The Cardinals: Ideal Franchise or Corporate Criminals?
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 1:45 amAs most know, the FBI is completing its investigation into the Cardinals apparent hacking into the Astros' database and stealing personnel files. Just who was responsible for this heinous action became clearer yesterday, as the Cardinals fired Scouting Director Chris Correa for his apparent involvement in the matter. Considering the Cardinals have always been Baseball's model franchise--great success on the field, excellent player development; polite, knowledgeable fans; and legendary players like Musial and Gibson--the questions many are asking is "Why did it go wrong?"
The answer begins with Jeff Luhnow and his experience with the Cards. Like modern analytic executives like Epstein, Friedman, Preller, Daniels, and Depodesta; Luhnow is brilliant, highly-educated, and statisticaly/analytically oriented. With a B.A/B.S. in Economics and Engineering from UPenn and an MBA from Northwestern, as well as statistical approaches he learned there, Luhnow hardly clicked with the traditional scouting-oriented GM, Walt Jocketty. However, as VP of scouting from 2005-2011, Luhnow greatly contributed to STL's success overseeing the drafting of Carlos Martinez, Matt Carpenter, Matt Adams, Trevor Rosenthal, Shelby Miller, Jamie Garcia, Joe Kelly, and others. So, despite his clashes with Jocketty and his assistant (now GM) John Mozeliak, Luhnow earned the great admiration of owner Bill Dewitt
He also earned it from the Astros new owner Jim Crane, who wanted an advanced analytical thinker to replace old-schooler Ed Wade and was thrilled to land Luhnow. He was so thrilled, the Astros bragged about Luhnow's responsibility for the Cards' success during the 2013 series. Apparently, Mozeliak and crew were fumed...and some members of that crew gathered in a Jupiter, Fla house, hacked into the Astros database, and stole information hoping to embarrass Luhnow. Yes, these grown men (not children) apparently broke Federal law by committing corporate espionage, committed HIPAA violations by stealing medical records...just to embarrass an ex-employer they didn't like.
Which leaves us with the questions of how much has this tarnished the Cardinals reputation as ideal franchise, and what will happen to them. Firstly, even if it never goes higher than Correa, the Cardinals will never be the ideal franchise again. Ideal franchises don't infiltrate other franchises to damage their employees. And if Mozeliak was involved, his entire tenure will be tainted as one run by a criminal, who--along with other employees--could easily see jail time. As to their penalties, the Cardinal organization could be facing Federal ones that could mark them for decades. And Manfred's penalties will likely be equally severe, costing the Cards millions of dollars and numerous high draft picks.
Along with the recent revelations of Pete Rose's likely betting as a player, the shameful Cards debacle helps remind us Baseball franchises aren't nearly as innocent as our love for them. Flawed corporations run by and starring some men-children without ethics, who care nothing for the values of their product, baseball franchises are worthy of our patronage...but rarely worthy of our admiration.
The answer begins with Jeff Luhnow and his experience with the Cards. Like modern analytic executives like Epstein, Friedman, Preller, Daniels, and Depodesta; Luhnow is brilliant, highly-educated, and statisticaly/analytically oriented. With a B.A/B.S. in Economics and Engineering from UPenn and an MBA from Northwestern, as well as statistical approaches he learned there, Luhnow hardly clicked with the traditional scouting-oriented GM, Walt Jocketty. However, as VP of scouting from 2005-2011, Luhnow greatly contributed to STL's success overseeing the drafting of Carlos Martinez, Matt Carpenter, Matt Adams, Trevor Rosenthal, Shelby Miller, Jamie Garcia, Joe Kelly, and others. So, despite his clashes with Jocketty and his assistant (now GM) John Mozeliak, Luhnow earned the great admiration of owner Bill Dewitt
He also earned it from the Astros new owner Jim Crane, who wanted an advanced analytical thinker to replace old-schooler Ed Wade and was thrilled to land Luhnow. He was so thrilled, the Astros bragged about Luhnow's responsibility for the Cards' success during the 2013 series. Apparently, Mozeliak and crew were fumed...and some members of that crew gathered in a Jupiter, Fla house, hacked into the Astros database, and stole information hoping to embarrass Luhnow. Yes, these grown men (not children) apparently broke Federal law by committing corporate espionage, committed HIPAA violations by stealing medical records...just to embarrass an ex-employer they didn't like.
Which leaves us with the questions of how much has this tarnished the Cardinals reputation as ideal franchise, and what will happen to them. Firstly, even if it never goes higher than Correa, the Cardinals will never be the ideal franchise again. Ideal franchises don't infiltrate other franchises to damage their employees. And if Mozeliak was involved, his entire tenure will be tainted as one run by a criminal, who--along with other employees--could easily see jail time. As to their penalties, the Cardinal organization could be facing Federal ones that could mark them for decades. And Manfred's penalties will likely be equally severe, costing the Cards millions of dollars and numerous high draft picks.
Along with the recent revelations of Pete Rose's likely betting as a player, the shameful Cards debacle helps remind us Baseball franchises aren't nearly as innocent as our love for them. Flawed corporations run by and starring some men-children without ethics, who care nothing for the values of their product, baseball franchises are worthy of our patronage...but rarely worthy of our admiration.