Neukom bringing a new 'Giants Way"

Oakland Tribune, Oct 7, 2008 by Andrew Baggarly

SAN FRANCISCO -- New Giants managing partner Bill Neukom clutched a top-secret folder containing his broad vision for the franchise -- three pages of jottings he crafted over a couple of long-haul flights.

It's the rough draft for what Neukom is calling the "Giants Way," a document outlining a high-achievement corporate culture that would be disseminated to top vice presidents and lowest-level minor league players alike.

"It's not an original idea," said Neukom, acknowledging the Baltimore Orioles once distributed an organizational manual and the Los Angeles Dodgers once were lauded for their comprehensive player development system.

But Neukom said his expectations go beyond hitting the cutoff man or getting down a sacrifice bunt. In his second day as the Giants' top decision maker, the 66-year-old San Mateo native set rigorous standards for every member of the organization, saying he expects them to outwork and outsmart their counterparts.

He is bringing his Microsoft meritocracy to the major leagues.

"It's important that people understand their objectives," said Neukom, "and that they know they will be fairly judged in terms of how they perform against those objectives."

Aside from sharing his corporate vision, the former chief legal counsel for Microsoft was ever the shrewd attorney during his first question-and-answer session with reporters. Bless his bow tie, he couldn't be pinned down.

The payroll? It depends. The future of general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy? To be determined, by mutual agreement. Stat-based player evaluation or old-school scouting? It's a blend. A big-time free agent like CC Sabathia or Mark Teixeira? A qualified maybe.

One position he took: Moving in the fences at AT&T Park is "not a concept currently under consideration."

Neukom said he envisions putting together a team that is competitive next season, with an eye toward contending in 2010 and consistently beyond. He is looking for incremental improvement, which will be vital in determining whether he recommits to Sabean and Bochy when their contracts expire after next season.

Neukom didn't seek to shield their lame-duck status.

"Both Brian and Bruce enthusiastically have endorsed the notion that we've got so much work to do that we're not going to worry about what their status is," Neukom said. "Job One is identifying the talent, teaching the talent and playing the game in a winning way. There will be plenty of time for us after the '09 season to evaluate how each of us did and decide where we go from there."

Neukom said the Giants would prioritize scouting and player development but he authorized Sabean to look at all options for improving the club, telling the longtime GM that an $80 million payroll is more of a place-holder than a rigid figure.

"We've asked him, 'Without being wild about it, don't be limited entirely by the notion that you have 'X' amount of dollars to spend for '09,' " Neukom said. " 'Think somewhat out of the box and be creative about this. Look more broadly. Don't look for easy answers." '

Neukom said he and club president Larry Baer would take part in next week's organizational meetings in Arizona to continue dialogue about broad strategies for player evaluation and instruction.

Sabean, a former scouting director with the New York Yankees, isn't known to squint at a laptop. But Neukom said he sees the value in advanced statistical analysis and wants to integrate certain ideals of the "Moneyball" approach.

"Baseball is a science and an art," he said. "My view is that 'Moneyball' is a very shrewd strategy but it's not the only strategy. You've also got to have a lot of baseball savvy. It's important we have better scouts and better statistical analysis."

And, of course, long hours.

"We just have to outwork people," said Neukom, "whether it's in the conditioning room, down the dirt roads in middle America or in front of the (computer) screen."

Notes: Omar Vizquel, the 11-time Gold Glove shortstop who will be looking for work this winter, is recovering from laser surgery on his right eye. "All went well," Vizquel said in an e-mail. He had the procedure last week once the season ended, then had to wait several days as the eye healed before returning to his home in the Seattle area. The 41-year-old Vizquel played the past four seasons for San Francisco but Sabean said after the season ended there was "zero" chance of bringing him back. The Giants are committed to a youth movement and went with speedy rookie Emmanuel Burriss at shortstop most of the time in the season's second half. Vizquel handled himself well through the demotion and turned his attention on helping teach the young infielders. But he's ready to get another shot, somewhere. "There's no doubt in my mind that I can still play," he said. "I want to play, and that's what I'm going to do."

Associated Press contributed to this story. Contact Andrew Baggarly at abaggarly@mercurynews.com.