Generalists Managing

I was at the Marlins-Phillies game last night, although I would call it the Phillies-Marlins game, but because it was in Miami, I guess I have to say it that way. Midway through the game, another Phils fan and I realized that we were sitting right next to Ed Wade, the general manager of the Phillies. I watched him while things were going on, and all he did was watch the game. This bothered me and it begs a question that I can't seem to get past. As a fan of the team whose staffing future he holds in the palm of his hands, should I expect him to have a computer with him? Or at least an assistant that has a computer with them?

I'm expected to utilize a computer. As a tool to help me do my job, it is invaluable, but not as invaluable as it is to someone who might need mounds of stats at his fingertips. Or not as invaluable as it might be to someone who needs to record his thoughts real-time. So much happens during every moment of every game. Sure, he can watch film later and discuss things with his coach's at that time, but there's nothing like the experience of the game while it's happening. That's why his team's fans are buying tickets anyway. And with so many games during the long season, do they really watch the game afterwards?

I know. I'm reaching. I understand that there's people out there that do that kind of thing for him. Or do they? My feeling is that every GM needs every edge they can get. His coaches certainly aren't tapping notes into a PDA while they're spitting sunflower seeds all over the floor of the dugout during every single mind-numbing game. And to be honest with you, not only should coaches come to the game with all the research already done, I don't think I want to see that kind of technology make it to the bench area anyway. The GM, however, should be expected to do whatever he can with whatever is available to him.

A GM having a computer with him during the game isn't illegal is it? Maybe it is. How would baseball enforce that? I think the more likely scenario is that Ed Wade is just too old school to make such changes. But mark my words, in a time where you can't even get into most worthy college classrooms without toting a school required laptop, don't be surprised when GM's with machines is the norm rather than the exception. Or at the very least more GM assistants with laptops; but they have to be baseball people, not just statisticians. I personally think that there should be a coaching position held by an honest to goodness coach whose sole responsibility is to record what he sees and what is said and what's going on in comparison to the stat of choice. Not to change the course of the game being played, but simply to help keep things in mind for the next night's game. Wouldn't that be a cool job?

Hey, Ed. You hiring?