He has to decide when it is reasonable to chase the pennant, and when it is time to retrench. Former Reds General Manager Bill Bergesch probably lost his job in 1987 for hoarding prospects when he might have acquired the past-prime Rick Reuschel, yet his wisdom helped make the Reds consistent winners. Standing pat is sometimes the smartest best move you can make. The Boston Red Sox acquired reliever Larry Andersen in 1990, a day before postseason rosters were set, for the cost of a kid first baseman named Jeff Bagwell. The Pittsburgh Pirates were able to acquire Roberto Clemente because the Brooklyn Dodgers couldn't find room for him on their roster.
Prudence is a difficult policy position in baseball.
They expect immediate gratification, every season. Club executives understand that if they don't put enough people in the seats, they aren't likely to last long enough to see their vision vindicated. Their plans for tomorrow are inevitably compromised by the demands of today. This is why ''rebuilding'' is the dirtiest word in the baseball vocabulary. It tells fans their team is looking at a horizon beyond the next homestand.