Rejuvinating the Great Red Machine

[UngratefulDead]

Originally Posted by jaykno14

Well that should be my last post for about 10 days or so due to a vaca' down to the Valley of the Sun to see some spring training action. I will most definitely have updates when I get back because I am really enoying writing up this dynasty. See ya'll next week!

Have fun.

[jaykno14]

Originally Posted by UngratefulDead

Have fun.

Thanks UD! I did.

Well I am back and it was nice and warm and sunny in Arizona. It beats being back in Illinois where it is about 40 degrees and snow/rain although we haven't got it yet today. I will have an update later on today.

[jaykno14]

The outfield for The Great Red Machine is actually one of the stronger parts of the engine. Last year our starters had a combined 283 RBI and 67 HR. Not too shabby I'd say. Well the happiness is short lived as two thirds of these guys will return in '07. The one that is leaving is making $10+ million a year. He's also the worst of the three. Not on my watch sorry.

Starting out in left field we had 24 year old Wily Mo Pena who bombed 23 times last year. He also had 82 RBI which was third on the team (the first two are the starting CF and RF). This is the one of the two guys that will be a part in The Great Red Machine '07. His contract was extended three years for $5,250,000 a year. Not bad considering the peak on this guy. His average was .282 and his OBP was .333. His defensive ratings have his arm rated as above average and he also has above average range. As a bonus, he stole 12 bases also.

One more slot towards right, center field, we have Jay Payton. Payton is making a contract that is TEN F***ING TIMES what he is worth. UGH! He is making $10,451,100 a year through 2009. When did this guy hire Scott Boras to be his agent? Anyway I will place him on the waiver wire and if he doesn't get plucked off of it then I will have to make a trade for about $50,000 in cash just so I can get his contract off of my back. He did hit an astounding .241 with a .311 OBP. What was past management thinking?! He also hit 18 homers with 91 RBI and 30 doubles. Good bye and nice to know ya'.

In right field, you will see Ryan Ludwick throwing his glove up and down and frolicking through all the dandelions. Not really. Ludwick is 28 and has asked me for $6+ million dollars for three years which I decided to give him. He had the most RBI's on the team at 105 and hit 26 home runs. Also, he hit a Lyle Overbay esque number, 51 doubles which was fourth in the whole league. He also played flawless defense in right field which always helps.

Our fourth and final fly catcher was defensive specialist Jason Ramano. He has excellent contact ratings but still only hit .261 in 138 at bats. He is asking for $1+ million a year which is something I don't give to a fourth OF unless they are special or something of that sort. Also, he doesn't hit homers or anything. Thats no fun.

In the minor leagues we don't have anything special. At AAA we have 28 year old Stephen Smitherman who hit 38 homers and had 104 RBI. He also had a 1.023 OPS. He could be called up to play left and we could move Pena over to centerfield to replace Payton.

The only other promising name in AAA is RF Rich Molina. He is 21 and hit .300 with 10 home runs and 38 RBI. He also had a .401 OBP. He has one of the best arms in the minor leagues which is something we like to look for in a RF. He will remain at AAA in 2007.

In AA you will find another player who is too old for his level. Cory Aldridgeis 27 and is still riding the buses around from unknown city to unknown city. He did manage to hit 26 homers with 97 RBI and a .292 average. He stole 16 bases with a .371 OBP. He will play in AAA this year and will provide depth at the OF position.

Also in AA is '06 first overall pick Pablo "The Patriot" Valenzuela. Who knows how he got his nickname but maybe he fought in the army and lost a leg protecting a fellow soldier or something of that sort. Something tells me that the nickname isn't as 'heroic' as that. (Maybe one of my readers can make a story up for that nickname?) Anyway V's ratings are still kinda low for a 24 year old and if he doesn't develop quickly he could be in trouble. He hit 7 homers in 305 at bats with a line of .321/.420/.443. He did steal 7 bases. He will remain at AA until he can prove that he deserves a spot at AAA.

In the outfield as you see, we are very deep. I could maybe sign a cheap centerfielder and use Smitherman as a fourth out fielder but that isn't too likely. I am looking for this bunch to carry the offense this year since it is the only spot, along with second, in The Great Red Machine that has great potential. Second base has potential but it is in the minors yet.

[jaykno14]

The playoffs. How could I forget 'em?!

Starting out in the NL. The surprise team was the Brewers. Wait!! Did I say the right? The Brewers in the playoffs?! Well yes it's true and don't even think about saying, "What a fluke!" Coming off a 70-92 season the 'crew made the playoffs as a wild card team. Also in the NL playoffs were the Mets, the Padres, and the Pirates. Again I ask: Where'd all the money go? Who knows. In the first round the Brewers, yes them small market Brewers, swept the the Mets, and the Padres beat Pittsburgh 3-1. It would be a matchup of the Padres and the Brewers in the NLCS. The Brewers lost the first game, but that would be the last time they do that in the championship series winning 4-1 to go to the big show.

In the AL, the Twins, the Evil Empire, the Indians, and the A's played. The Yankees swept the Indians 3-0 in the first round and the Twins won 3-2 against the A's. It would be another small market vs. large market matchup. The Yankees didn't even show up and again the small market team prevailed! The Twins advance.

The Brewers and Twins had been rivals for quite a while. The Twins kind of took the place of The Pale Hose when the Brewers went to the NL, as rivals. Both were small market teams. This time the Brewers didn't show up, and the Twins were the World Series Champions of '06 going 11-2 in the playoffs.

[pat]

Great read, just one suggestion, can you change the color of the Bucs? Yellow is too light, and it's hard for the eyes to read.

[jaykno14]

Originally Posted by pat

Great read, just one suggestion, can you change the color of the Bucs? Yellow is too light, and it's hard for the eyes to read.

Yeah I was wondering if that would be a problem. I will do so! Happy to know your reading.

[jaykno14]

This offseason I would like to cut the payroll. Alot. The money we spent on each win ($773,835) wasn't so high. I am guessing the team kind of got lucky, because with the players they have right now, I don't know how they even won 50.

Well we got rid of Scott Eyre's $9.5 million contract.

That brings the payroll down to $46,352,214. I want that number to be down around $40 million by the offseason. I do have $28,607,770 to spend on free agents so I probably can get some big names to come to the Machine. Milton was never claimed. I will make an effort to trade him and if he isn't wanted, which wouldn't surprise me, he may have to be release or dealt with till 2009.

First task on agenda: I need to extend the contracts of the guys I want to remain a part of the machine. Let's begin.

I have already used about $30,050,000 of our 2007 payroll just on extensions. (Eek!) Hmm. That may have been a mistake. Not good. At all. Oh well I still have quite a bit of money left over from all that so I should be alright. Garland, Ludwick, Mo Pena, Tim Hummel, Donald Simpson (Who?!), Kyle Nichols, DLR, Ankiel, and David Bailey have all been signed to extensions this year already.

Shawn Chacon is arbitration eligible and according to my money guy he is worth about $1,890,000. He wants to play for a winning team next year though, so I can't avoid arby. I am not sure if I want to take a chance on him so I decide to let go on waivers and if he isn't claimed he will be released.

Orber Moreno is arby eligible. He is estimated to make oh, about $1 million a year. Remember him. 6.75 ERA. No way. We already went over this. He is going on waivers and not returning to this machine. Good Bye.

Felipe Lopez was the one who wanted the playing time. Mendoza--I mean Lopez is due for arby and is expected to make $710,000 thats still too much. His fate is the same as Moreno's and Chacon's. Waivers.

Next up is Ryan Wagner. This guy I really like and I am going to have to go through arby with him for him to stay on the team. I pissed him off earlier in the season and now he won't talk to me for negotiations so we'll have to go through arby. I am willing to do that.

Short stop Maicer Izturis "wanted to play for a winning team." Well unfortunately for him, we will have to go through arbitration. This kid kind of scares me, but I am willing to take the chance and I will go through arby with him crossing my fingers.

Closer Joe Valentin is next on board. Arbitration estimates about $2,290,000 for this guy. I have a tough decision as to either going through arby or putting him on waivers. I cross my fingers as we will go onto arbitration with this guy.

Well that's it for extensions and arbitration. All I have to do now is push that blue button. "Proceed to Next Season......"

[cknox0723]

Originally Posted by jaykno14

Well that's it for extensions and arbitration. All I have to do now is push that blue button. "Proceed to Next Season......"

don't do it!!!! nothing good can come of that damned button!

just kidding. excellent job, incorporating dreaded finances into your analysis. are you familiar with doug pappas' work with margial dollars per win? he is definitely the authority on all things relating baseball and finance -- or, sadly, i should use the past-tense there, as he passed away last year unexpectedly.

anyhow, sorry for the depressing hijack. keep up the great work and don't be afraid to pull the trigger on a big-name this offseason!

[jaykno14]

Originally Posted by cknox0723

don't do it!!!! nothing good can come of that damned button!

I know I was tempted not to but it isn't something avoidable in the game, sorrily.

Originally Posted by cknox0723

just kidding. excellent job, incorporating dreaded finances into your analysis. are you familiar with doug pappas' work with margial dollars per win? he is definitely the authority on all things relating baseball and finance -- or, sadly, i should use the past-tense there, as he passed away last year unexpectedly.

anyhow, sorry for the depressing hijack. keep up the great work and don't be afraid to pull the trigger on a big-name this offseason!

I have never read that book. I got the idea of money spent on each win from Moneyball, because Michael Lewis mentions it in there. I do have the money to do so! I am probably after a pitcher and you will find out who is available next.

[jaykno14]

Well, I don't really know yet.

Wagner received the money that my financial guy predicted he would receive. He got $3,207,143. Score number one for this guy. Maybe this season I won't piss Wagner off and I could negotiate a deal with him that would avoid arby! I hope so.

The next guy was Maicer Izturis. I was kind of afraid to go through it but there is no way he won the case. Well we did win the case. We got him for $350,000 compared to the $390,000 estimate my financial guy had. Score number two for him.

The final guy was Joe Valentin who was thought to make about $2,290,000 for arby. My financial guy was close again. His arbitration number was $2,292,857 which isn't bad at all for all the potential he has.

Answering the question above. Yes I am happy with what happened.

I feel like I came out on top on all of the cases and my financial guy is a plus to my staff right now.
Our payroll is sitting at $59,677,500 right now about $19 million higher then I would like. I think it is my task to get that down around $50,000,000 since it looks like $40,000,000 is about out of reach.

[jaykno14]

I only could do a short update today sorry about that. School work has been getting in the way but that should end pretty soon.

[jaykno14]

Oh the times free agency creates. Definitely the general managers' second most important role to the team. (Behind the June Draft and slightly ahead of Trading) This is when the general manager will scour the available free agents for this years breakout player at a cheap price. Oh the moments it creates.

I notice that first thing in free agency is that we need a scouting director. I prefer th balanced guys over one part of the team. I quickly find the name Walt Jocketty and offer him a contract.

REJECTED

I decide to get a more average guy named Ed Wade. I offer him a contract crossing my fingers for an agreement.

AGREED!

Whew. Got that out of the way. I was slightly nervous that I would be turned down twice on my first attempt at signing somebody. It would have been horrible to get turned down by two scouts!

Anyway, on to the players. I look at my team needs and discover that the OOTP machine says I need every position except for right field. What a way to crush someones confidence. I decide to brush that off and look at my view of needs.

At catcher we seem all set and I will keep the two guys we have, Estalella and Terveen.

At first base we are also set for 2007. I am keeping one first baseman on the team and that is Kyle Nichols who has potential and is pretty cheap.

At second base I need a starter. I will probably look to spend some money at this position and get someone respectable. I will make sure the guy has defense and is a top of the lineup hitter because that is what we need. Also I will need a backup second baseman. This guy will have great defensive skills and will be cheap.

At short stop we are going to have a major competition for the starting position. Donald Simpson, DLR, and a future free agent will all compete for a starting and backup role at short stop. The person who doesn't make the team will be sent down to AAA for depth and a possible spot next year or later on in the year.

At third base we will need a starter also. Felipe Crespo was awarded $300,000 through arbitration last year and he will remain on the team as a utility guy because he can play like 6 positions (literally). I will spend some money here also, but it may only be on a stop gap type guy for one year.

The only other needs we have are relief pitchersand starting pitchers. At starting pitcher I will attempt to get a top of the rotation starter who has potential at 20 games. I am probably going to go out and get the cheapest one though. We also need a bottom of the rotation starter that way we have a starting pitcher as a long reliever during the season.

At relief pitcher I am going to get cheap middle relief guys who get the job done. Now let it be know that some of these guys will be competing for a roster spot and will be sent down if they don't do well in the 3-5 spring training games I play.

Well thats about it. At the end I need two second basemen, a short stop, a third baseman, two starting pitchers, and a few cheap relief pitchers who get the job done.

Looks easy, but is it?

[jaykno14]

Alright. During free agency I think it will be too long to do it all in one post so I have decided to split it up in "rounds". Round one will be days 1-5, round two will be days 6-10, etc.

Well I officially made my first trade as general manager trading away Jay Payton and his $10 million contract for outfielder J.J. Davis. I know I said I didn't need a corner outfielder, but this guy impressed me with his flexibility and he hasn't had many good seasons. Even though that fact is true, I still think this guy could burst and do really well for us in the future. He will probably make the team as a fourth outfielder and Smitherman will remain in AAA for depth.

Our payroll is now at $50,220,686. Not a bad start.

I decided to take a look at outfielders in free agency now. I quickly notice a name. David Dellucci. He is asking for just under $2 million a year. I offer him $2,250,000 for two years, even though he preferred four years. I didn't want to offer him a four year contract at his 33 year old age.

Next I look at short stops. Joe McKewing is the type of guy I want. An established veteran who isn't asking for too much money. He also plays all seven positions other than catcher and pitcher. He wants $520,000 for three years. I offer him $520,000 for two years hoping a year shorter wouldn't hurt.

For the last group of the day I look into starting pitchers. I find Andy Pettite who only wants $1,850,000 a year. But he wants a four year deal. I decide to offer him a contract of $1,190,000 per year for three years. Pettite had a very good 2007 campaign but he didn't rack up that many wins. If he is with the right team he could be able to do so.

I decide to click the "Finish Day" button, crossing my fingers for nice replies.

So far so good. Andy Pettite says my offer is "The best one he's received so far." Unfortunately David Dellucci doesn't like my offer. He wants more years. I decide to up it to three and keep the money the same. The final player, Joe McKewing, says that so far my offer is the best one yet also. Not bad for a rookie general manager eh?

On day two I am able to move Eric Milton's contract off my team. I traded him to the east coast, Boston, for Wade Miller. This will be the steal of the season. First off, I clear $7,210,000 off my payroll and I get the NL's breakout player of the year in Miller (I hope). Miller had a below average 2006 campaign after being selected to the 2005 all star game. He had an ERA of 5.18 and was 10-14. In 2005 he was 12-5 with a 4.01 ERA. I am hoping he can get back to 2004 form, when he had an ERA of 3.35.

When I look at starting pitchers today, Mark Mulder catches my eye. He wants $4,770,000 for five years. I decide to offer him $5,100,000 for five years and hope that he likes the offer.

All the other offers remain the same.

After I press the button, I don't like what I see. Mulder prefers Washington because they offer more years. I am not too crazy about offering him six years, so I decide to not counter the offer I made before. I turned my sites to someone else, who isn't as expensive as Mulder but had a better year.

The next starting pitcher that I would want is Adam Eaton. He is 29 and only prefers $4,750,000 for five years so I decide to offer him a contract of $5,250,000 for five years. Eaton had a spectacular 2006 with an ERA of 3.64 and record of 12-7.

I look through free agency and I don't find one single third baseman that interests me. What a hunk of crap this years third base market is. Too bad for them. I decide to turn over to waivers where I find a 24 year old by the name of Josh Fields. Now I was very surprised to find him on there but I claimed him right away. He would definitely be my starting third baseman if we could get him.

I decide to finish the day and see what the morning brings me. Not much to update. Adam Eaton likes my contract which is a good sign.

I decided to bring up Jason Middlebrook as my 7th reliever so I cross that off the list of needs, although I will sign some guys to minor league contracts for depth after free agency.

Next I searched for a second baseman. After looking at Luis Castillo I decide he is too much money for me ( I have had a lot of these thoughts this free agency period). So then I take a look at D'Angelo Jiminez. He only wants a little over a million dollars over three years so I offer him $1,200,000 for three years. I am hoping he is expendable when the prospects reach the majors.

The next day, D'Angelo Jiminez says that SF has offered him a better offer so I decide to up his contract to $1,750,000 for two years instead of three.

Ugh. The next day Adam Eaton says that Toronto offered him more money. Why do team have to do this to me? Well I raise his contract to $5,500,000 and keep the years at 5.

Also, Andy Pettite does not like my offer. "You have got to be kidding me." I decide to make his $2,100,000 and making his years three.

Lastly, D'Angelo Jiminez still preferes San Francisco's contract is better. I offer Jiminez $2,000,000 for two years.

Man what a bad day the fifth day was.

[jaykno14]

Well we lost Josh Fields because he was taken off waivers. ****! Will anything go right?

On Day 7 I traded away second base prospect Don Anderson, Steve Smitherman, and $3,000,000 in cash for 3B Justin Leone from the Indians. Leone has had excellent numbers in the minors and just needs the chance to play. We plan on starting him at third this year since it is our most weakest position.

I decided on giving up on Pettite after he wanted more years and turned my attention back to Eaton who was still available.

On the tenth day I still had not signed with anyone. Pathetic.

Hah! Finally on the thirteenth day of free agency, I sign a player.

Your contract is really what I am looking for.

I am looking foward to playing with Cincinnati.

Regards,

Darrin Erstad

Erstad will be my leadoff guy and centerfielder this year. I was able to sign him at a cheap rate of $1,240,000 a year for three years.

I also released Brian Shackleford and Felipe Lopez that day since they weren't taken by anyone off waivers.

While I still only have one signing, I am happy to say that Shawn Chacon was claimed by 12 different teams so he is definitely off my hands.

Since Adam Eaton thinks he is worth the world, I decide to enter the sweepstakes for Kelvim Escobar. Escobar had just the same year as Eaton last year and I have decided to work the way up with him to make him happy. Also, Keith Ginter is now my target for second base and here's to hoping he'll like my first offer something the hasn't happened in a long time!

Well Ginter liked my offer. Escobar signed with San Diego. Eaton still thinks that $8,500,000 is too little for him and everything just f***ing sucks right now for me. Oh well one good thing is that Shawn Chacon has went to LA (N) so I now have a payroll of $40,984,157 which isn't bad at all.

I then decide to offer Nate Cornejo an offer for $950,000 taking to Billy Beane's approach and getting the guys that no one else wants.

Aha! On Day the seventeenth, I sign my second free agent, Keith Ginter to play second base for this year and also Nate Cornejo says my offer is the best he's received. Bingo! Ginter will make $1,960,000 for the next three years.

Eaton ended up signing with Pittsburgh four days after I gave up on him. For 11 million f***ing dollars! Wow is that a big risk no wonder he wouldn't sign with me. Here's to hoping he has a 5+ ERA against us this year!

We offer deals to Brian Anderson and Keith Ramsey. They will both compete in Spring Training for a rotation spot but most likely will be in AAA for depth.

Nate Cornejo signed with us and will be with us for the next three years. Cornejo isn't considered a promising young pitcher, but he he'll get the work down out there. He'll most likely be the fifth starter this season. Or somewhere around there.

The next day Joe McKewing finally responds and will be in the race for our short stop job. He will either be the backup or starting short stop this year. That same day I decided to offer Gabe Kapler a $500,000 contract for two years.


Anderson, Kapler, and Ramsey all signed with us and were put in AAA where they will stay as depth.

At the end of free agency, our payroll is at $45,904,157 which is about $12 million short of the income we made last year at $57,800,000. I'd say we are in pretty good shape.

[jaykno14]

in the Rule 5 draft.

I decide to take a look at the third base section in hopes of finding something more interesting than Leone or Crespo. Terry Tiffey, a 27 year old Diamond Back. He has excellent contact ratings and has had major league experience. I decided to not take anyone in the the draft, so on we go with spring training and previews.

[jaykno14]

I am most likely going to write out a report for each team that way I can get more info on the league.

But, before I do that I am going to play on spring training game just to see how things pan out. Here it goes!

Alright I got it. This spring training will consist of three games against the Indians, Pittsburgh, and the improbable evil empire.