Some excerpts:
TB: One of things the last administration was criticized for — rightfully or wrongfully — was rushing prospects through the system a bit. Is there anything being done to change that? Is that something you’re conscious of?
JR: Well in defense of the last administration, sometimes you end up pushing players to the big leagues out of necessity. It’s prevalent in the game, it’s not just that one club does it and one club doesn’t. I think sometimes the guys who have the talent get pushed along. Obviously we would not like to do that because you’d like to have guys take incremental steps and get to the point that they’re playing when they’re ready, and you’d like to have guys behind them coming. But it doesn’t always work out that way. We’ll try to do that, but I can’t guarantee you it will definitely happen.
TB: With drafting, do you have plans to stick to the slotting system or is that something you hope to be a little more flexible with?
JR: Well, I think you’d have to ask Sandy [Alderson] that one. Now that I’m not the GM, I don’t mind going overslot, but it’s not my call. But I think we’ll try to get the best players available. We know what our goal is here; our goal is to win, and ultimately you’re going to win with the best players.
Tedquarters 