Expert: Steve L - 10/2/2005

Question
I'm a 1st-year Sociology teacher trying to develop a project for my HS students on the Peter Principle.  The theory states people are eventually promoted to their level of incompetence.  At a lower level they may have been great, but they're eventually raised to a point where they're in over their head.  Any MLB Managers or GM's come to mind who'd qualify?  Maybe even a player who received an outrageous raise that proved unwarranted?

Thanks so much for your time!

Jim Gaines

Answer
SO many players have been rewarded far beyond their capabilities, and have failed to justify those rewards.

The latest is Adrian Beltre, who had a career year in 2004 with the Dodgers, batting .334 with 48 HR.  He signed with Seattle for over $11 million per year, and in 2005 he batted a miserable .257 with only 19 HR.

It is less a case of Beltre confirming the Peter Principle than it is a case of management (Seattle) showing its incompetence by making a huge investment in a player who had only ONE outstanding season, and who has now reverted to his normal level of performance.

Seattle (and ALL clubs) should not make such investments until a player has put together at least several outstanding seasons.

2004 was an aberration for Beltre, and savvy baseball executives should not be taken in by that phenomenon.