Originally Posted by
Knucksie
Poor analogy.
Entering the 1991 season, the Braves were picked by ALL the previews to once again finish last. Personnel-wise, would was different? FA signings of Terry Pendleton (MVP), Sid Bream and Rafael Belliard. Jimmy Kremers landed Otis Nixon. Defense was improved exponentially. The IF surface was given a makeover. Expectation of professionalism and attention to detail was spread throughout the organization, even to concessions. These objectives were all the work of JS. As for Maddux, he was obviously still a Cub then. Certainly, JS deserves a fair amount of credit for the greatest FA signing in history, particularly when the Yankees offered more money.
His mark is still on the organization with his handpicked successor as GM. Despite some questionable moves and a few down seasons over the past few years, it's still pretty amazing that the team never had to go through a full scale rebuild. Oh, and head to head with genius statman hero, Billy Beane. Schuerholz didn't do too badly in getting Hudson for Dan Meyer, Charles Thomas & Juan Cruz.