NewsHoyer to focus on building from within
New GM hopes to construct young core around PETCO
By Doug Miller / MLB.com
10/26/09 10:18 PM EST
Over the course of a few minutes of thank yous following his introduction as the eighth general manager in the history of the San Diego Padres, 35-year-old Jed Hoyer made sure to give personal shout-outs to his parents, sister and fiancee."I'm well aware that I've probably ruined a few dinners over the years talking about baseball the entire time," Hoyer said.
"And I know the schedule in baseball is not too easy, but thank you so much for always believing in my passion for baseball and encouraging it. I'm eternally grateful to you guys."
Newsflash to the Hoyers: There might be a lot more baseball talk in your family dining future.
Yes, the Jed Hoyer Experience began at PETCO Park on Monday, and judging from the tireless work ethic and enthusiasm he displayed while an assistant to Red Sox GM Theo Epstein in Boston, it's clear that Hoyer won't rest until the Padres are perennial contenders.
"I look forward to getting to work here right away," Hoyer said. "There's a great staff here in place. I'm excited to get started."
Hoyer said his first order of business will be to take stock of the pieces already in place that have been cultivated by his predecessor, Kevin Towers, and continue to construct a rock-solid scouting and player development system from within.
"I want to continue with the momentum that's been created here," Hoyer said, citing the young team's 33-25 record over the last two months of the 2009 season. "My goal is consistency. I want to make sure every year on Opening Day there's a quality team on the field that can compete.
"I also want to create the organizational consistency by really using this beautiful ballpark as a resource. I think it's a beautiful place and a place that comes with a bit of a blueprint, if you will, for success."
Hoyer observed with admiration as Epstein took the cramped confines of archaic Fenway Park and fashioned a championship team around the bizarre, quirky elements of the stadium.
He'll be operating on the opposite seaboard and at the opposite end of the spectrum in the vast pitcher's paradise known as PETCO, and don't think for a second that he won't tailor the Padres to its wide open spaces.
"It's really important to dominate your home games," Hoyer said. "One advantage in San Diego is you can tailor your team to the ballpark, and around the [National League West] division, several parks are similar to this one. You never want to short-change yourself on the road, but in this division, it's not the case at all."
While Hoyer could be viewed as a new-school GM hire in the tradition of Epstein -- who was tabbed by Boston in 2002 at the age of 28 -- Texas Rangers GM Jon Daniels, and Josh Byrnes -- who current Padres vice chairman and CEO Jeff Moorad hired in Arizona in 2005 -- he made a point of saying he's not easily classifiable as a straight statistical analysis disciple.
"The way I look at it, it's all about information," Hoyer said. "I want scouting reports, I want reports from the field, quantitative analysis, medical analysis ... I wouldn't be doing my job if I turned down any part of that information.
"I want everything. All the information possible, and we'll plan to work as a staff to make sure we get it."
In Boston, Hoyer helped Epstein stock a farm system and develop young, inexpensive players that became stars. He said he'll try to do the same in San Diego, and he said he's already got a good head start with a good young core and talent through the Minor Leagues.
"The way I see it, first of all, in Boston, one of the things Theo always preached was to be a small-market team with big-market resources," Hoyer said. "Focus on [the team's high payroll only] and you miss what really happened in Boston the last seven years.
"Look up and down the roster. There's great young players."
Hoyer was asked how long he expects it will take for the Padres to contend for the postseason once again, and he said he didn't know.
"I don't think there ever could be a timetable," he said.
"The way I see it, every week, every month, every six months, you try to make the team better. You develop young talent, and you don't know how fast it can come together.
"It's not always a linear progression. Every day, we'll work towards getting better and more talented and I'm confident it will all come together."
One thing he said he's sure of is that he's got the motivation, the energy, and the pieces to get the Padres going in the right direction right away.
"There really is a commitment to expanding the resources to building that infrastructure," Hoyer said. "[The Padres front office] made that commitment right away, and that was reassuring.
"I'm looking forward to getting in the office and starting work. Period."
Doug Miller is a national writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
