LaMar resigns suddenly
THE NEWS came down the way it often does, in a terse news release that popped onto cellphone screens around 9:30 last night. Chuck LaMar, the Phillies' assistant general manager who oversaw the operation of the minor league system, had tendered his resignation.
THE NEWS came down the way it often does, in a terse news release that popped onto cellphone screens around 9:30 last night. Chuck LaMar, the Phillies' assistant general manager who oversaw the operation of the minor league system, had tendered his resignation.
The circumstances behind LaMar's decision, which seemed to catch the team by surprise, are unclear. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he and assistant general manager Benny Looper met with LaMar yesterday afternoon. By the end of that meeting, LaMar had tendered his resignation, and the Phillies had accepted. Amaro declined to discuss specifics of the meeting, other than to say he was disappointed with LaMar's decision.
"I don't know if shock was the right word," Amaro said. "It was more of a disappointment."
The Phillies plan to fill LaMar's role, although Amaro said he has yet to decide on whether to keep the current structure of the front office in place. Looper, whose official area of control is player personnel, essentially oversaw LaMar's work in the minors. He and Mike Ondo, the team's director of pro scouting, are expected to play an integral role in finding a replacement.
Ondo is a homegrown member of the Phillies who started as an intern and has impressed Amaro and the rest of the front office with his work, but it is unclear if he will be considered for a promotion. LaMar has a lengthy track record in the game, making his name in player development with the Braves during the 1990s before the Rays hired him as their first general manager. He joined the Phillies after the 2007 season as the director of pro scouting and was elevated to assistant general manager the following year after Amaro replaced Pat Gillick as the Phillies' GM.
LaMar was one of three assistant general managers under Amaro, joining Looper and Scott Proefrock, who deals mostly with contract negotiations and the logistical side of player personnel.
"We're not going to fill it immediately," Amaro said. "We are going to be out there looking for replacements."
LaMar's resignation came the day after the minor league season ended, although Triple A Lehigh Valley and Double A Reading are both opening playoff series tonight.
Amaro was asked whether there was unhappiness on either the part of LaMar or the Phillies.
"That's a question you'll have to ask Chuck," Amaro said. "The feeling was that this gave him an opportunity to pursue other pursuits, either in the game or out of the game."
LaMar did not respond to a text message late last night.
The timing of the resignation is curious, given the near likelihood of the Phillies' making the playoffs and LaMar's usual role in scouting potential playoff opponents. Ondo, who coordinates those duties, was in the midst of making arrangements to compensate, Amaro said.
Amaro declined to answer whether the Phillies were planning toretain LaMar beyond this season.
"It's something that was his decision," Amaro said.
