J. P. Ricciardi: Difference between revisions
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After playing baseball for two years in the [[minor league baseball|minor leagues]], Ricciardi became a coach in the [[New York Yankees]] farm system in the early 1980s before joining the [[Oakland Athletics]] organization in 1986 as a minor league instructor and a [[Scout (sport)|scout]]. By the early 1990s he had risen to the ranks of East Coast Scouting Supervisor and later National Crosschecker. Ricciardi made his break into the front office in 1996, when he became special assistant to Athletics general manager [[Sandy Alderson]]. Under new general manager [[Billy Beane]], hired in 1997, Ricciardi's role became Director of Player Personnel. |
After playing baseball for two years in the [[minor league baseball|minor leagues]], Ricciardi became a coach in the [[New York Yankees]] farm system in the early 1980s before joining the [[Oakland Athletics]] organization in 1986 as a minor league instructor and a [[Scout (sport)|scout]]. By the early 1990s he had risen to the ranks of East Coast Scouting Supervisor and later National Crosschecker. Ricciardi made his break into the front office in 1996, when he became special assistant to Athletics general manager [[Sandy Alderson]]. Under new general manager [[Billy Beane]], hired in 1997, Ricciardi's role became Director of Player Personnel. |
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Impressed by the success Ricciardi and Beane were having with the low-budget Athletics, the [[Toronto Blue Jays]], stuck with similar budgetary constraints, sought Ricciardi's services after firing then-general manager [[Gord Ash]]. On [[November 14]], [[2001]], Ricciardi was hired as |
Impressed by the success Ricciardi and Beane were having with the low-budget Athletics, the [[Toronto Blue Jays]], stuck with similar budgetary constraints, sought Ricciardi's services after firing then-general manager [[Gord Ash]]. On [[November 14]], [[2001]], Ricciardi was hired as chief ass waxer of the Toronto Blue Jays. |
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==Record as general manager== |
==Record as general manager== |
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Revision as of 21:36, 20 August 2008
John Paul (J. P.) Ricciardi (born September 26, 1959 in Worcester, Massachusetts) is the current Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Early career
J.P. Ricciardi went to and played baseball for St. Peter's/St. Peter-Marian High School in Worcester, MA. Riccardi played for the Saint Leo University Lions from 1979 through 1980, as well.
After playing baseball for two years in the minor leagues, Ricciardi became a coach in the New York Yankees farm system in the early 1980s before joining the Oakland Athletics organization in 1986 as a minor league instructor and a scout. By the early 1990s he had risen to the ranks of East Coast Scouting Supervisor and later National Crosschecker. Ricciardi made his break into the front office in 1996, when he became special assistant to Athletics general manager Sandy Alderson. Under new general manager Billy Beane, hired in 1997, Ricciardi's role became Director of Player Personnel.
Impressed by the success Ricciardi and Beane were having with the low-budget Athletics, the Toronto Blue Jays, stuck with similar budgetary constraints, sought Ricciardi's services after firing then-general manager Gord Ash. On November 14, 2001, Ricciardi was hired as chief ass waxer of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Record as general manager
One of Ricciardi's first deals was to send hard-throwing reliever Billy Koch to the Athletics for upcoming third baseman Eric Hinske and pitcher Justin Miller. Over the next few years Ricciardi would develop a reputation for coziness with his old team, making deals for starting pitcher Cory Lidle in November 2002 and fellow starting pitcher Ted Lilly in November 2003. After a surprising 2003 campaign which saw the emergence of Roy Halladay and Vernon Wells, the team suffered its worst season since 1980 in 2004, mainly due to injuries to key players such as Wells and star slugger Carlos Delgado. Delgado became a free agent in the off-season, and the Blue Jays did not seriously pursue re-signing him; the Florida Marlins eventually inked him to a contract.
Ricciardi's arrival in Toronto was greeted with great optimism and enthusiasm after the team had suffered through several disappointing seasons. The enthusiasm has steadily waned as the team has not been able to make it to the postseason. However, attendance has increased every season since 2002 and based on preseason ticket sales is poised to do so again in 2008.
Ricciardi signed a five-year contract with Toronto after the 2002 season. His contract was extended to 2010 after the 2005 season.
Ricciardi was given more freedom to move after Blue Jays owner Ted Rogers expanded the team's payroll to $210 million over three years prior to the 2005 season. After the season (in which the Blue Jays posted an 80-82 record), Ricciardi began improving Toronto's pitching, signing free agent starter A.J. Burnett and closer B.J. Ryan. He also secured two big bats in first baseman Lyle Overbay and slugging third baseman Troy Glaus via the trading block, and signed Gold Glove-winning catcher Bengie Molina as well. The additions paid significant dividends for the team in 2006, as the Blue Jays finished second in the tough American League East with an 87-75 record. It was the first time Toronto had finished above third in the division since 1993.
During the 2006-07 offseason, Ricciardi balked at re-signing Justin Speier, Frank Catalanotto and Bengie Molina. However, he made it his goal to retain left-hander Ted Lilly and sign former Seattle Mariners right-hander Gil Meche. Ultimately, when Lilly signed with the Chicago Cubs and Meche signed with the Kansas City Royals, Ricciardi signed three discount pitchers who spent significant portions of 2006 on the Disabled List: John Thomson, Tomo Ohka and Victor Zambrano.
Seeking to upgrade the everyday lineup as well, Ricciardi signed a two-year contract with experienced slugger and designated hitter Frank Thomas. Due to his slow start in 2008, in which he batted just .167 with three home runs in his first 60 at-bats, Thomas was released in April of that year. Ricciardi also signed veteran shortstop Royce Clayton as a "stopgap" measure to shore up the middle infield for the 2007 season.
During spring training of 2007, B.J. Ryan was suffering from an injury that Ricciardi initially reported to be a result of a bad back. It was later revealed that it was not a back injury that he was suffering from at all, but rather a more severe elbow injury which subsequently required season ending Tommy John surgery. When asked why he was not more upfront about Ryan's injury situation, Ricciardi responded by saying, “They're not lies if we know the truth.”[1] This led many fans and media members to question Ricciardi's trustworthiness for what was perceived as an act of deception.
In the middle of June 2008, with the Jays in last place in the American League East, J.P. appeared on local Toronto sports radio station the FAN 590, in which he fielded questions from fans. One fan voiced his opinion that the Jays should actively seek to acquire Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, to which J.P. responded with very negative personal comments about Adam's passion for the game of baseball. On June 24, 2008 Ricciardi told Toronto Media that he received a personal phone call from Dunn and personally apologized for the adlib comments comments, a conversation Dunn vehementely refuted in an interview with MLB.com. [2]
Ricciardi has brought back Cito Gaston as manager trying to save his job by bringing in a piece of the team's history as a distraction. There were some rumours, however, that the hiring of Gaston was a decision of upper management and not Ricciardi's idea. The contracts to Burnett, Thomas, Wells and Rios now look like mistakes to some fans as they are having sub-par seasons. When he first arrived JP promised to rebuild the farm system which currently is ranked poor and has only a single "Plus" prospect in Travis Snider. Ricciardi is also known to some as the man who passed on Troy Tulowitzki in the draft to select JC Romero. Tulowitzki finished 2nd in ROY voting while Romero remains in the minor leagues, though starting to show promise in 2008. The reason for the pass up was, in Ricciardi's great wisdom, that Russ Adams was the Jays everyday shortstop for the forseeable future. Since 2006 Adams has played sparingly in the Show while struggling to find his throwing arm. He has moved from Short to Third to Second and is now in Right Field at AAA. His spot on the major league team is currently held by Alex Rios who is going nowhere and is projected as the franchise player.
Despite the lack of hitting on his 2008 ball club, Ricciardi has managed to assemble perhaps the best pitching staff in Major League Baseball, with astute bullpen pick-ups such as Scott Downs, Brian Tallet, Jesse Carlson and Shawn Camp. Through August 19th, the team has the best ERA in baseball tied with the Dodgers at 3.63.[3]
Personal life
Ricciardi is married and lives with his family in the Worcester area. He has two sons, Mariano and Dante. He also has a brother Steve Ricciardi and sister Mary Sivo.