Luvofthegame
09-22-2006, 11:20 PM
Announcement reveals shifting of duties for Luhnow, Manno
By Matthew Leach
MLB.com
9/22/06
As the Cardinals close in on their third straight division championship, the team announced on Friday that the architect of that run of success will be around for a while longer. The club picked up general manager Walt Jocketty's contract option, ensuring that he will be in office through the 2008 season.
However, Jocketty will proceed with a different look to his inner circle of advisers. Bruce Manno has been replaced as the Cardinals farm director, with Jeff Luhnow expanding his duties to include that job. Manno has been re-assigned as a special assistant to Jocketty.
Jocketty is the third-longest tenured active general manager in the Majors, behind only John Schuerholz in Atlanta and the Twins' Terry Ryan. He took over on Oct. 14, 1994, and in the intervening time has presided over six postseason appearances -- with a seventh looking all but assured. Jocketty is the longest-serving GM in the team's history.
At the same time they announced Jocketty's extension, the Cards announced Luhnow's new role. Luhnow, already the club's vice president for player procurement, now takes on the title of vice president for amateur scouting and player development.
Luhnow has headed up the Cardinals' draft efforts for the past two seasons as well as managing international player acquisition and development. Now, he will oversee the Minor League system as well. Bruce Manno, who had been the farm director, has been reassigned as special assistant to the general manager, senior director of professional scouting.
In 12 seasons with Jocketty as GM, the Cardinals had a 1,036-877 record entering Friday night's contest against the Astros. Assuming the club makes the postseason, it will be the only National League team to appear in the playoffs in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Jocketty's first season at the helm was a frustrating one, as the Cardinals went 62-81 in a season shortened by labor troubles. Following that campaign, manager Tony La Russa came on board, beginning a long and extremely successful partnership. The Cardinals have five outright division titles and a Wild Card appearance over the past 10 years and have not had a losing record since 1999.
La Russa signed a three-year contract on the same day in '05 that Jocketty did and thus is bound to the club through next season. La Russa has repeatedly said that he will manage only as long as Cardinals players, upper management and ownership want him around. Jocketty and La Russa are the third-longest tenured GM-manager team, behind Schuerholz and Bobby Cox as well as Kevin Towers and Bruce Bochy of the Padres.
By Matthew Leach
MLB.com
9/22/06
As the Cardinals close in on their third straight division championship, the team announced on Friday that the architect of that run of success will be around for a while longer. The club picked up general manager Walt Jocketty's contract option, ensuring that he will be in office through the 2008 season.
However, Jocketty will proceed with a different look to his inner circle of advisers. Bruce Manno has been replaced as the Cardinals farm director, with Jeff Luhnow expanding his duties to include that job. Manno has been re-assigned as a special assistant to Jocketty.
Jocketty is the third-longest tenured active general manager in the Majors, behind only John Schuerholz in Atlanta and the Twins' Terry Ryan. He took over on Oct. 14, 1994, and in the intervening time has presided over six postseason appearances -- with a seventh looking all but assured. Jocketty is the longest-serving GM in the team's history.
At the same time they announced Jocketty's extension, the Cards announced Luhnow's new role. Luhnow, already the club's vice president for player procurement, now takes on the title of vice president for amateur scouting and player development.
Luhnow has headed up the Cardinals' draft efforts for the past two seasons as well as managing international player acquisition and development. Now, he will oversee the Minor League system as well. Bruce Manno, who had been the farm director, has been reassigned as special assistant to the general manager, senior director of professional scouting.
In 12 seasons with Jocketty as GM, the Cardinals had a 1,036-877 record entering Friday night's contest against the Astros. Assuming the club makes the postseason, it will be the only National League team to appear in the playoffs in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Jocketty's first season at the helm was a frustrating one, as the Cardinals went 62-81 in a season shortened by labor troubles. Following that campaign, manager Tony La Russa came on board, beginning a long and extremely successful partnership. The Cardinals have five outright division titles and a Wild Card appearance over the past 10 years and have not had a losing record since 1999.
La Russa signed a three-year contract on the same day in '05 that Jocketty did and thus is bound to the club through next season. La Russa has repeatedly said that he will manage only as long as Cardinals players, upper management and ownership want him around. Jocketty and La Russa are the third-longest tenured GM-manager team, behind Schuerholz and Bobby Cox as well as Kevin Towers and Bruce Bochy of the Padres.