hire. Just those two reasons along with his past failures cause Avila to still rate below average in my book.

    Liked by 7 people

  4. Al Avila would be rated below average if he had not traded away Justin Verlander, JD Martinez, Justin Upton, Mike Fiers, Nick Castellanos, etc. Because of those trades and his free agent signings (Jordan Zimmermann, Mike Pelfrey, etc.) and his handling of the contracts of James McCann and Jose Iglesias, Avila is an absolute failure as a general manager.

    Liked by 5 people

  5. Al has had a checkered progression true the Tiger’s management system. Early on he listened to often to the advice of other people, friends and cronies, often with negative results. Something clicked in Al and he started moving from a super scout, posing as a GM, to an experienced baseball man learning how to be a GM. Then he embraced Caeser and analytics and decisions, influenced or not, became solid with national recognition.

    Liked by 2 people

    • I agree, Naldo. Al’s like an old dog learning new tricks. At the very least he’s learned to follow recommendations of smarter people with new ideas. Which shows growth in his management style.

      Liked by 4 people

  7. The GM is an employee of the owner. Mr I wanted Zimmerman and other bad deals, Avila got him. Chris wants analytics and all that goes with it, Avila got it. I like Avila, he’s been a good GM and soldier.

    Liked by 3 people

  8. It certainly is puzzling. My best theory regarding Avila’s makeover is that the Illitch group was determined to strip down costs and sell, but reversed course. Otherwise, why the great delay in making over the player development system– It did not coincide with the rebuild, but rather with the hiring of Hinch. Avila happily tossed his cronies overboard, became bff with A.J. and took fresh guidance in order to keep his position.

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    • I think your theory probably hits pretty close to home. However, it still begs the question of who is really calling the shots. Avila has always impressed me as being opposed to change, i.e., a follower and status quo manager, not a leader with a firm vision for the future. It now appears that key decisions, have to go through some one else including the Analytics Department and AJ Hinch for approval (thank goodness).

      Liked by 4 people

  10. I said looking better. I realize he was under orders to dump salary and took the hit for all the negative things he was instructed to do. He was still horrific with trading away talent for little to no return and appeared desperate to dump salary for any deal. Looking better but a long way to go before “looking good”.

    Liked by 4 people

  11. I am pleased with what has happened in the last year but am unsure how much credit is due to AA and how much to AJ…so I still have concerns. I also have to guard against recency bias. This is the same GM that tipped off all his moves in advance who received virtually nothing but a few bags of balls for JV and JD, just to name two. He also did not cut bait on Matthew Boyd and Michael Fulmer when he could have received some players of substance in exchange.

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    • He’s also the same GM who failed to recognize that the person he placed in charge of player development was incapable, despite how many players either showed no improvement or ended up seeking outside help. He’s looking better, but only, I believe, because he’s finally improved his advisory staff – which coincides very closely to AJ’s hiring. Al still has a lot to prove as a leader.

      Liked by 6 people

      • Al Avila always seemed little more than a gate keeper for the “Good Ol’Boys Network”. Littlefield did him no favors as Player Development VP. It looks like he’s finally been pressured into updating his staff.

        Liked by 3 people

  12. I can’t judge Al Avila’s recent performance, because I don’t believe he’s making important decisions anymore. Ownership, awarding Hinch with an opt-out clause in his contract, gave the manager veto power over his GM. Hinch is the GM in waiting and is currently charting the Tigers’ future. After inheriting the team, Chris could not immediately fire Avila, because it would reflect poorly on his father’s judgement. A stealth method of succession had to be concocted.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Where’s your proof of all of that? I don’t think anyone really knows what is going on behind the closed doors of the front office except those involved. Everything in your post is just conjecture at this point.

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  13. As I see it AA has been a great GM for one reason. He has never forgotten who he works for: whoever owns the Tigers. Back in 2015 most fans were almost giddy when we signed JZ no doubt directed by Mr. I. When CI took over, he has done everything CI has asked. I say again that I do not think CI ever intended to sell but he was not going to flirt with bankruptcy by following dad’s method of operation.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. There’s no excuse for the total failure in talent received in those tear down trades except the other GM’s knew he had to unload. As fans, were forced to hope that was the reason for his failure. So I wait what the future will teach us about AA.

    Liked by 4 people

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