1/Maybe it is just coincidence, but the last 2 GM hires (Chris Young, #Rangers; Sam Fuld, #Phillies) are former major leaguers. I have sensed a growing concern in the game that front office leadership has lost a feel for the game and empathy for the players that they are not just

2/a bunch of easily replaceable numbers. Now, it is possible this is just unique because Young (Princeton) and Fuld (Stanford) also represent alums of the kind of institutions that now populate front offices. But Young in the Commissioners Office and Fuld with the Phils received

3/high grades from their bosses for being able to traffic in both worlds -- relate well not just with those in suits, but those in uniforms. They had hybrid jobs because of that to capitalize on that skill. Now neither is the ultimate baseball decision maker in their new jobs

4/but both were seen as rising stars in previous positions and might just be role models for a future path to running baseball operations department in which teams try to enlist candidates with accomplishments in both worlds. If so, let's hope it does not block doors for

5/women while opening more for minority candidates as Fuld's hiring continued what -- save for Kim Ng -- has been a run on white men for the most prominent/desired front office positions.