OSR: Joining us today is ScheckDiesel, former GM of the Kansas City Royals and currently with one of the new expansion teams, the Las Vegas Desperados. Thanks for being here.
ScheckDiesel: You’re welcome.
OSR:You managed the Royals for 10 seasons, including 3 straight 100 win seasons with a World Series appearance in 2018. That has to be one of the best runs ever for a small market team. Can you tell us a little bit about why you decided to move to an expansion team?
ScheckDiesel: My whole goal with the Royals was to make a run, which I did, and then build them back up until I felt they could contend again. If you look at the Royals system, they have a LOT of good players coming up. Brislin,Burkill, Dawson, and Oskwarek will be dangerous for the next 5 years. And that’s just the rotation! If you look at the lineup, names stand out like Scaparo, Clark, Snavely, Harris, Volkman, McCrury. It’s a team that has a LOT of potential.
OSR: I agree…but what exactly made you decide it was time to move on?
ScheckDiesel: The reason I moved on was because I wanted a team I could truly call my own. KidCavalier largely drafted the team I took to the WS and I wanted to see if I could compete as quickly as thenation is in Montreal. I also liked the idea of having a larger market to work with.
OSR: I’m sure that the NL West being a tad less difficult than the AL Central had nothing to do with it. Anyway, let’s move on to the initial draft. This was a 4 team expansion, compared to our 2 team expansion previously…so it was probably a bit more competitive of a draft. How do you feel you drafted compared to the other teams involved?
ScheckDiesel: Well, for the short term, I think Vancouver did the best out of anyone. However, my view towards the draft was getting the best pitching available, and then grabbing prospects I liked. This offseason I flipped first and second pick Jamie Torresola and John Watson for 2 solid spects and 2 2nd round picks. My 3rd pick Joe Trotter has great potential, and I just flipped Glenn Weaver for two amazing spects in Luis Chapa and Mike Neale, who I have loved since he was drafted.
OSR: I notice you qualified your statement on Vancouver with “for the short term”–overall, both short term and long, out of the 4 teams, how would you rate your draft? Simple answer, first through fourth.
ScheckDiesel: Wow, bringing out the tough questions. I feel like it is hard to really rank 1-4 right now, because we are only in the 2nd year of the expansion teams. If I HAD to rank the teams I would say Las Vegas, Vancouver, Monterrey, San Juan. I put myself because I feel like I have the best chances for the future with my farm system, Vancouver 2nd because he won the AL West, and Monterrey and San Juan I would tie because both of them have a decent farm, but the ML teams are struggling right now
OSR: Let’s move on to your current team…you have a couple of star players with big contracts. 3B Kevin Ilderton who you signed to a 4 year, $56 million deal, and RF Carlo Maderros who was signed by SFG this last off season for a 4 year, $64 million deal. How do these guys fit into your plans–are they part of your future or just potential trade bait?
ScheckDiesel: As of right now, they are part of my future, when you can have those two guys in the middle of your lineup, you know you are going to score runs. However, if the right deal comes along with some close to ML-ready spects, I will be willing to deal them. As of right now, the NL West should start loading up, because it looks like 2028 is the year that I feel I can make a run at the division, which is also the year that Maderros and Ilderton’s contracts are up
OSR: Onto your pitching, you definitely have some diamonds in the rough. Ian Vaughn and Matt Constantine have both been solid in the rotation, and Araki Yamamoto, a former top Japanese IFA is having the best season of his MLB career at 39 years old. Also of note is your closer, Phil Speirs, who you drafted as the 47th overall pick in the expansion draft. What’s the key to your ability to scout these underrated pitchers?
ScheckDiesel: Performance Enhancing Drugs.
OSR: : We legalized those in 2018 though, so drugged up players are the norm. 
ScheckDiesel: LOL. In all seriousness, Ian Vaughn was a guy that I loved with the high control/movement numbers, and he has always been decent. Yamamoto was more of a shot in the dark, evidenced by his 1yr 600k contract. Constatine was a decent SP with an arb contract, and I felt a move to the NL would help him. Speirs is an 81 overall closer who performs way above that. My “scouts” think he is a clinch for 30+ saves a year. Overall, I love my high control/movement pitchers, especially in the hitters park that I have.
OSR: Any big names in your farm system we should expect to see in future All-Star Games? Scouts have always raved about SP Joe Trotter, but he’s already 27 years old and hasn’t hit the majors yet.
ScheckDiesel: Trotter could have a few years where he impacts, but he won’t be in the league very long. I feel that SS Mike Neale and C Luis Chapa have a very good chance to be an all-star. In the long term, I really like the potential of OF Bobby Clements and OF Gregory Lee. Those two could become my new Ilderton and Maderros when all is said and done.
OSR: Okay…now onto the future of the franchise. When do we expect to see a division title from the Desperados? Or even a championship? I heard you mention something about 2028 earlier in the interview…
ScheckDiesel: I feel like 2028 is definitely could be a cornerstone year for us. Luis Chapa, Marc Downes, Scott Seth, Mike Neale, Carlo Villegas all will be peaking…I will still have Kevin Ilderton and Carlos Maderros, and oh, Bryan Heseltine will be peaking in CF as well. My pitching staff could be suspect, but there is always FA. I can always count on a diamond in the rough, finding that low 80′s SP who will perform like a 90, a so-called “Sanji Cheater Pitcher”.
OSR: Let’s wrap it up with the 60 second drill. Who do we see in the WS this season, and who wins?
ScheckDiesel: Montreal vs Baltimore, and Montreal finally gets over the hump.
OSR: The OSR is picking Minnesota, so we’ll disagree there. Favorite player in Outahere not on your team?
ScheckDiesel: [Minnesota SP] Josh Gartner.
OSR: Great pick! Teams to watch out for 5 seasons from now?
ScheckDiesel: The Chicago White Sox and the Las Vegas Desperados,
OSR: Okay, one last question, who’s your biggest rival in Outahere? Team, GM, other league, whatever. Which team do you just really want to beat?
ScheckDiesel: Wow, tough question, back in the day, cfeedback (wink), now, thenation.
OSR: I’ve heard about that first guy. No one can beat cfeedback it seemed.
ScheckDiesel: Except the Royals between ’17-’19.
OSR: Thanks for being on the show, and good luck with the remainder of this season!
ScheckDiesel: Thanks, and also the Desperados are announcing free Topperstix night at Mandalay Bay Park, free Topperstix for all in attendance!