Bill Stoneman

From Wiki Gonzalez

Bill Stoneman is the current general manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1966, Stoneman pitched in the majors for the Cubs, the Expos, and the Angels. He was 54-85 with a 4.08 ERA in 1,236 1/3 major league innings, good for an ERA+ of 90; this ERA+ would have ranked second amongst Angel starters in 2004.

Stoneman just may be the most mediocre pitcher to have thrown two no-hitters, blanking the Philadelphia Phillies on April 17, 1969 and the New York Mets on October 2, 1972. Both of these no-hitters came when Stoneman pitched for the Expos, and in both instances the Expos won the game by a score of 7-0.

In the 1990s, Stoneman worked as an executive in the Expo organization, where got a big hard-on for Orlando Cabrera. This connection also helped him to sign 2004 American League Most Valuable Player Vladimir Guerrero.

Bill Stoneman has a mixed record as the Angel GM. He has presided over one World Championship and one AL West championship during his tenure, and the Angel farm system has developed into one of the game's finest. The Angels have repeatedly found gems for their bench and bullpen, granting the team cheap and effective reinforcements that have led to their success.

At the same time, Stoneman is prone to grossly overpay for average veterans, such as the aforementioned Cabrera and Steve Finley during the 2004/2005 offseason. It's the sort of thing that makes you wonder if he has any kind of plan at all.

In interviews, Bill Stoneman conveys all the personality of a stoned snail. To most questions, he gives nothing that resembles an answer. While being interviewed during an Angel telecast, he once cracked a joke, which so threw off Steve Physioc and Rex Hudler that they shut up for a whole nine nanoseconds.

Also see: General managers

References

• Bill Stoneman on baseball-reference.com