ATLANTA -- Shortly after assuming an influential advisory role after Frank Wren was dismissed as Atlanta's general manager and before accepting his current role as the Braves' president of baseball operations, John Hart analyzed the club's farm system and gained even more reason to continue serving as an MLB Network analyst.
"I almost turned around and left," Hart said. "It was really tough."
But instead of sticking with the cushy television gig that afforded him an opportunity to continue golfing on a regular basis near his Orlando, Fla., home, Hart accepted the challenge and then issued one to John Coppolella, whose rise to general manager was significantly influenced by his ability to turn what was one of baseball's worst farm systems into one of the best within the span of one year.