GM - Legend Series

[Matt]

We are proud to continue on our 'Legend Series'...this time bringing in UMD. From taking Hartford and turning them into a powerhouse, to rebranding and rebuilding Death Valley from the ashes he's been a constant force as long as we can remember. He's a great contributor to the league in many other aspects as well and we're pleased to have him here today.

What is your team philosophy?

I think one of the keys to my success in turning around Hartford and then rebranding and rebuilding a heavily sanctioned Virginia team as Death Valley, was the patience to wait for the opportunity to make a series of moves that would create a significant run up the standings.

I've found that when rebuilding, it's important to lay a foundation of youth. Whether that's through a combination of draft picks, smart trading for prospects (even projected role players), signing younger free agents who have upside, taking flyers on the waiver wire, and (at the time) the Rule V draft, you need that youthful core. That's the core that's going to let you sustain a winning team.

Some of the other GMs have touched on it in this series, but strong starting pitching, a solid bullpen, and great team defense can give you a shot at the playoffs even if you don't have superstar talent up and down the roster.

Once I've rebuilt my teams, I've always been of the philosophy of "it's easier to maintain, than tear it down and start over." Sure, you can rip it all down. For me, the prospect of having to nail every draft pick for 3ish seasons, avoid injuries, and compete with other great GMs in the 90's Ale and then against Pat in the Stout, seemed like a recipe for a 8-10 year rebuild.

Pitchers or hitters?

Pitching. I've always prided myself on assembling some of the best rotations in the league. I think that's been the key to our success, but also the reason I don't have any titles. I think you need elite hitters to win in the Brewmasters and I haven't had that one guy who has carried me to a title yet.

If you can find 3 top of the rotation arms (sub 3.25 ERA) - whether through the draft, trade, free agency - and then complement them with two more mid rotation starter types (sub 4.00 ERA) and a 6th starter who can throw in the 4.00-4.50 ERA range, you're going to win a lot in this league regardless of your line-up.

Add in a solid bullpen that's lefty and righty balanced and a plus defense, you can be in that wildcard discussion every season.

Who is/was your favorite player?

In Hartford it was Chuck Durham, hands down. I loved that guy. He was easily one of the best middle IFs of all time and possibly the best 2B ever. He was the heart and soul of those great Hartford line-ups and my only true Hall of Famer I don't really have to share at the moment.

I also love Mac Aaron. I loved him so much I went and got him again the moment I thought I could turn around Death Valley quicker than I had anticipated. That guy was money. I went and got him in 1995 in Hartford and then grabbed him again from Dallas in 2005 when DVS was turning the corner.

Chuck Lindsey was amazing and should've been in the Hall of Fame.

In Vegas, Danny Salcedo, Brendan Lindsey, RJ Manning, and Adrian Pulido all stand out.

What was your favorite team?

That 1997 Hartford team was just ridiculous...

Amri Sau .324/.399/.605 37 HR 148 RBI 100 R
Don Castor .225/.294/.395 27 HR 120 RBI
Chuck Durham .329/.417/.538 17 HR 83 RBI 113 R
Abe Hernandez .285/.414/.458 21 HR 81 RBI 115 R
Raul Valencia .292/.351/.514 19 HR 69 RBI
Raul Carbajal .274/.352/.372
Darrel Corfield .288/.349/.412
Pat Stewart .292/.350/.364
Wes Hawkins .287/.331./.377
Jim Newlin .268/.379/.402

Those are some Baseball Stars type numbers and the pitching staff was no joke either...

Raul Gonzalez 16-4 2.77
Chuck Lindsey 13-5 3.98
Ricky Rangel 16-7 2.65
Brad Hayes 11-7 3.01
Tony Marrero 11-6 3.50

Bullpen was so good too: Godron, Aaron, Anaya, Ching, JJ Garcia, Kayra, Bart Rodriguez, Anibel Valencia

What was the key to your Brewmasters teams?

Losing to some of the most stacked BLB teams ever.

That 1997 Hartford team above lost to Virginia after being up 3-1. The 1995 team was great too and lost to Virginia.

Last season was probably my best GM job. We completely changed course in late June early July turning much of the roster. For the first time ever I decided we needed hitting and I went out and got it. Then we got buzz sawed by a loaded PAW team.

What are you looking for in a trade?

Value. Is this trade an upgrade, even if just incrementally? Whether it's picks, prospects, or BLBers, does this trade make us better in the short and long term? If it's just a short term upgrade, is it worth the sacrifice of the long term?

Also, is there value on the back end of a deal? If I trade for this superstar right now, what can I expect to get back for him in a deal 2 years from now? 5 years from now? What's the shorter term boost versus the diminishing return?

I'll always give up assets for a potential young superstar or a star entering their prime. I think superstars are the key for a team to take that next step.

How do you compete year after year?

I've always just opted to slowly trade off assets (older-ish superstars, rising prospects, 1st-3rd round draft picks) for proven guys in that 22-30 year old range to sustain a consistent winner.

I also think finding those late round gems - particularly high end starters in the 2nd round, regulars in the 3rd round, and role players in the 4th and lower keeps your franchise humming.

Z, Matt, and Prez have always been good at adding in those "glue" type vets at the right price. I've tried to follow that as well.

So far it's worked for getting to the playoffs 14-out-of-23 seasons . It hasn't gotten me a title though.

Maybe soon. Maybe not.

[Delandis]

After reading Z, Andrew, and UMD, I'd like a redo.

[Z]

Once I've rebuilt my teams, I've always been of the philosophy of "it's easier to maintain, than tear it down and start over." Sure, you can rip it all down. For me, the prospect of having to nail every draft pick for 3ish seasons, avoid injuries, and compete with other great GMs in the 90's Ale and then against Pat in the Stout, seemed like a recipe for a 8-10 year rebuild.

Amen. I couldn't agree more.

And to tie a couple of your comments together, umd, approximately how many times did I try to persuade you to trade me Darrel Corfield?

400?

[Jake]

I noticed Carlos does not have a legends interview yet. "Weird."

[Carlos]

I noticed Carlos does not have a legends interview yet. "Weird."

Obviously this is a joke, but I wouldn't do it anyway. Nothing legendary to discuss.

[umd]

Amen. I couldn't agree more.

And to tie a couple of your comments together, umd, approximately how many times did I try to persuade you to trade me Darrel Corfield?

400?

Didn't you eventually get him at like 33?

[Z]

Didn't you eventually get him at like 33?

I did. He was toast by then. He hit .200 and couldn't play center well anymore.

I think I messaged you about him multiple times a season from 1990 through 1998.

[Ryan]

A Baseball Stars reference, nice!

[Matt]

The 'Legend Series' continues with another longtime owner and living legend, Ryan. He has led the Indy Clowns to multiple winning seasons, four Brewmaster appearances, and has been a huge contributor in the day to day aspect of the BLB. The league is fortunate to have him as a GM and appreciates all he does.

What is your team philosophy?

I'm not really sure I have one, to be honest. I really like interesting players, and I don't believe there's a right or wrong way to play this game. I started as an Expansion team in 1982, so I think that's why I have no problem breaking it down and starting over. I wish I was a little more hesitant to do so, but it's pretty damn fun.

I've been fortunate to have some really good teams, but we've been really bad before, too. I suppose I really like to have two or three horses in the rotation and a strong bullpen. On defense, I try to field a good defensive team. I usually defer to a defensive guy over an offensive guy, if all is equal. I try to stay strong up the middle. Some of my best players have been catchers (Pete Miller) or center fielders (Rex Knight, and now Morales and Gray). All of them were good defensively and really good bats.

I have other quirks, I suppose, but it's mainly boring stuff like positions I refuse to spend money on.

Pitchers or hitters?

Hitters. I love hitters. I love OBP and homers. Who doesn't??? If Jimmy Gray can stay healthy, I'll have to call my doctor, because that dudes stat line gives me an erection that lasts well over four hours. He's Rex Knight, redux. I still regret trading Rex, but you know, rebuilding.

Pitchers give me fits, unless I feel like they're can't miss guys. But even then, they end up leaving to play golf, and I get all sad and ranty on the boards.

Who is/was your favorite player?

Rex Knight is a clear favorite. Walked, hit for power, had speed, allowing him to hit doubles and triples in bunches. Went 30/30 in his 12.1 WAR season. In his last four seasons with us, he had WAR's of 12.1, 9.7, 9.0, and 9.2. Drool worthy. He should've been a lifelong Clown, but you know...

Honorable mention to 9.0 WAR, 1987 Pete Miller. He slashed 347/441/551 that season as a catcher, playing 144 games.

One of my first favorites was SS Anier Tafur, an Expansion Draft pick up. He only played for a short time, coming up with the Clowns as a 24 year old, then retiring at 31, after a one year stint in California. Hit for modest power for a middle infielder, wasn't fast, but hit a bunch of doubles and triples. Topped out at 4.0 WAR in 1985 as a 27 year old, and sandwiched that season with four seasons over 2.0 WAR, before falling off a cliff, probably after a version change.

There were probably some pitchers too, but I doubt it. They most likely died early deaths. See: Bryant, Pat and Mendez, Manny.

What was your favorite team?

The 1985 Clowns are my clear favorite. We made the Playoffs in our fourth year in the league, which was pretty damn cool considering we built the team mostly through the Expansion Draft. Now that I've looked back, that team was built on pitching and defense. Who knew???

The rotation was lead by a 37 year old Dante Geake, who we either signed to a one year deal in Free Agency, or traded for (the history's gone). Dante posted an 8.4 WAR, the highest of his career, posting a 2.55 ERA, also a career best, and winning 17 games, tying his career high. This was his only season as a Clown.

Joe 'Graveyard' Gauina was the other horse in the rotation. Probably should be listed above in the favorite players section, Joe was taken as a reliever in the #ExpansionDraft as a 26 year old out of Davenport. We kept him in the 'pen, even using him as closer in our inaugural 1982 season, where he picked up 27 saves. 1985 was his first full season in the rotation, after a three start stint in 1984. I have no idea how he did, but he must have done quite well.

Anyway, Joe posted a 5.2 WAR during that #magical1985season, and posted four consecutive 4.0+ WAR seasons after that, before being traded to Carolina at the age of 37. He died a couple years later, saving a child from a runaway automobile. I don't know, I guess. There's no history. Maybe he retired?

A 23 year old C Pete Miller posted a 3.1 WAR season, his first full season in the BLB. By the way, Pete was a Minor League Free Agent we signed in 1981, before we even played our first game. Seriously, look that shit up, his history's there. 15 Days after I signed him, this trend started:

01/01/1982 SISA scouting updated ratings (potential): Contact: 4 (4); Power: 2 (2); Eye: 3 (3).
01/01/1983 SISA scouting updated ratings (potential): Contact: 4 (4); Power: 3 (5); Eye: 3 (3).
01/01/1984 SISA scouting updated ratings (potential): Contact: 5 (6); Power: 4 (6); Eye: 4 (5).

Just fantastic.

What was the key to your Brewmasters teams?

Although we've never won a Brewmasters, we've made it there four times, back to back in 1992/1993, with offense first type of teams.

I don't know, I really don't think there's a key at all. You need two or three really good/lucky starters, a shutdown bullpen, a solid lineup, good defense, and probably most importantly, good luck/no serious injuries.

And I guess chemistry plays a role too. At the 1988 trade deadline, I went all in and traded for RF Shitty Gremades, 2B Desi Rochs, C/DH Sergio Lumar, OF Joe Coker, SP Akira Abe, and a couple others, and we were hot garbage. We were seriously better before that trade, and on paper, there was no reason for it. I'll never forget that season. #Chemistry

What are you looking for in a trade?

Depends on the situation. If I'm adding to the BLB team, I need value for the now. So I'm likely trading away a prospect or a pick. Or several. If I feel like it'll help me win now, I'll do whatever it takes. I've sacrificed future seasons for the now. See: 1988 or 2012.

If I'm in sell mode, I'm restocking the farm or adding picks. Here it's all about value. In the case of prospects, how do they fit with what I've got now? When will they be ready to contribute, and will my in house players be ready as well? Something I've started doing in the last few seasons is paying attention to windows and how the pieces fit together.

I don't usually go out searching for deals, but I'm trying to get better at it. Most of my deals have probably come from you guys approaching me with a deal, and something growing out of it.

One thing I really try to do is not wait a year too late to make a deal. I try to stay unattached to these bastards, but it's so hard, you know?

How do you compete year after year?

I sir do not. It would be boring, for me anyway. I've learned more about this game losing than I have winning. Don't get me wrong, I admire those that compete every year, like Delandis, Z, UMD, Carlos (). I'm just not very good at it, and like I said, I'd get bored.

[umd]

Ryan and I have the most blockbusters non porn. Carlos and Ryan have that all locked up.

[Jake]

Nice Carlos jab in there.

I bet Ryan will get a ton of texts from this post.

[Spear]

Nice Carlos jab in there.

I bet Ryan will get a ton of texts from this post.

Hahaha

But seriously why is there no BLB group chat on our phones...


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[Ryan]

Nice Carlos jab in there.

I bet Ryan will get a ton of texts from this post.

I can only hope!

[Z]

Ryan, what positions do you refuse to spend money on?

Also, you traded for Geake. Deal with Sin City. Even Pat complimented the trade. http://simgamingnetwork.com/forums/s...ead.php?t=4455

[Ryan]

Ryan, what positions do you refuse to spend money on?

Also, you traded for Geake. Deal with Sin City. Even Pat complimented the trade. http://simgamingnetwork.com/forums/s...ead.php?t=4455

That's right, thanks Z.

I've always been hesitant to spend on catchers. It's probably irrational, but I've always felt that way.