First off we started with current reigning world champion (2nd in 3 years) Crow....
Q1. Is a rebuild in the near future? Or do you feel you can win with your current makeup?
Ans). We're constantly trying to rebuild and make our next run in the playoffs. When you ask me the question, "Do you feel you can with your current makeup?" It feels slightly condescending. We just won the World Series for the 2nd time in 3 years - of course we can win, but of course we can miss the playoffs like we did in 2018 with a .500 record. Baseball is a fickle game, you have to have the right combination of players and a little bit of luck. I plan on making a few trades this year to help both in my run for the playoffs and for "re-building". To me, "re-building" is a constant thing...we're always looking to improve.
I'm not a firm believer in the "let's blow it up if we don't win" mentality. I was back at .500 the year after I won 103 games and was the World Series Champion, I could have easily said, "Fuck it, my team isn't producing lets blow this bitch up." If I would have taken that stance, I'm likely not a playoff champion the next year...My goal as a GM is to continually improve my team in trades and our position. If you look back at the history of trades with my team, you will notice that I usually sell one year and try to grow the next. Currently we're in the process of doing both.
Q2. Current prospect(in the upcoming draft) you are most excited about.
Ans). I usually only scout the prospects that will be around my pick range, which currently sits at 30, 32, 92...I'm not at liberty to divulge who I do like and don't like.
Q3. Any changes you would like to see the league make for the long term success and well being of the league.
Ans). I would like to see the league move to a draft lottery as I talked about last year. I've tried to be competitive every year that I've been in the league and it's not fun if I'm not chasing something. My first year - as I was trying to make the team my own, I chased .500 after I traded Jose Fernandez, Joey Votto, and Mike Stanton...I couldn't imagine trying to tank like some teams have in the past (luckily those GM's aren't with us anymore). To me, a lottery helps out to keep all teams competitive throughout the season. My proposal which I shared last year only affects the 1st Round - and then in the subsequent rounds it follows the normal route. With a lottery, there's a 1 in 15 chance a near playoff team could get a difference maker for the next year.
With Crow's answers you can see how competitive this guy is, and while I think a draft lottery could help I just not sure it would get full league backing. Maybe a combination and do a draft lottery type system for IFA's instead of having to throw bid money out or using the lottery to setup the order of preference for signing. I'm sure something can evolve out of this suggestion by Crow.
Next I sat down with the newest GM of the LA Dodgers, MGM.
Q1. Are you in position to contend, or do you feel a rebuild is still the best practice?
Ans). I believe that, with one of the strongest rotations I've ever put together in a league, we should be in a position to contend. We really need our lineup to come through though and produce at least some runs to help support our pitching in order to win games. If that doesn't happen and we go on an extended slide through the first half of the season, we may need to re-adjust and rebuild.
Q2. Current prospect(in the upcoming draft) you are most excited about.
Ans). Obviously I would love the top pitcher in the draft, Montrell Johnson, but since I'm picking in the middle of the order, I have to look further down the draft board. I don't intend on revealing my hand on who I'm interested in in the draft.
Q3. Any changes you would like to see the league make for the long term success and well being of the league.
Ans). I believe that in order to keep talent sustained for the long haul, focus needs to be made on improving the depth and quality of the draft classes. The fact that by the time the end of the second round rolls around we have guys with peaks in the mid/upper 70s getting picked shows lack of depth in talent in the draft classes. I'm not suggesting to boost everyone in draft classes, but adjust settings to improve depth at need positions. In addition, some need to be more open to creative and fun changes to increase league activity such as past special features like Winter Ball or Winter League.
That MGM...couldn't get a read on that guy. He seems to be doing something right though. His Dodgers through the first 38 games have a team ERA of 2.57. Tops in the whole league. He may not divulge his current love affair in the upcoming draft but he hit something in that rotation he's built. Maybe this will be his year.
Finally we end with the league commish. He has informed me that he is effectively re-signing from his post because Chris Sale is a dill hole and he's sorry for that. But no really below are his answers. The third Answer will be bolded unlike everyone elses. There IS A LEGITIMATE RULE CHANGE IN THERE. Please read it. I'm sure it will be posted on the site as well.
Q1. Is a rebuild in the near future? Or do you feel you can win with your current makeup?
Ans). No rebuild anytime soon. We have just recently in the last season or two called up all of our young guys. We are going into the prime of our players careers and we feel like we have the next while to compete. We have some places we need to build up in the upcoming seasons and we need to replenish the farm but we think we can be a player for years to come.
Q2. Current prospect(in the upcoming draft) you are most excited about.
Ans). Really like the top of the draft and guys like Montrell Johnson and Eric Galcia. But we won't be anywhere close to getting them nor are we planning on moving up. We are evaluating other guys but we are not in a position to give that draft plan out. We will be looking to build up the future rotation and maybe a 3B and OF.
Q3. Any changes you would like to see the league make for the long term success and well being of the league.
Ans). I do not know if we will have any changes coming up. We just made a couple of changes this past off season but anything is possible. One rule I am thinking about changing is the debt Free Agents. I am thinking of proposing a rule change that would give allow teams that are in debt when they start Free Agency be allowed to sign/bid on free agents. Here is the official idea below-
If you go into Free Agency in debt, but then trade out of it, you have to wait a 24 hour period or until the next file to begin bidding on Free Agents. This would eliminate a long wait time to bid.
So there you have it. A simple chat among some rival GM's. Whatever they are doing seems to be working and we got some good ideas from Crow and MGM. NWU dropped the ball again but yeah we have a new rule which should help some budget strapped teams. My league suggestion would be why not institute a hard cap and soft cap for budgets like what the NHL uses. This would eliminate "tanking" to an extent and help keep smaller markets more viable with better revenue sharing to help them reach the mid ground salary wise.
Anyway good luck to all the league GMs this season!!
