Taylor Smith knows numbers — his resume includes analytics work with the data-centric Tampa Bay Rays. But when fans look at Smith, only one number pops up first in their minds and it relates neither to launch angles nor spin rate.
Smith is defined by the number 31, as he embarks on his new role as the youngest in the industry. By a fair bit. Is that “31 as in too wet behind the ears?” Or is it “31 as in fresh thinking and not set in his ways?” Could be a little of both, could be neither.
One thing to remember is that chronological age is only a single measure and doesn’t factor in key elements such as “years of experience”. There Smith’s stats tell a different story. He spent 7 seasons with the Rays, then 2 more with the Red Sox, giving him 9 years under his belt.
You could hire a PBO who was 53 years old but had only been in a big league front office for 2 seasons. Would that be better? More life experience, less MLB experience.
Adding to the intrigue is that Smith was hired not with the title of GM nor with the title of PBO and GM. He was named PBO leaving open the possibility that the A’s will hiring a GM separately. That GM would presumably work under Smith, again unorthodox that the 31 year old would be in the more supervisory position.
Does Smith’s age matter to you? If so, is it a positive or negative in your eyes? Or do his 9 years of experience matter more and if so is it experience worthy of a PBO gig with nothing in between? And given that he’s the PBO hire are you hoping he also serves as GM or do you want to see a different hire — in which case who?
James Click is an interesting “who” in that he and Smith crossed over in Tampa Bay with Smith there from 2018-2024 and Click with the Rays for 15 years until 2020. Perhaps they saw eye to eye, have mutual respect and a desire to work together. Click also has previous GM experience and is 48, which would make having the much younger and greener Smith as his boss … interesting. But not impossible.
Lots of food for thought if you’re into the most surface of numbers. What do you think?