If they stick around long enough, baseball general managers tend to get reputations. Jim “Ralph” Bowden would chase a five tool prospect for years. Wayne Krivsky never met a two-year contract extension he didn’t like. Billy Beane’s approach was detailed in Moneyball, while Brian Sabean is perceived to put more emphasis scouting and intangibles. The reality is never this simple, but the reputations persist.
In Cincinnati, Walt Jocketty is known — criticized, really — for a few perceived quirks. Namely, that he has too much love for ex-Cardinals and a soft spot for past-their-prime utilitymen.