Author Topic: Luhnow makes two new hires (Read 8208 times)

astrosfan76 · « **on:** January 03, 2012, 05:56:15 pm »

Mike Burns, who left to become an area scout with Toronto, has been replaced with, what else, but a lawyer with degrees from Harvard and Pepperdine, as Coordinator of Amateur Scouting (nothing against lawyers, just pointing out the level of education). Stephanie Wilka previously worked for the Red Sox and Dodgers.

In the "I have no idea what the title means" department, the club hired Sig Mejdal as the newly-formed Director of Decision Sciences. He's one of Luhnow's boys from St. Louis, where he was most recently "Director, Amateur Draft Analytics."

Per tweets and retweets

Von Kaiser · « **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2012, 06:11:57 pm »

According to Zachary Levine, Luhnow says a Director of Decision Sciences is "Someone to oversee the architecture and ongoing operation of all the systems that we're going to utilize to make better baseball decisions."

Okay.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #2 on:** January 03, 2012, 06:34:37 pm »

We're smart.

austro · « **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2012, 06:38:28 pm »

Quote from: Ron Brand on January 03, 2012, 06:34:37 pm

We're smart.

"I want respect!"

jbm · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2012, 06:54:20 pm »

Director of decision sciences. This is becoming sadly laughable.

Does Ms. Wilka have a scouting background?

subnuclear · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2012, 07:10:33 pm »

Quote from: jbm on January 03, 2012, 06:54:20 pm

Director of decision sciences. This is becoming sadly laughable.

Does Ms. Wilka have a scouting background?

My amateur Googling tells me she worked in the Red Sox and Dodger charities and was a cheerleader at Harvard.

NeilT · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2012, 07:29:45 pm »

Quote from: subnuclear on January 03, 2012, 07:10:33 pm

My amateur Googling tells me she worked in the Red Sox and Dodger charities and was a cheerleader at Harvard.

When did Harvard start admitting women?

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 03, 2012, 08:17:13 pm »

Quote from: NeilT on January 03, 2012, 07:29:45 pm

When did Harvard start admitting women?

When did Harvard start having sports?

jbm · « **Reply #8 on:** January 03, 2012, 08:55:21 pm »

I hope the press inquires about whether a coodinator of amateur scouting needs a scouting background, and if not, why?

Noe · « **Reply #9 on:** January 03, 2012, 09:23:04 pm »

THIS is just crazy enough to work! GOOOOOOOO Team(Crane)!

Jacksonian · « **Reply #10 on:** January 03, 2012, 11:03:31 pm »

Quote from: jbm on January 03, 2012, 08:55:21 pm

I hope the press inquires about whether a coodinator of amateur scouting needs a scouting background, and if not, why?

My thought it is about staff management not the scouting.

Col. Sphinx Drummond · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2012, 06:48:20 am »

Quote from: Noe in Austin on January 03, 2012, 09:23:04 pm

THIS is just crazy enough to work! GOOOOOOOO Team(Crane)!

This certainly qualifies her to be Governor of Texas or even a Senator from Texas, but a baseball scout!?!?!? C'mon, man! I wonder who is she related to?

MusicMan · « **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2012, 08:25:38 am »

Quote from: Von Kaiser on January 03, 2012, 06:11:57 pm

According to Zachary Levine, Luhnow says a Director of Decision Sciences is "Someone to oversee the architecture and ongoing operation of all the systems that we're going to utilize to make better baseball decisions."

Okay.

This sounds like the proprietaary computing systems that Epstein, et al have developed to help with their analytics side.

jbm · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2012, 09:41:02 am »

Quote from: Jacksonian on January 03, 2012, 11:03:31 pm

My thought it is about staff management not the scouting.

Well, let's hope so, but still, it would be nice if Levine (or some other reporter) actually clarified what her job duties actually are.

In your mind, what constitutes staff management?

Ron Brand · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2012, 09:48:17 am »

I don't give a damn about what they call it or what they do in the bunker, as long as it is successful. I think it would help if they had someone like Art Howe to be the good ol' boy face of this, some kind of believable plain-talk BS they could shovel around to help corral the fans before they drift away in fits of bewildered, angry derision.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #15 on:** January 04, 2012, 09:49:39 am »

Quote from: jbm on January 04, 2012, 09:41:02 am

Well, let's hope so, but still, it would be nice if Levine (or some other reporter) actually clarified what her job duties actually are.

In your mind, what constitutes staff management?

Fuck if I know. For all I know she's a glorified AA.

jbm · « **Reply #16 on:** January 04, 2012, 09:58:28 am »

Quote from: Ron Brand on January 04, 2012, 09:48:17 am

I don't give a damn about what they call it or what they do in the bunker, as long as it is successful. I think it would help if they had someone like Art Howe to be the good ol' boy face of this, some kind of believable plain-talk BS they could shovel around to help corral the fans before they drift away in fits of bewildered, angry derision.

I agree with both your points: being successful is all that matters, and a reassuring baseball face is sorely needed. However, I can't help myself in drawing conclusions on things like this. Makes me wonder about Luhnow.

For instance, the Cedeno hire should have been something they promoted, as it is something fans can relate to. No one I know relates to hiring a Director of Decision Sciences. Maybe I just know the wrong crowd.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #17 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:05:03 am »

Quote from: jbm on January 04, 2012, 09:58:28 am

I agree with both your points: being successful is all that matters, and a reassuring baseball face is sorely needed. However, I can't help myself in drawing conclusions on things like this. Makes me wonder about Luhnow.

For instance, the Cedeno hire should have been something they promoted, as it is something fans can relate to. No one I know relates to hiring a Director of Decision Sciences. Maybe I just know the wrong crowd.

They need some serious PR in the worst way. I haven't seen any signs yet that they're in the least bit competent about addressing that.

Limey · « **Reply #18 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:10:21 am »

Quote from: astrosfan76 on January 03, 2012, 08:17:13 pm

When did Harvard start having sports?

George W. Bush was a cheerleader at Harvard.

HudsonHawk · « **Reply #19 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:23:45 am »

Quote from: Limey on January 04, 2012, 10:10:21 am

George W. Bush was a cheerleader at Harvard.

Which his Yale classmates found really annoying.

Limey · « **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:35:18 am »

Quote from: HudsonHawk on January 04, 2012, 10:23:45 am

Which his Yale classmates found really annoying.

He went to both.

MusicMan · « **Reply #21 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:37:23 am »

Quote from: HudsonHawk on January 04, 2012, 10:23:45 am

Which his Yale classmates found really annoying.

Not his first gaffe, not his last.

HudsonHawk · « **Reply #22 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:41:37 am »

Quote from: Limey on January 04, 2012, 10:35:18 am

He went to both.

Well, he received degrees from both. Actually though, I don't think he was a cheerleader in college, just in high school (which is the picture you linked).

moriartp · « **Reply #23 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:42:38 am »

Say what you will about the hires, but this article reeks of an uncommon douchebaggery.

jbm · « **Reply #24 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:48:44 am »

If you give ridiculous titles to your employees, you should expect mockery.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #25 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:50:08 am »

Quote from: moriartp on January 04, 2012, 10:42:38 am

Say what you will about the hires, but this article reeks of an uncommon douchebaggery.

Yep. This is what I'm after here - Harry Potter doesn't know shit about PR, and I'm not sure Crane has any idea what he has a hold of either. Maybe they'll hire someone who will be great, but they're missing a lot of opportunities and digging a deeper public hole by not having someone in place to work the release of news and decisions to the media and the public.

JimR · « **Reply #26 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:51:16 am »

Quote from: Ron Brand on January 04, 2012, 10:50:08 am

Yep. This is what I'm after here - Harry Potter doesn't know shit about PR, and I'm not sure Crane has any idea what he has a hold of either. Maybe they'll hire someone who will be great, but they're missing a lot of opportunities and digging a deeper public hole by not having someone in place to work the release of news and decisions to the media and the public.

oh, Fuckhouse...where are you?

MusicMan · « **Reply #27 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:54:28 am »

Quote from: jbm on January 04, 2012, 10:48:44 am

If you give ridiculous titles to your employees, you should expect mockery.

Limey, what say the House of Windsor on this?

Bench · « **Reply #28 on:** January 04, 2012, 11:35:07 am »

Quote from: Ron Brand on January 04, 2012, 10:50:08 am

Yep. This is what I'm after here - Harry Potter doesn't know shit about PR, and I'm not sure Crane has any idea what he has a hold of either. Maybe they'll hire someone who will be great, but they're missing a lot of opportunities and digging a deeper public hole by not having someone in place to work the release of news and decisions to the media and the public.

Well, what's Pam doing? Isn't that her job?

moriartp · « **Reply #29 on:** January 04, 2012, 11:41:58 am »

Quote from: jbm on January 04, 2012, 10:48:44 am

If you give ridiculous titles to your employees, you should expect mockery.

I was referring to the author's description of Wilka as an "ex-cheerleader" in the headline and how her actual experience is shoved away in the last two sentences. Douchebaggery of the highest order.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #30 on:** January 04, 2012, 11:45:30 am »

Quote from: Bench on January 04, 2012, 11:35:07 am

Well, what's Pam doing? Isn't that her job?

Who knows? I figured she was in charge of selling ad space, etc. but it's not like you can look to the Astro braintrust for updates.

NeilT · « **Reply #31 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:02:30 pm »

Does amateur scouting mean that the scouts are amateurs, or that the players are amateurs? I've assumed the latter, but it's not clear from the title or the press.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #32 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:05:03 pm »

Quote from: Bench on January 04, 2012, 11:35:07 am

Well, what's Pam doing? Isn't that her job?

It's Jay Lucas' job.

jbm · « **Reply #33 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:26:25 pm »

Quote from: Ron Brand on January 04, 2012, 12:05:03 pm

It's Jay Lucas' job.

Since this hasn't been an obvious failing in Mr. Lucas' past, I'm assuming the transition hasn't been very smooth, and wondering if he is actually the responsible party at the moment. Could be that a lot of the old guard feels they are out of the loop or maybe dead men walking (see Heck's quotes on the Keith Law story), or maybe Crane/Luhnow/Postolos just bypass their staff on things they think they know well. My money is on Crane, not only since it always starts at the top, but just given how poorly he handled the PR during the sale saga. PR doesn't seem to be his strong suit.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #34 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:29:25 pm »

Quote from: jbm on January 04, 2012, 12:26:25 pm

Since this hasn't been an obvious failing in Mr. Lucas' past, I'm assuming the transition hasn't been very smooth, and wondering if he is actually the responsible party at the moment. Could be that a lot of the old guard feels they are out of the loop or maybe dead men walking (see Heck's quotes on the Keith Law story), or maybe Crane/Luhnow/Postolos just bypass their staff on things they think they know well. My money is on Crane, not only since it always starts at the top, but just given how poorly he handled the PR during the sale saga. PR doesn't seem to be his strong suit.

Absolutely. It is as likely that Mr. Lucas is being held back as it is anything else. For that matter, it's probably even more likely that I'm full of shit and don't know what I'm talking about when I say that I don't think they've handled any of this well at all.

But I don't think they've handled any of this well at all.

D.H. · « **Reply #35 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:38:46 pm »

According to her bio, she could have only worked between Summer 2005 and Fall 2008,, all of 3 years, being a student the rest of the time. She's now the Director of Scouting as her first real job?

Sorry, TT, but nothing anyone says in the national media can be as douchebag as this hiring.

Bench · « **Reply #36 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:42:31 pm »

Quote from: D.H. on January 04, 2012, 12:38:46 pm

According to her bio, she could have only worked between Summer 2005 and Fall 2008,, all of 3 years, being a student the rest of the time. She's now the Director of Scouting as her first real job?

No, she's not. She's the director of decision sciences.

MusicMan · « **Reply #37 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:43:27 pm »

Quote from: Bench on January 04, 2012, 12:42:31 pm

No, she's not. She's the director of decision sciences.

"The Astros have hired Sig Mejdal as Director of Decision Sciences and Stephanie Wilka as Coordinator of Amateur Scouting, General Manager Jeff Luhnow announced today."

Bench · « **Reply #38 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:44:41 pm »

Quote from: MusicMan on January 04, 2012, 12:43:27 pm

"The Astros have hired Sig Mejdal as Director of Decision Sciences and Stephanie Wilka as Coordinator of Amateur Scouting, General Manager Jeff Luhnow announced today."

I was always more of a social sciences guy anyway.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #39 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:45:18 pm »

Quote from: D.H. on January 04, 2012, 12:38:46 pm

According to her bio, she could have only worked between Summer 2005 and Fall 2008,, all of 3 years, being a student the rest of the time. She's now the Director of Scouting as her first real job?

Sorry, TT, but nothing anyone says in the national media can be as douchebag as this hiring.

Bullshit. We don't have any idea what her abilities or her duties are. She may well have nothing to do with anything more than setting up regions and scheduling people.

Bench · « **Reply #40 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:47:53 pm »

Quote from: Ron Brand on January 04, 2012, 12:45:18 pm

Bullshit. We don't have any idea what her abilities or her duties are. She may well have nothing to do with anything more than setting up regions and scheduling people.

Right. She's a coordinator, not a "director."

austro · « **Reply #41 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:55:29 pm »

Maybe Bud wants more women in the front offices.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #42 on:** January 04, 2012, 12:59:19 pm »

Quote from: Bench on January 04, 2012, 12:47:53 pm

Right. She's a coordinator, not a "director."

If you hire for both types of title you know there is a world of difference between them.

moriartp · « **Reply #43 on:** January 04, 2012, 01:01:50 pm »

Quote from: Ron Brand on January 04, 2012, 12:45:18 pm

Bullshit. We don't have any idea what her abilities or her duties are. She may well have nothing to do with anything more than setting up regions and scheduling people.

That's a bingo.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #44 on:** January 04, 2012, 01:02:58 pm »

Quote from: austro on January 04, 2012, 12:55:29 pm

Maybe Bud wants more women in the front offices.

You are an evil, evil man.

MusicMan · « **Reply #45 on:** January 04, 2012, 01:04:58 pm »

Quote from: moriartp on January 04, 2012, 01:01:50 pm

That's a bingo.

We just say bango.

Noe · « **Reply #46 on:** January 04, 2012, 02:59:02 pm »

Quote from: Bench on January 04, 2012, 12:47:53 pm

Right. She's a coordinator, not a "director."

*DING, DING, DING*

(why the press release on a coordinator position though... oh, yeah... because she's an ex-cheerleader! Ahum.... I think)

Uncle Charlie · « **Reply #47 on:** May 20, 2012, 11:15:49 am »

Quote from: Jacksonian on January 03, 2012, 11:03:31 pm

My thought it is about staff management not the scouting.

Article on Wilka that sheds some light on her background and what she is doing for the Astros:

Quote

"[My role is] focused on the systematic collection of all information relevant to the draft, and there's a lot of information," Wilka said. "That would include performance data, our scouts' opinions, their scouting reports, medical histories, mechanics evaluations, psychological evaluations and even things like basic demographic data ... and multiply all of that times close to 1,000 for all the prospects that are on the radar."

Wilka replaced Mike Burns, now an area scout for the Toronto Blue Jays. She had to get up to speed quickly on processes that had been in place for months in advance of June's amateur draft.

"Stephanie has transitioned smoothly into a role that was in midstream when starting in January," said Astros assistant GM of scouting Bobby Heck. "She has had to get her arms around a lot of moving parts and has hit the ground running. There are 23 scouts out in the field and myself, so for her to come and adapt so quickly to the multiple processes that were well under way without disrupting the synergy of the staff has been her biggest contribution to date. Keep in mind, when Stephanie started, we were more than halfway to this upcoming draft in June."

http://espn.go.com/espnw/more-sports/7850151/stephanie-wilka-lands-perfect-job-houston-astros?ex_cid=2012_espw_ob