well, this is true that he does not have that impressive JMP, or even his publications (except one or two) are that good quality as we judge it in econ.
But i think my colleagues see him as a package-
1. Good ability to get funding
2. productivity. Even having a publication in a field journal is beyond the norm in the job market, the he has couple of good papers in Restat, PNAS etc.
3. Contacts with seniors in the field
All together, he belongs to the 1%.