Jeff Luhnow: Will he be the pace setter for the Houston Astros?
Jeff Luhnow has formally assumed charge as the Houston Astros’ general manager. However, paradoxically, lost in the dazzling world of baseball news is the analysis on this consequential change of guard.
Consider the fact that he was the former head of the St. Louis Cardinals scout and drafting department. So rich was his contribution without being much in the entrancing media limelight that the Cardinals came forth as one of the most formidable sides in
the game.
Picking and grooming the precocious talent and helping them hone their skills, Jeff Luhnow indeed strengthened the structure of the Cardinals that stands tall today. Nonetheless, in December 2011 this exceptionally gifted professional decided to join the
Houston Astros as general manager.
However, it is indeed enigmatic to know that this news did not get much coverage. Nonetheless, a few analysts who have sharper eyes on the game saw this as the Cardinals’ ‘architect’ moving to build the Astros.
Houston Astros, therefore, have all the reasons in the world to celebrate this news. The team which is currently in a re-building phase will have the guardianship of a figure that is better known as a visionary and inspiring leader.
The person who singlehandedly managed the affairs of scouting since 2005 went on to introduce amazing talents like Jaime Garcia, Tyler Greene and Colby Rasmus. Back then, the Cardinals were arguably in a less advantageous position as far as their performance
was concerned.
But the aforementioned players emerged as the core that the Cardinals desperately needed. They went on to do the incredible, lending one of the magical wins to the Cardinals only last year with the World Series victory.
Having also served as vice president of the St. Louis Cardinals, he did as much as he could to inspirit the team. But now that he has to handle the affairs in the Houston Astros, he has numerous other challenges to efficiently grapple with.
The resolute and strong fighter knows the history of the new team well. While he will certainly exert all his energy to help stand the team on their feet, he will require a lot of time and patience to attain this goal.
Becoming the general manager of the team, he dwelt upon what will be the approach of the team in the future.
"I know it's going to be a challenge and it's going to be years," he said. "My guarantee is that we're going to work as hard as we can to make that time as short as possible."
"It doesn't steal from the future to make things a little better in the present," he said. "It builds this organization for sustained success. We want to create a winner that lasts and we want to do it the best way possible."
Having personally brought forward the likes of Jaime Garcia, Allen Craig, Jon Jay and Lance Lynn, Luhnow had in the past shown how far-sighted and discerning he is as a leader. It was this discernment that made him a strong candidate for the team, something
that the new owner of the Astros, Jim Crane, also acknowledged.
"He's a great leader," Crane said. "He has great people skills and I know he'll do a great job with us.”
The winner that he is, it remains to be seen how he changes the fate of the Houston Astros.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Tags: