Kim Ng
Dunkirk NY – The SF Giants are looking for a new general manager for their club for 2020. So why not Kim Ng? Why don’t I see her name floating about?
Currently the Senior VP of Baseball Operations for MLB, Kim is a perfect candidate for the job. She has been an assistant GM for the Yankees under Brian Cashman and with the Dodgers as VP and AGM. She’s interviewed for the GM positions at Seattle, San Diego, and the Angels. Her name is often brought up when new GM positions open.
I think the San Francisco opening is the perfect slot for her to step in and break the gender barrier. Farhan Zaidi, who is president of baseball operations at SFG, has been operating without a GM since he was hired, and it’s not likely he will be hands-off when a GM is chosen. He won’t hire any of the experienced GMs out there, who would probably want more autonomy.
Ng is a good fit because this would really be an opportunity for her to get her feet wet as a GM with Zaidi working closely with her. Her selection would go over well in a liberal multicultural city such as SF, especially with its high Asian population. She is not inexperienced, and would come with an inside perspective on all of MLB from working under Joe Torre. She has as much or more experience than any of the names being tossed about now as speculative candidates. I don’t see how this doesn’t work.
Baseball’s gender barrier is very high, and the recent episode with Brandon Taubman of the Astros and his taunting of female reporters is just another indication of the heavy male prejudice that exists in baseball. Zaidi, who is a Pakistani Muslim, should have some sensitivity to breaking barriers (first Muslim GM). If there’s one thing baseball does not need at the moment, it’s another white male GM. San Francisco should seriously consider Kim Ng. I’ve been pulling for her to get a GM job for a few years now, and if she manages to break through, I’ll be very pleased to see another barrier broken in baseball. -twl