Major League Baseball

Friedman is latest man charged with leading Dodgers to World Series

Published Oct. 17, 2014 6:21 p.m. ET

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Andrew Friedman read from a prepared script Friday as he was introduced to Los Angeles as the Dodgers' president of baseball operations. He's the newest man charged with leading the Dodgers back to the World Series, which they haven't won since 1988.

Friedman, the 37-year-old who once worked on Wall Street and most recently as the general manager with the Tampa Bay Rays, has already ditched his script and made an important decision.

Don Mattingly, who's under contract with the Dodgers for two more seasons, will remain the manager.

"Definitely," Friedman said. "(I have) the mindset that we're going to work with Donnie for a long time."

He also said he will hire a general manager eventually but didn't know if one would be in place in time for Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings.

Friedman wore a blazer and shirt, sans tie and sat next to president and CEO Stan Kasten. Even Kasten joked he wasn't used to having someone read off a script. Yet Friedman rolled with the punches in the news conference and when a reporter jokingly asked about working with Kasten, Friedman said that he had to go back to his script.

Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzales attended the news conference and sat in the front corner. While Friedman answered questions about the crowded outfield, possible trades, the farm system and Yasiel Puig, Gonzales interrupted with a question of his own: "Are you looking to acquire a younger, stronger, faster first baseman?"

Friedman smiled.

As for the crowded outfield, which would likely be fodder for offseason trades, Friedman said: "I've been asked the question as if it's a problem. If it's a problem, it's a tremendous problem to have."

When Friedman read off his script, he heard all the clicking and clacking from about a dozen photographers who captured every facial expression and looked over to check out all the commotion. In keeping with his theme of going for laughs, he asked why one photographer didn't just take pictures and share with everyone.

He's not in Tampa anymore.

Dodgers fans want nothing more than a team that will bring back the glory days of World Series. Friedman knows pressure from having worked on Wall Street. But there's nothing like being the guy in charge of a big-market team with a big-market payroll and big-market talent that doesn't produce. Like the Dodgers in 2014, who won just one postseason game in the NLDS against St. Louis, thanks somewhat in part to a bullpen that imploded. The Dodgers made no moves before the trade deadline to bolster the pitching staff, either.

Friedman called the Dodgers a "world class organization that comes with world class expectations."

It's not like Friedman has never worked in an intensely stressful environment, which best describes Wall Street, where he worked as an early 20-something. He landed his job in Tampa at 27 years old and has incorporated some of Wall Street in his job as a baseball executive.

"One is learning how to work 80-100 hour weeks, but also appreciating that information is king," Friedman told FOX Sports West. "That was instilled in me there and also how important the process is, to adhere to that and have the discipline to stick with that."

In nine years with Tampa, he employed a "Moneyball" system. Last year, Tampa had an $80 million payroll. Tamp won two division titles under Friedman, in 2008 and 2010. The Dodgers won the NL West in September but lost in the first round of the playoffs.

He'll always be operating under the mindful mantra of bringing a title back to Los Angeles.

"I relish it. I'm incredibly competitive. All of us get in to this to win. No one can expect more out of us than we can expect of ourselves," Friedman said while looking at Kasten. "I think all of our interests are perfectly aligned. We just want to win."

After the news conference, Friedman walked out to the field at Dodger Stadium for more photos and interviews. He chatted with former Dodger Don Newcombe and had his picture taken with his wife, Robin, from the mound. They looked out toward the outfield and on this October day, there was a gloomy view.

The World Series is about to start and the Dodgers aren't in it, once again.

Friedman will have a much better view if he can make roster moves that have the Dodgers back in the World Series.  

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