What's happened
Paul DePodesta, known for his role in Moneyball and recent tenure with the Cleveland Browns, has been appointed as the Colorado Rockies' new Chief Strategy Officer. He aims to turn around the struggling franchise, which has suffered three consecutive 100-loss seasons, similar to his previous challenges with the Browns and other teams. The move signals a strategic overhaul for the Rockies.
What's behind the headline?
DePodesta's return to baseball marks a strategic shift for the Rockies, who have struggled with consistent losing and poor performance at their high-altitude home. His track record with multiple teams suggests he will implement data-driven approaches to improve player development and team performance. However, the Rockies' history of difficulty in building winning teams, compounded by their geographic and financial constraints, indicates that immediate success is unlikely. This move underscores a broader trend of analytics-driven management in sports, but the franchise's long-term success will depend on execution and adaptation to the unique challenges of Colorado's environment.
What the papers say
AP News highlights DePodesta's extensive MLB experience and recent NFL role, emphasizing his reputation for sabermetrics and strategic leadership. The NY Post details his challenging task with the Rockies' recent losing streak and compares his past with the Browns, noting the franchise's ongoing struggles. The Independent underscores the secrecy around his appointment and his history of winning divisional titles with five teams, framing his return as a significant strategic move for the Rockies. Contrasting opinions suggest that while DePodesta's analytics expertise is promising, the Rockies' structural issues may limit immediate turnaround, as noted by critics in the coverage.
How we got here
DePodesta, a prominent analytics thinker, has a history of leading successful divisional campaigns with five different MLB teams. He left the Browns after nearly a decade, where he was hired as Chief Strategy Officer in 2016, to return to baseball and take on the Rockies' rebuilding effort. The Rockies have not had a winning season since 2018 and have experienced one of the worst three-year stretches in MLB history, with 119 losses last season. His appointment follows the resignation of Bill Schmidt after a 43-119 season.
Go deeper
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Paul DePodesta is an American football executive and former baseball executive who is the chief strategy officer and de facto president of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League.
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The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League West division.
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The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League as a member club of the American Football Conference North division.