Post by Spencer on Jul 3, 2013 15:24:17 GMT -5
10 questions with the Minnesota Twins GM!
1. So you're a Longtime OOTP GM. We have an opening in LA. If you could pick any Gm you've ever played with to come in and fill the void, who would it be?
MIN - Matt Anderson. He is knowledgeable about the game. He would also be active on the boards and with his team.
My take - Not a bad choice at all but Im pretty sure Matt hates Erbes and vice versa so its pretty unlikely. I vote for Josh Steinkamp! Great Gm and could help with things like BOSI and simple simming procedures.
2. You've been here for a relatively short time but you've made some very important moves. What has been your favorite transaction thus far? Why?
MIN - I think the moves in 1996 were important (bringing in Timlin and Crabtree) but the most important move was bringing in Smoltz in 1997. I was in the middle of making a push for the division. It was a fun year even though my team fell apart. It seemed like Smoltz did not perform the way I had hoped when he came over. That was my best chance to win it and we flopped. 1996 and 1997 were both fun and at the end of each season we fell apart.
My take - I thought for sure you'd go with the Pettyjohn trade. he looks like a future #1 starter to me. Great deal.
3. Your young SP is outstanding. How are you gonna supplement that by getting some offense?
MIN - Well hopefully by getting some players that are close to the majors during the upcoming drafts. I really want to focus on young players that can play defense and steal a base. I am just not sure if I am patient enough to sit back and build through a draft. My team will start losing and I like to win so I will make trades to win as many as I can.
My take - I think its easier to get older hitters for cheaper. Might be your best bet. Your future P looks legit.
4. Financially things are looking pretty good currently. Long term it looks like you'll be a mid market team at best. Do you think you can survive with a payroll around 60 million? Have you had success before with such a low payroll?
MIN - I have had some success with small payrolls. My best years here so far we had manageable payrolls. Again I think the key is young players coming into the league coupled with a few quality older guys that you can spend money on. Defense will have to be the key to support the staff I have.
My take - I never truly consider defense enough. Probably something I should look into.
5. Your division is currently dominated by CHI. They don't look like a long term threat though. What are you gonna do to get to the top of your division? What teams concern you most within your division?
MIN - I have a tough road to travel. The White Sox should be good for awhile based on the money they bring in. Ultimately I think KC, CLE and Mil. have the best chances of being on top of this division over the years. They all have solid prospects which should turn them into solid division contenders. I do not have any hitting prospects. If I want to compete I will have to figure out some trades and have some solid drafts.
My take - I think with your SP you have a great shot at being at the top of your division soon. KC and MIL are pretty savvy though so it may be tough.
6. Winter Meetings are complete. What are your thoughts on the rule changes? Merchandising Revenue Rule? Competitiveness Rule? Reliever to SP Rule? Any ideas for the Dodgers GM?
MIN - Merchandising Revenue is fair. I am all for helping teams and bringing a balance to the league. I just don't want any team to suffer because of it. We will see how it plays out over the next couple seasons.
Competitiveness Rule I love. I hate to see any team lose on purpose. Maybe this is where I can not separate sim life from real life. I just think if your going to play you play to win as much as you can. If you go out to lose then you suck as an owner and should be fired. My team will feature my young pitchers. The reality of my season is that I wont win the division but I am going to try and win every game I can.
As far as the RP to SP goes....leave that to each team to decide. If an owner wants to try it then great. I do like that fact that if you try it and the RP falls apart then you cant reverse the PD hits. Its a gamble but its a gamble that each owner should decide on, not the league.
As far as the Dodgers......MATT ANDERSON!
My take - I love the RP to SP rule. I think it helps fix that huge glitch.
7. This off season was rough for Erbes. Some big time problems with the file. Have you every see these type of problems in other leagues you've been in? Do these problems make you worry for the long term outlook of the league?
MIN - I do not recall any issues like the ones we have had. Erbes has been busy and has done a fine job but could have handled things a little better. As far as the league goes....it will be fine. I think if we survived this off season then the league will survive. The file could be better, lost a lot of history, but when it was all said and done we all chose to stay.
My take - Ya. I love this league. definately don't want it to end or restart. Just worried about this file a bit. Also with Erbes ability to handle it. So far so good though.
8. How was your off season? What was your biggest off season move? What was the one move you were trying to make that didn't happen?
MIN - My off season sucked. Hard to sign players when they want a lot or when they don't like the Twins. Didn't really have any talks that progressed to anything. The only players of value on my team are my young pitchers and I do not see me moving them any time soon.
My take - really dislike your offseason as well. Valentin has nice range but that 950% is yikes. Martinez is pretty meh as well. Time will tell.
9. Overall who had the best off season? Which team made the most noise and should be much better because of it?
MIN - I think the Padres did. With the additions of Harikkala, HRod, Groom, Saito, Delgado, Becker, Everett and Kent, he should be able to be a contender in the NL West.
My take - Padres had a huge offseason but I think they played things poorly. Don't like how there team over spent. Should've gone more slowly.
10. Predict your record and your finish in the division. Tell me who has the best team and why they'll win the WS!
MIN - 5th place at 72-90
I am going to go out on a limb and say the White Sox are due. They made the World Series 2 years ago. Waldo has a solid team if he can avoid injuries. Bonds (if he does not take PD hits) and Thomas are hard to bet against. He has some good supporting cast around them. Should be a fun season to watch.
My take - Your prediction looks about right. Im thinking 65-70. No way CHI makes it out of the AL though. And the NL is winning the title this year, so ya.
1. So you're a Longtime OOTP GM. We have an opening in LA. If you could pick any Gm you've ever played with to come in and fill the void, who would it be?
MIN - Matt Anderson. He is knowledgeable about the game. He would also be active on the boards and with his team.
My take - Not a bad choice at all but Im pretty sure Matt hates Erbes and vice versa so its pretty unlikely. I vote for Josh Steinkamp! Great Gm and could help with things like BOSI and simple simming procedures.
2. You've been here for a relatively short time but you've made some very important moves. What has been your favorite transaction thus far? Why?
MIN - I think the moves in 1996 were important (bringing in Timlin and Crabtree) but the most important move was bringing in Smoltz in 1997. I was in the middle of making a push for the division. It was a fun year even though my team fell apart. It seemed like Smoltz did not perform the way I had hoped when he came over. That was my best chance to win it and we flopped. 1996 and 1997 were both fun and at the end of each season we fell apart.
My take - I thought for sure you'd go with the Pettyjohn trade. he looks like a future #1 starter to me. Great deal.
3. Your young SP is outstanding. How are you gonna supplement that by getting some offense?
MIN - Well hopefully by getting some players that are close to the majors during the upcoming drafts. I really want to focus on young players that can play defense and steal a base. I am just not sure if I am patient enough to sit back and build through a draft. My team will start losing and I like to win so I will make trades to win as many as I can.
My take - I think its easier to get older hitters for cheaper. Might be your best bet. Your future P looks legit.
4. Financially things are looking pretty good currently. Long term it looks like you'll be a mid market team at best. Do you think you can survive with a payroll around 60 million? Have you had success before with such a low payroll?
MIN - I have had some success with small payrolls. My best years here so far we had manageable payrolls. Again I think the key is young players coming into the league coupled with a few quality older guys that you can spend money on. Defense will have to be the key to support the staff I have.
My take - I never truly consider defense enough. Probably something I should look into.
5. Your division is currently dominated by CHI. They don't look like a long term threat though. What are you gonna do to get to the top of your division? What teams concern you most within your division?
MIN - I have a tough road to travel. The White Sox should be good for awhile based on the money they bring in. Ultimately I think KC, CLE and Mil. have the best chances of being on top of this division over the years. They all have solid prospects which should turn them into solid division contenders. I do not have any hitting prospects. If I want to compete I will have to figure out some trades and have some solid drafts.
My take - I think with your SP you have a great shot at being at the top of your division soon. KC and MIL are pretty savvy though so it may be tough.
6. Winter Meetings are complete. What are your thoughts on the rule changes? Merchandising Revenue Rule? Competitiveness Rule? Reliever to SP Rule? Any ideas for the Dodgers GM?
MIN - Merchandising Revenue is fair. I am all for helping teams and bringing a balance to the league. I just don't want any team to suffer because of it. We will see how it plays out over the next couple seasons.
Competitiveness Rule I love. I hate to see any team lose on purpose. Maybe this is where I can not separate sim life from real life. I just think if your going to play you play to win as much as you can. If you go out to lose then you suck as an owner and should be fired. My team will feature my young pitchers. The reality of my season is that I wont win the division but I am going to try and win every game I can.
As far as the RP to SP goes....leave that to each team to decide. If an owner wants to try it then great. I do like that fact that if you try it and the RP falls apart then you cant reverse the PD hits. Its a gamble but its a gamble that each owner should decide on, not the league.
As far as the Dodgers......MATT ANDERSON!
My take - I love the RP to SP rule. I think it helps fix that huge glitch.
7. This off season was rough for Erbes. Some big time problems with the file. Have you every see these type of problems in other leagues you've been in? Do these problems make you worry for the long term outlook of the league?
MIN - I do not recall any issues like the ones we have had. Erbes has been busy and has done a fine job but could have handled things a little better. As far as the league goes....it will be fine. I think if we survived this off season then the league will survive. The file could be better, lost a lot of history, but when it was all said and done we all chose to stay.
My take - Ya. I love this league. definately don't want it to end or restart. Just worried about this file a bit. Also with Erbes ability to handle it. So far so good though.
8. How was your off season? What was your biggest off season move? What was the one move you were trying to make that didn't happen?
MIN - My off season sucked. Hard to sign players when they want a lot or when they don't like the Twins. Didn't really have any talks that progressed to anything. The only players of value on my team are my young pitchers and I do not see me moving them any time soon.
My take - really dislike your offseason as well. Valentin has nice range but that 950% is yikes. Martinez is pretty meh as well. Time will tell.
9. Overall who had the best off season? Which team made the most noise and should be much better because of it?
MIN - I think the Padres did. With the additions of Harikkala, HRod, Groom, Saito, Delgado, Becker, Everett and Kent, he should be able to be a contender in the NL West.
My take - Padres had a huge offseason but I think they played things poorly. Don't like how there team over spent. Should've gone more slowly.
10. Predict your record and your finish in the division. Tell me who has the best team and why they'll win the WS!
MIN - 5th place at 72-90
I am going to go out on a limb and say the White Sox are due. They made the World Series 2 years ago. Waldo has a solid team if he can avoid injuries. Bonds (if he does not take PD hits) and Thomas are hard to bet against. He has some good supporting cast around them. Should be a fun season to watch.
My take - Your prediction looks about right. Im thinking 65-70. No way CHI makes it out of the AL though. And the NL is winning the title this year, so ya.
