Outahere Sports Review » Desperados

Interview with Desperados’ GM ScheckDiesel

cfeedback — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:34:59 +0000

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!

2024 Expansion Draft Results

cfeedback — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:23:57 +0000

The draft was a lot of fun. Here are the results:

Player Name	Team	P	Age	Overall	Peak	Salary	Years	Pick	Expansion
Maderros, Carlo	MON	RF	29	93	93	$7,000,000	1	1	MTC
Torresola, Jamie	BAL	SP	30	91	91	$5,900,000	3	2	LAS
Dinning, Scot	PHI	SP	25	81	92	$470,000	Arb ’26	3	VAN
Shih, Bing-Chyi	WSN	CF	30	94	94	$18,700,000	4	4	SJS
Keough, Chris	MIL	SP	26	90	90	$5,800,000	3	5	SJS
Johnson, Brian	MIN	2B	23	67	87	$37,100	Arb ’26	6	VAN
Watson, John	DET	SP	32	90	90	$7,100,000	1	7	LAS
Neame, Peter	WSN	1B	33	94	94	$24,700,000	1	8	MTC
Smallman, Vernon	OAK	RP	23	75	96	$37,100	Arb ’26	9	MTC
Trotter, Joe	TEX	SP	26	69	93	$18,500	Arb ’26	10	LAS
Valhuerdi, José	CHC	LF	26	77	94	$37,100	Arb ’26	11	VAN
Stouffer, Kyle	CHC	C	23	67	84	$24,700	Arb ’26	12	SJS
Bandy, Collin	MIN	RP	23	63	92	$24,700	Arb ’26	13	SJS
Geis, Marc	WSN	LF	28	86	86	$470,000	Arb ’25	14	VAN
Weaver, Glenn	DET	C	23	87	90	$37,100	Arb ’26	15	LAS
Brogan, Glenn	BAL	CF	33	93	93	$8,600,000	2	16	MTC
Selph, Kevin	BAL	SP	23	53	86	$14,800	Arb ’26	17	MTC
Martinez, Samuel	BAL	2B	27	88	88	$6,500,000	3	18	LAS
Curling, Skip	WSN	SP	27	85	85	$470,000	Arb ’25	19	VAN
Walsingham, Pat	BAL	RP	25	84	93	$37,100	Arb ’26	20	SJS
Kim, Jae-Sun	MIN	1B	34	88	88	$10,500,000	1	21	SJS
Vanhouten, Brad	MIN	SP	23	50	81	$14,800	Arb ’26	22	VAN
Seth, Scott	DET	2B	23	68	90	$24,700	Arb ’26	23	LAS
Tabata, Jose	TOR	RF	34	90	90	$5,000,000	2	24	MTC
Willis, Ron	DET	RP	23	65	82	$18,500	Arb ’26	25	MTC
Krenn, Jay	BOS	SP	33	87	87	$2,500,000	1	26	LAS
Cole, Jeff	MON	RP	26	83	83	$3,700,000	2	27	VAN
Holcomb, Trent	MIL	SP	30	86	86	$6,400,000	1	28	SJS
Aspinwall, Tim	CHW	SP	31	84	84	$2,600,000	1	29	SJS
Clark, Gavin	CIN	1B	23	64	81	$18,500	Arb ’26	30	VAN
Willems, Colton	WSN	SP	34	86	86	$8,400,000	1	31	LAS
Green, Mike	CHW	RP	33	84	84	$14,200,000	1	32	MTC
Eggen, Brad	MON	LF	28	84	84	$470,000	Arb ’24	33	MTC
Constantine, Matt	NYY	SP	26	85	85	$37,100	Arb ’25	34	LAS
Wells, Todd	FLA	RP	24	73	82	$24,700	Arb ’26	35	VAN
Osborne, Eddie	CHW	RP	27	81	81	$2,300,000	1	36	SJS
Hood, Jake	PHI	SP	24	77	93	$37,100	Arb ’26	37	SJS
Strickland, Denis	MIL	RP	24	81	81	$470,000	Arb ’25	38	VAN
Irwin, Andrew	CHC	CF	30	86	86	$3,100,000	1	39	LAS
Klein, Sean	OAK	2B	32	90	90	$4,300,000	2	40	MTC
Anderson, Stacy	PHI	RP	25	67	82	$24,700	Arb ’26	41	MTC
Gaywood, Josh	MIL	CF	24	69	83	$24,700	Arb ’26	42	LAS
Leach, Jason	MON	RP	25	69	96	$24,700	Arb ’26	43	VAN
White, Alan	SDP	RP	28	81	81	$2,900,000	1	44	SJS
Lawrence, Geoff	TEX	RP	30	84	84	$7,200,000	1	45	SJS
Sanders, Louis	TEX	CF	27	83	83	$37,100	Arb ’25	46	VAN
Speirs, Phil	DET	RP	28	79	84	$37,100	Arb ’26	47	LAS
Castoneda, Luis	CHW	RP	31	81	81	$5,000,000	2	48	MTC
Leon, Ever	NYY	SP	26	82	82	$37,100	Arb ’24	49	MTC
Lane, Pete	SDP	SP	25	73	82	$24,700	Arb ’26	50	LAS
Phillips, Shawn	OAK	LF	28	83	86	$470,000	Arb ’25	51	VAN
Queener, Bernie	TEX	RP	25	63	83	$14,800	Arb ’26	52	SJS
Higgins, Tim	OAK	C	24	77	83	$470,000	Arb ’25	53	SJS
Wood, Hunter	OAK	SP	24	65	86	$24,700	Arb ’26	54	VAN
Wilson, Aaron	CCT	3B	32	83	83	$3,000,000	2	55	LAS
Shaffer, Aaron	PHI	CF	28	86	86	$1,500,000	2	56	MTC
Maathai, Abubakar	SDP	CF	25	84	84	$600,000	Arb ’24	57	MTC
Toiguchi, Hidetanda	PHI	CF	28	76	92	$37,100	Arb ’26	58	LAS
Beveridge, Bill	MON	RP	26	74	85	$37,100	Arb ’26	59	VAN
Heffron, Nate	TEX	RP	23	70	87	$24,700	Arb ’26	60	SJS
Goldman, Chris	ARI	RP	23	74	90	$470,000	Arb ’26	61	SJS
Suzuki, Gennai	SDP	SP	26	86	86	$1,000,000	1	62	VAN
Leclaire, Geoff	KCR	RP	31	79	79	$2,000,000	2	63	LAS
Gonzalez, Randy	CHC	SP	32	84	84	$7,700,000	3	64	MTC
Winkelstein, Carl	LAD	3B	34	83	83	$600,000	1	65	MTC
Ingham, Eric	MIN	2B	34	91	91	$23,800,000	1	66	LAS
Callen, Pete	SEA	SS	27	67	75	$37,100	Arb ’26	67	VAN
Schaeffer, Curt	COL	CF	34	77	77	$5,200,000	1	68	SJS
Moore, Jamie	COL	1B	26	75	81	$24,700	Arb ’26	69	SJS
Benthall, Gary	CHW	1B	33	84	84	$3,200,000	1	70	VAN
Drake, Britt	LAD	2B	33	83	83	$4,000,000	2	71	LAS
Naylor, Charlie	SDP	RP	27	75	82	$470,000	Arb ’26	72	MTC
Tanaka, Ujihiro	BOS	SS	34	88	88	$12,000,000	2	73	MTC
Hodson, Tommy	CCT	RP	29	82	82	$2,300,000	2	74	LAS
Garofab, Mario	ARI	SP	28	79	79	$470,000	Arb ’24	75	VAN
Venalde, Oscar	NYY	SP	23	63	84	$24,700	Arb ’26	76	SJS
Colwell, Marshall	ARI	SS	29	81	81	$1,000,000	1	77	SJS
Bulling, Jon	HOU	RF	25	79	79	$470,000	Arb ’25	78	VAN
Haider, Mark	CLE	RF	28	81	81	$470,000	Arb ’24	79	LAS
Mayfield, Eddie	COL	SS	24	75	79	$37,100	Arb ’26	80	MTC
Ryahn, Jaime	LAD	1B	30	80	80	$800,000	1	81	MTC
Gonzales, Efrain	NYM	RP	23	74	78	$37,100	Arb ’26	82	LAS
Maye, Brian	HOU	CF	23	63	78	$18,500	Arb ’26	83	VAN
Henstock, Grant	CCT	RP	23	49	71	$18,500	Arb ’26	84	SJS
Denova, Rafael	CCT	RP	24	62	79	$24,700	Arb ’26	85	SJS
Buck, Kent	COL	C	24	77	77	$18,500	Arb ’26	86	VAN
Runkle, Matthew	ARI	3B	24	73	79	$37,100	Arb ’26	87	LAS
Haffenden, Brian	ATL	C	32	80	80	$800,000	2	88	MTC
Ingram, Peter	SFG	SP	25	72	84	$37,100	Arb ’26	89	MTC
Johansen, Kenny	POR	RF	32	77	77	$1,000,000	2	90	LAS
Fisk, Chris	STL	3B	25	78	78	$470,000	Arb ’26	91	VAN
MacCrain, Stew	LAD	SS	28	79	79	$37,100	Arb ’25	92	SJS
Stanton, Vic	ATL	1B	24	79	79	$37,100	Arb ’26	93	SJS
Platz, Vince	POR	2B	29	78	78	$470,000	Arb ’25	94	VAN
Taylor, Tony	POR	C	30	77	77	$2,000,000	2	95	LAS
Evans, Branden	LAA	C	33	81	81	$3,200,000	1	96	MTC
Law, Matt	ATL	1B	29	79	79	$470,000	Arb ’24	97	MTC
Dallyn, Tony	SFG	RP	24	72	79	$37,100	Arb ’26	98	LAS
McHugo, Jake	NYY	RP	25	76	84	$37,100	Arb ’26	99	VAN
Palmer, Scott	STL	RF	33	77	77	$1,000,000	1	100	SJS
Simmons, Merv	ATL	RP	27	75	75	$470,000	Arb ’25	101	SJS
Nicolas, Mark	FLA	SS	26	81	81	$470,000	Arb ’25	102	VAN
Peel, Cecil	HOU	SP	26	81	81	$37,100	Arb ’25	103	LAS
Barchard, Trent	PIT	RP	29	75	75	$600,000	1	104	MTC
Veeck, Todd	SEA	SP	23	73	73	$470,000	Arb ’25	105	MTC
Sapp, Max	TOR	LF	35	80	80	$2,500,000	1	106	LAS
Reader, Patrick	POR	RP	29	79	79	$470,000	Arb ’25	107	VAN
Vanhoose, German	LAA	SP	26	77	77	$37,100	Arb ’26	108	SJS
Thill, Jeff	LAA	RF	26	76	76	$37,100	Arb ’26	109	SJS
Wink, Steve	POR	RF	29	79	79	$470,000	Arb ’25	110	VAN
Harrington, Wendell	CIN	RP	24	78	78	$37,100	Arb ’26	111	LAS
Hoffman, Brian	SEA	3B	23	73	73	$470,000	Arb ’26	112	MTC
Montgomery, Phil	NYM	RP	27	75	75	$37,100	Arb ’25	113	MTC
Crossman, Dylan	FLA	SS	26	80	83	$37,100	Arb ’26	114	LAS
Jackson, Greg	STL	C	27	75	75	$470,000	Arb ’25	115	VAN
York, Kevin	TOR	1B	25	74	83	$37,100	Arb ’26	116	SJS
Mangio, Dan	PIT	C	24	75	75	$37,100	Arb ’26	117	SJS
Cybulski, Scott	FLA	RP	24	61	81	$18,500	Arb ’26	118	VAN
Mueller, Ted	HOU	LF	25	78	78	$470,000	Arb ’26	119	LAS
Terry, Hugh	TOR	1B	24	69	81	$24,700	Arb ’26	120	MTC
Winkley, Rodger	CIN	RF	25	72	72	$470,000	Arb ’25	121	MTC
Wellwood, Eric	KCR	SP	26	67	77	$24,700	Arb ’26	122	LAS
Foulsham, Chris	NYM	SP	33	75	75	$2,700,000	1	123	VAN
Slate, Ross	CLE	RF	23	63	75	$18,500	Arb ’26	124	SJS
Wagner, Chris	CLE	RP	23	62	75	$18,500	Arb ’26	125	SJS
Flores, José	LAA	SP	26	79	79	$470,000	Arb ’26	126	VAN
Wardlaw, Dwight	BOS	SP	34	81	81	$5,400,000	1	127	LAS
Ginard, Juan	CLE	RP	25	77	77	$470,000	Arb ’24	128	MTC
Pinedo, Manny	LAA	SP	25	77	77	$37,100	Arb ’26	129	MTC
Spellman, Adam	KCR	CF	23	63	74	$18,500	Arb ’26	130	LAS
Cain, Gareth	STL	RP	33	79	79	$5,000,000	1	131	VAN
Truslove, Craig	SEA	C	23	67	75	$24,700	Arb ’26	132	SJS
Krugel, Wil	CIN	RP	26	76	76	$37,100	Arb ’26	133	SJS
Barker, Seth	SFG	SP	24	71	78	$24,700	Arb ’26	134	VAN
Acklin, Scott	BOS	RP	28	74	74	$24,700	Arb ’25	135	LAS
Arredondo, Ramon	NYM	3B	28	75	75	$470,000	Arb ’25	136	MTC
Priddy, John	PIT	C	30	71	71	$470,000	Arb ’25	137	MTC
Thibideau, Sean	PIT	LF	27	69	69	$18,500	Arb ’26	138	LAS
Johnson, Carmelo	KCR	RP	27	77	77	$800,000	2	139	VAN
McFalls, Jason	SFG	SP	27	77	77	$470,000	Arb ’25	140	SJS