Dan O'Dowd named The Sporting News' Executive of the Year

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Nov 9, 2009 12:01 PM MST in Miscellaneous

According to The Sporting News' Jeff D'Alessio, Colorado General Manager Dan O'Dowd has won the publication's Executive of the Year award.

The man well known in the past around these parts as "Dealin' Dan," "Dan O'Dud," and "Dan O'Clown" was largely viewed as a genius this season, simply for firing Clint Hurdle and replacing him with Jim Tracy. However, O'Dowd should definitely be more recognized for the string of terrific deals he's made over the past year. Lassoing Huston Street and Carlos Gonzalez for Matt Holliday unexpectedly paid immediate dividends, and will continue to do so for years to come. Plus, when the team started to gain momentum toward a possible postseason berth, DOD went out and picked up relievers Joe Beimel and Rafael Betancourt to shore up the team's biggest weakness. On top of all of that, O'Dowd turned Luis Vizcaino and Aneury Rodriguez into Jason Marquis and Jason Hammel, respectively. Both pitchers largely contributed to what ended up being arguably the best starting rotation the Rox have ever had.

In addition to the aforementioned acquisitions, the Rockies recently completed what was arguably their most successful draft in team history, and certainly the best of any MLB team this season (based on what we know now). With all of those things combined, the future looks very bright for the Rockies and their fans, and as we all know, O'Dowd will soon be (and rightfully so) rewarded with a contract extension and a likely pay raise.

Check out this article for more from D'Alessio, including some great insight by the winner himself (including his admittance of the absurdity of the Chone Figgins/Kimera Bartee deal, and a quote that may make you sad).

Congratulations Dan, and GO ROCKIES!

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Congrats, Dan!

The Figgins/Bartee quote makes me giggle.

Also, aww:

I have a freshman in college, Christopher, who’s probably my best friend.

by holly96 on Nov 9, 2009 12:40 PM MST reply actions

gosh

Confirms my suspicions that he is an aww shucks fellow

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Nov 9, 2009 1:00 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

"and a quote that may make you sad"

I’m going to guess….

I do believe at some point in time in the future this will become a tremendous baseball town. But I’m probably not going to be here when that happens.

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Nov 9, 2009 12:46 PM MST reply actions

Not mentioned

but just as key. The Jason Hammel trade and the JDLR trade.

by Hizilla on Nov 9, 2009 1:01 PM MST reply actions

well dlr was in 08

But yeah that was huge. As well as the hammel/marquis trades. In an 11 month span, he turned Ramon Ramirez, Luis vizcaino and Aneury Rodriguez in to three fifths of the best rotation in franchise history

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Nov 9, 2009 1:05 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

Damn, I knew I missed one.

Just an average guy with exceptional hair. Nothing more, nothing less.

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Nov 9, 2009 1:07 PM MST up reply actions

Added the Hammel and Marquis trades...

Thanks guys. Can’t believe I missed those ones, but I’m on my proverbial deathbed, and I was in a hurry to get the piece up.

Just an average guy with exceptional hair. Nothing more, nothing less.

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Nov 9, 2009 1:11 PM MST up reply actions

Thanks so much for doing that

Hope got in my eyes

by Andrew Martin on Nov 9, 2009 1:17 PM MST up reply actions

its cool thanks for it

I would have done it if I weren’t en route to the place that’s the best a man can get

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Nov 9, 2009 1:25 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

HAHAHAHAH

good show!

Hope got in my eyes

by Andrew Martin on Nov 9, 2009 1:28 PM MST up reply actions

i dont get it

are u going to Gillette?

by purplesocks on Nov 9, 2009 2:34 PM MST up reply actions

yes

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Nov 9, 2009 2:43 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

theres a man from staten island on line two that would also like a word with you

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Nov 9, 2009 1:14 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

He'll get over it.

He always does.

Just an average guy with exceptional hair. Nothing more, nothing less.

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Nov 9, 2009 1:30 PM MST up reply actions

i realize only one third of this trifecta is official (though the other two parts look promising

When was the last time, if ever, that one team had the Exec of the Year, Manager of the Year and BA’s top rated amateur draft in the same year?

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Nov 9, 2009 1:02 PM MST via mobile reply actions

But....but....

He drafted Greg Reynolds. He’s a n00b.

Winners never quit, and quitters never win. But if you never quit *and* never win, you are an idiot

by squalene203 on Nov 9, 2009 1:21 PM MST reply actions

Oh and for the record

that picture is absurdly smug

Hope got in my eyes

by Andrew Martin on Nov 9, 2009 1:34 PM MST reply actions

You know that's what he'd look like upon receiving the award

if there were to be a press conference for it

Just an average guy with exceptional hair. Nothing more, nothing less.

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Nov 9, 2009 2:05 PM MST up reply actions

What else that picture reminds me of...

Well, isn’t that special?

(Even the angle…)

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Nov 9, 2009 2:16 PM MST up reply actions

i was picturing o'dowd's response to Theo Epstein

After asking for Tulo

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Nov 9, 2009 2:20 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

Well deserved

Congrats Dan – hopefully he can continue the string of successful moves this offseason.

by avsfan4ever33 on Nov 9, 2009 2:15 PM MST reply actions

I humbly eat crow

I was all over him plenty, and this award is well deserved. Keep up the recent string of brilliant moves, my man.

by Teekalong on Nov 9, 2009 2:26 PM MST reply actions

+1

The one thing that sticks out to me is that the Rocks brass basically let him learn on the job. They were patient and let him grind out the recipe. He went thru several iterations of experiments before settling on this course from say late 05 to present. The results have been a WS apprearance, an additional post season appearence, a team that plays the game well on both sides for the most part. They know what they are and what they need to do and do not deviate for short term fixes or stop gaps. As a result they have payroll flexibility and a system that can fill gaps when needed so they do not have to rise guys into the 10+ million range.

by PinchHitLancePainter on Nov 9, 2009 3:06 PM MST up reply actions