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Freedom fans were once again treated to an increasingly common occurrence: The breaking news sounder on their local sports talk radio station signaling another offseason move by the Freedom front office.
Veteran sports radio host Mitch Steiner on the number of calls regarding the Freedom at this time of year, “It’s kind of unprecedented. Usually once football season starts people forget about baseball until the ice and snow melts, y’know? But this offseason they’re staying on the front page, often above the fold. So many callers with just a wide variety of views of whats going on over there. I have to tell you though, most people are taking a wait and see attitude. And believe me, if things don’t go right this year the front office is going to hear about it.”
So far this offseason the Freedom front office has:
• Inked last trade deadline acquisition Tim Nathan to a two year deal
• Traded fan favorite Mel Woodbury in a highly controversial move to bring in Joe Arredondo and some prospects (one of which should have an impact at the big league level this year, Takahashi)
• and now the most recent move, jettisoning veteran RH starting pitcher Nathan MacOwl and a bevy of minor leaguers to Denver to acquire new first baseman Joe Seagarra
• Watched veteran Free Agents Jerry Fortin and Desi Rochs leave to test the market
As usual the fan on the street has an opinion. “It’s like, I’m not even sure who’s on the roster anymore. I mean, we have some holdovers, but it just seems like so much turnover during one offseason. How are they going to have time to gel? This Spring Training is going to be spent reading name tags rather than preparing on the field,” said one flustered fan. “I just hope they know what they are doing. I mean, Mel Woodbury for f#@& sake.”
Those sentiments were common among the casual Freedom fan, but the true diehards are willing to give the benefit of the doubt.
“Yep, it’s a lot of turnover,” said one optimistic fan. “Just take a look at the roster: Desi Rochs, gone. Jerry Fortin, gone. Mel Woodbury, gone. Nathan MacOwl, gone. Those are big names and most of them had some significant moments wearing the Freedom uni. But you know what else those names represent? Age. Our roster is so much younger this year. Look at Seagarra. That kid’s only 26 and should be getting ready to enter the prime of his career. I loved Woodbury and hope he has a great year this year, except when he’s facing us of course, but you just always have to wonder is he going to be there when you really need him?”
Freedom GM Brad Zabel when asked about the offseason of turnover said, “When we started last year we had a very short window in which to compete for a championship. Some of our veterans made choices this offseason that all but closed that window. We had the basis for a strong starting staff already in house, but we wanted to make it stronger while hopefully opening the window for a longer period of time too. We made the decision to get younger around the field while placing an emphasis on pitching. We think we have a chance to be more competitive this year than last, but it’s going to take contributions from a couple of young guys and bounce back years from a couple of our young veterans. We’re happy with the offseason and can’t wait for pitchers and catchers to report . . .even if a lot of them won’t know who each other are.”
Time will tell if the offseason meant anything more than the shuffling of names and papers, but for the followers of the Freedom one thing remains abundantly clear: There is a plan in place and it is being followed. Now the only question that remains: Is the plan the right one?
Pitchers and catchers report in less than a month which means the snow and ice will be melting soon and baseball will once again take center stage, but this year it’s like it never left.
LINK
Veteran sports radio host Mitch Steiner on the number of calls regarding the Freedom at this time of year, “It’s kind of unprecedented. Usually once football season starts people forget about baseball until the ice and snow melts, y’know? But this offseason they’re staying on the front page, often above the fold. So many callers with just a wide variety of views of whats going on over there. I have to tell you though, most people are taking a wait and see attitude. And believe me, if things don’t go right this year the front office is going to hear about it.”
So far this offseason the Freedom front office has:
• Inked last trade deadline acquisition Tim Nathan to a two year deal
• Traded fan favorite Mel Woodbury in a highly controversial move to bring in Joe Arredondo and some prospects (one of which should have an impact at the big league level this year, Takahashi)
• and now the most recent move, jettisoning veteran RH starting pitcher Nathan MacOwl and a bevy of minor leaguers to Denver to acquire new first baseman Joe Seagarra
• Watched veteran Free Agents Jerry Fortin and Desi Rochs leave to test the market
As usual the fan on the street has an opinion. “It’s like, I’m not even sure who’s on the roster anymore. I mean, we have some holdovers, but it just seems like so much turnover during one offseason. How are they going to have time to gel? This Spring Training is going to be spent reading name tags rather than preparing on the field,” said one flustered fan. “I just hope they know what they are doing. I mean, Mel Woodbury for f#@& sake.”
Those sentiments were common among the casual Freedom fan, but the true diehards are willing to give the benefit of the doubt.
“Yep, it’s a lot of turnover,” said one optimistic fan. “Just take a look at the roster: Desi Rochs, gone. Jerry Fortin, gone. Mel Woodbury, gone. Nathan MacOwl, gone. Those are big names and most of them had some significant moments wearing the Freedom uni. But you know what else those names represent? Age. Our roster is so much younger this year. Look at Seagarra. That kid’s only 26 and should be getting ready to enter the prime of his career. I loved Woodbury and hope he has a great year this year, except when he’s facing us of course, but you just always have to wonder is he going to be there when you really need him?”
Freedom GM Brad Zabel when asked about the offseason of turnover said, “When we started last year we had a very short window in which to compete for a championship. Some of our veterans made choices this offseason that all but closed that window. We had the basis for a strong starting staff already in house, but we wanted to make it stronger while hopefully opening the window for a longer period of time too. We made the decision to get younger around the field while placing an emphasis on pitching. We think we have a chance to be more competitive this year than last, but it’s going to take contributions from a couple of young guys and bounce back years from a couple of our young veterans. We’re happy with the offseason and can’t wait for pitchers and catchers to report . . .even if a lot of them won’t know who each other are.”
Time will tell if the offseason meant anything more than the shuffling of names and papers, but for the followers of the Freedom one thing remains abundantly clear: There is a plan in place and it is being followed. Now the only question that remains: Is the plan the right one?
Pitchers and catchers report in less than a month which means the snow and ice will be melting soon and baseball will once again take center stage, but this year it’s like it never left.
LINK
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