PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – While Pirates general manager Ben Cherington admits financial support and resource support is important and he believes he's getting that. The relationship with his staff and upper-management right now is good on all levels.
Cherington said during his show on 93.7 The Fan and the Pirates Radio Network, that relationship was tested with their draft plan. It worked out well for all sides.
"Their time, their interest and their engagement is really consistent," Cherington said of owner Bob Nutting and team president Travis Williams. "They are available, they are interested. They are following the information closely enough to have really good thoughts and opinions."
"Be able to ask questions, be able to push back. When you walk into those conversations, you're not starting from scratch. They are ahead of it. They are following it. They can ask questions and push back. We can beat decisions up and it makes the process stronger. Makes me feel better, frankly, at the end of the day."
Cherington described what is often seen as an aloof owner, as one who is rather engaged and involved in the process.
"Financial support and resource support is one thing and that's important," Cherington said on 93.7 The Fan. "We get that. The dialogue and the opportunity to collaborate and be better through that is just as important to me."
Now 47, Cherington said he learned early on from his boss former Red Sox GM Theo Epstein of the important of a relationship with management. Not just the president, his direct boss, but talks with ownership as well.
"In baseball it's hard to be good," Cherington said. "It's hard to get decisions right. We have a better chance of getting decisions right when we have as many very bright, very interested, engaged people looking at it through different lenses. Giving input, asking questions and offering perspective."
"The draft was one more example of going through that kind of process together and feel real good that we can get into a debate. Not always agree, and that's good and be stronger for it."
Cherington said he built more trust for his bosses after how they handled the last couple of weeks.
MLB has a cap on the amount you can spend on the draft. There is no cap on salaries. Will this trust carryover when the Pirates are in a position to win and need to add players?
Only then could we truly answer those questions. Building a relationship and understanding could be a first step to not only improving the talent, but someday improving the payroll as well.
