00:00:00
I referenced Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes who works under him as the GM, their number two, former teammate of
00:00:05
mine in Tampa. Brandon's a good example of a guy who played and understands what it's like to
00:00:09
get his spikes dirty, but super sharp, super smart, obviously working under one of if not the best. And so,
00:00:18
I think that they have high level of baseline intellect, but they've got like
00:00:23
crazy good EQ as well. And Brandon has the advantage of having played and being able to empathize with what these guys
00:00:29
are going through every day. So, if you can blend those two things and really, yeah, make decisions
00:00:35
really well and generally like evidence-based decisions and know how to do, but also be able to relate to
00:00:40
players, I think that's the That's why you're seeing, I think, maybe more
00:00:43
former players step into these executive roles. Like, you have a ton of data, kind of resources that not just through
00:00:51
a player acquisition lens, like trades, free agents, etc., but through a player development lens now in the last decade.
00:00:56
Like, it's really advanced in getting players better using data and technology. But,
00:01:02
it helps like sometimes with new stuff, it helps to have a sort of immediate credibility.
00:01:08
And then that and be able to relate to players in a meaningful way that, frankly, like somebody who has never
00:01:13
played the game, they may be equally adept at explaining it, but that credibility is real. It just is.