I gotta go with Schuerholz, who runs the tightest (and seemingly happiest) ship in MLB, and who wins more than anyone else.

I voted for Beane, although Schuerholz would also be an excellent choice. There are many ways to get there.

What I'm not sure of with Schuerholz is: How much of Atlanta's success do you attribute to Cox & Mazzone? But I guess if you're confident Schuerholz could find another Cox & Mazzone, it's all good.

Beane and Schuerholz actually share 2 key qualities for a general manager, intelligence and adaptability.

Schuerholz also had kept Cox and Mazzone happy and in place for 15 years. That's a pretty darned significant thing! Has any modern GM ever managed to keep his manager and pitching coach happy in one place for so long?

It's his longevity and consistency of success that really jumps out. I just don't see how anyone can argue that he's been the most successful GM in modern times. "Most successful" is not "best" but over as long a period as fifteen years, I don't see how you can meaningfully tell the difference. It's not as if Atlanta have had resources like New York or the Cubs or the Dodgers, either.

Actually, what I find most impressive about the Braves has been the consistent infusion of young hitting talent despite poor draft placement. The Yankees and Braves have been the winningest teams in baseball during the period 1995-2005, but the difference in their player development during this time could not be starker.

I chose Beane because he has done almost the same with much less, and I believe that if both were given $75 million payrolls, Beane would do just a smidgen better. The sharpest tool in the shed, and all that.

I would be interested to see what Beane could do if he had a 100+ mil payroll.

Despite the lack of playoff success, I can't deny his teams perform well in the regular season with a modest payroll.

And just look at all the star players that have left the organization in the past several seasons: Giambi, Tejada, Mulder, Hudson, Dye, Foulke, Damon, Hernandez, Izzy, etc...

I would too, Ron. I don't think there are good "big-resource" GMs and good "small resource" GMs and never the twain shall meet, but clearly some of the things important to a big-market team are going to be relatively much more important than to a small-market team.

Whether Beane could succeed in Atlanta, or Schuerholz in Oakland... well, it's likely, but not certain.

I knew Cashman would finish fourth, but NO votes?

I guess DepecheJay hasn't voted yet.

Why in gods name would anyone nominate Cashman, Mick?

Spending other peoples money isn't exactly a big skill.

Maybe I'm totally wrong on Cashman, but I don't think he has done anything exceptional or even utilized his resources amazingly well.

I think it's more or less a toss-up between Beane and Schuerholz; you certainly couldn't go wrong either way.

I ended up going with Beane, solely on the grounds that Schuerholz is presumably closer to retirement than Beane.

okay, i would like to know who voted for cashman

If the Jays had Atlanta's last 15 years of success.... not counting 92 and 93 of course ;) I'd think I had died and gone to heaven. Shuerholz gets my vote :)

I picked Schuerholz. Anyone who can keep that organization at the top every year, without being a slave to sabremetrics, gets my vote.