Friday, January 8, 2016

One System Fits All


 Paul DePodesta was hired away from the Mets’ front office this week by the…Cleveland Browns.  Yes, that’s right.  A former baseball GM (with the Dodgers) known for analytics will be switching sports.

DePodesta wants the world to know how much he loves football, how he would’ve taken a job in the NFL had the Indians not hired him first.  Right.  Well, better late than never and never a better opportunity than with a franchise that screams dysfunction (hello, Johnny Manziel).  Tell me one thing, though: How is De Podesta going to get those square pegs into round holes?
Baseball and football would seem to have little intersection save for the latter sport’s borrowing terms like “home run” and “centerfield.”  What makes a great offensive lineman doesn’t readily translate to middle infielders, but DePodesta and the Browns no doubt will be hailed for, get ready, “thinking outside the box.” Only they’re not.  These days, anyone who looks good with a laptop can get hired by a front office.  DePodesta, who assisted Billy Beane in the creation of Moneyball, proves that.  Now, let’s see if he can hit a home run with the Cleveland backfield.

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