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 [...]]]> 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!

OSR: Well, obviously you’re having one of the best seasons in franchise history, and [...]]]> OSR: In the return of out interview series, the Minnesota GM SankTheTank stopped by our offices today to talk to us a little bit about the Twins, who currently have the best record in baseball at 77-22. Thanks for joining us.
SankTheTank: Any time.

OSR: Well, obviously you’re having one of the best seasons in franchise history, and at 21 games up in the AL Central, a virtual lock to win the division. Any surprises this season on how your team has performed?
SankTheTank: Not really about the way we’re performing, but I’m definitely surprised at the way Detroit came out of the gate in April and struggled to put themselves in this hole. A lot of our guys are performing at the level they should be and it’s allowed us to deal with the “growing pains” of younger players like Shawn Leeburn and Lequentin Harris. Initially, I was concerned about them being in the line up and potentially costing us the division as they grew up, however I’m plesantly surprised that everybody else is able to pick up the slack. So that’s the one small surprise that I’ve had this season.
OSR: Interesting…and even given those growing pains, you still have the top offense in the majors at 6.15 RS/G. Very impressive!

OSR: Let’s talk about a few trades you made this season. RP Jared Helmuth, who was very solid in his 2+ seasons in Minnesota, was traded to Boston for a 3rd round draft pick. What was the thinking behind this deal?
SankTheTank: It wasn’t anything with Helmuth, he’s a great pitcher who got the job done and made everybody’s job easier. He essientially eliminated an inning from the game and I know the fans loved him because he was striking out close to eleven batters per nine. However, it came down to us being in debt and not being able to afford him. We have the largest payroll in the league [Editor's note: Now currently 3rd in the league at 160.4M] but don’t make enough money to cover that, so we had to make some moves and Helmuth unfortunatley was making a lot of money. We left like Matt Hawkers could pick up the slack as he’s been pitching incredibly this season.

OSR: The other major trade you made this season was sending 2B Kent Jeeves to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for OF Peter Fortner, in a rare straight exchange of two young top prospects. Rumor has it that the Twins had concerns about Jeeves staying healthy, but Fortner has his own problems in that area as well. How did this trade come to be, and what does it mean for the future of Minnesota?
SankTheTank: We just didn’t have any room for Kent Jeeves. We discussed it constantly and I was looking for any way to fit Jeeves in somewhere. Unfortunatley, there just wasn’t a spot for him going forward and Chicago was open to trading Fortner for him straight up. I liked the deal because Fortner fills a need at right field and has the potential to be one of the game’s best hitters.

OSR: One last trade related question. Minnesota is said to be shopping RF Raymond Tyler, who is having perhaps the best season of his career since his breakout season at age 22, which was all the way back in 2014. Can you tell us anything about the reasons behind looking to move him?
SankTheTank: He’s a great hitter and we love him on our team. A lot of people critisized me for trading a great prospect in Ed Radin for him but I feel like it’s finally paying off. Unfortunatley, next year Seattle will be finished paying for his salary and it’ll be completely on us to write his check. We most likely will not have the money to do that while taking care of Chanthar Thomas, Jeff Ratcliffe, and Josh Gartner at the end of 2026.

OSR: Let’s move on and talk a little about the state of your farm system. Minnesota has mostly been a seller of draft picks over the last few seasons, leaving the cupboard somewhat bare. Any plans to address that or have you entered a “go for broke phase” and just focusing on bringing home a title?
SankTheTank: Yeah, I feel like we needed the cash more than we needed the draft picks. I couldn’t pass up Boston’s offer of $19,000,000 which will greatly help us this offsesaon when we’re paying for our arbitration elgible players. There won’t be any of this for the 2026 draft, we understand that our farm system – especially our pitching specifically – is a little on the weaker side. While we have guys that we’re hoping will be productive major leaguers like Lucas Chambers and Ron Martin, we’re lacking in the starting pitching department and it’s essiential that we get somebody if we want to compete in the future. Josh Gartner and Albert Everard unfortunately won’t be around for ever and we’ll hopefully be able to draft their replacements next June.

OSR: Okay, let’s wrap it up with our 60 second drill (short, quick answers). Name your two favorite players in Outahere, at least one not currently a member of the Twins.
SankTheTank: [Boston 3B] Edward Harder and [Minnesota SP] Nagafusa Satoya.

OSR: Biggest rival in Outahere, whether on a personal or team basis?
SankTheTank: The Tigers definitely! Both a personal and team basis, a huge division rival, and he took advantage of my Mogul virginity by stealing Sam Harrell!

OSR: World Series match up this season? And who wins? In how many games?
SankTheTank: Minnesota in five against Montreal!

OSR: Twins with the best chance of winning the MVP, Cy Young, or ROY this season?
SankTheTank: MVP – Raymond Tyler. Cy Young – Edgar Maldovado. Rookie of the Year – Lequentin Harris.

OSR: Okay, I think that about wraps it up. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us and good luck in October!
SankTheTank: Yup, no problem. thanks!

OSR: Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for the OSR, Sanji. Sanji:It’s not like I have anything better to do.

OSR: [...]]]> Also known as “Midnight Talk With Sanji”, the Cubs GM SanjiWatsuki was nice enough to sit down with me early today to speak about the Cubs, scouting, and Oscar Delu, amongst other things.

OSR: Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for the OSR, Sanji.
Sanji:It’s not like I have anything better to do.

OSR: Let’s start first and foremost with the NL Central this season. The Brewers are noticeably much improved this season, and it’s looking like one of the best races in all of baseball. How do you like your chances?
Sanji:I think I’ve got a 50% chance at the playoffs. The Brewers have me beat in the division but the Cubs can take it if they’re lucky. If not, we’ll have to beat the crap out of the Expos.

OSR:How about your signing of John Sanders in the offseason? You were often criticized for a lack of “star power” in the last few years. Did the signing of Sanders have anything to do with this?
Sanji:I didn’t especially want star power. I just thought John Sanders had an incredibly affordable contract and filled a hole in the roster. For all I care, I could have just tossed Andrew Irwin AKA Brett Gardner in the outfield everyday and called it a day.

OSR: You’re very well known for picking up pitchers off the scrap heap and turning them into very valuable pieces of your ballclub. How much scouting usually goes into finding these types of players?
Sanji: I don’t do any scouting myself. My scouts do it. I pay them $0 and I’m tied for first in expenses.

OSR: Are there any specific prospects that you’re really looking forward to?
Sanji:Ain’t nobody gonna take John Schmidt from me unless they’re packing some serious talent. He kicks more ass than MM with one arm tied behind his back.
OSR: Not sure that’s possible, Sanji.
Sanji:Oh, and Peter Fortner is pretty awesome, too. I’m considering moving him to the infield. Yes, potentially a left handed 2B.

OSR: As the Brewers continue to emerge as a real threat, where do you see the Cubs 5 seasons into the future?
Sanji:Back in 1st place with the Brewers without money or their young base.

OSR: Most hated player in the league?
Sanji:Paul Kelly when the manager gives him the green light. Gauna playing at 1B or corner OF. Sanji Watsuki, that 2B sucks.
OSR: What a dumbass name, too.
Sanji:Oh, and RemNAIHF, too. But he’s not a player.

OSR: Oscar Delu is an excellent example of the aforementioned “pitchers off the scrap heap”. In limited time, he’s performed very nicely for you. What did you see in him when he was on the Brew crew?
Sanji:He’s a ground ball pitcher with better control than most expect. A lot like Peter Lambert.

OSR: Your WS pick this season?
Sanji:Cubs.

OSR: Alright Sanji, thanks a lot for your time and good luck in defeating the Brewers.
Sanji:I don’t need luck. We’re that good.

OSR: We had a chance today to chat with New York Mets owner dorsey about both the current and future status of the Mets franchise. Glad to have you on [...]]]> Another great interview on the Outahere Sports Review. As always, if you’d like to be the next to be interviewed, contact cfeedback or MogulMonster to schedule one.

OSR: We had a chance today to chat with New York Mets owner dorsey about both the current and future status of the Mets franchise. Glad to have you on the Outahere Sports Review, thanks for taking the time to talk with us.
dorsey: Glad to be here.

OSR: First off, let’s talk about the 2020 season. With just over two weeks left, you’ve already improved upon 2019′s dismal record of 40-122 by 26 more wins. How would you rate this season and your overall rebuilding effort?
dorsey: I think that this year was about showing the fans that we care about getting this team in the right direction. We are in agruably the toughest division in the league, but we decided to go out and get some good players to field a competitive squad. I feel like the team has drafted and acquired some great young players as well, so this organization is in 10X better of a position than when I took over at the beginning of last season.

OSR: You read my mind about the NL East…it’s a division filled with great teams and great owners. Obviously you have to plan long term. Any predictions on when we may see the Mets back in post season contention?
dorsey: I think the core of this farm system will not be ready for 4-5 years so likely not until around 2024 or 2025, but I am an impatient man, so I will try to win before then. We will likely go into the free agent market again this off season and see what there is to offer. Our lineup is solid, but we need to continue the overhaul of pitching to be competitive before then.

OSR: Lets talk about some of that pitching. There’s been some disappointments this year, with starting pitchers Veal, Langholz, and Liriano all posting ERAs over 5, which I’d wager isn’t what you had hoped for. On the other hand, there’s been some pleasant surprises as well…veteran starter Jason Vargas was having a great year at 10-6 with a 3.93 ERA before going down with a wrist fracture. Did you expect him to be able to put up numbers like that when you signed him in free agency?
dorsey: Vargas was a nice veteran addition to our team. He has been a winner his entire career, and has been as good as expected. The others have really disappointed us this season. Veal and Liriano have been better than their numbers and had some good stretches, but these guys have to be better next season if they want to continue to make the big bucks.

OSR: Also, setup man Tim Fidler has been superb, with a 2.95 ERA in 73.1 innings pitched. Any chance we’ll see him move to a the closer role next season?
dorsey: Fidler has been great since we got him from the Nationals, and we just wanted him to log as many innings as possible this season to get more experience. Next season he will definitely transition over to being our closer of the future.
OSR: He’s got fantastic stuff, I’m sure he’ll do well for you in the closer role. So, Darren Langholtz is likely to be a free agent next year…even with an ERA near 6 it should be interesting to see how much he commands on the open market. Pitching is always scarce in free agency.

OSR: Moving onto position players, the number one question on our mind is 1B Wayne Goodier, who’s leading your team in both batting average (.326) and HRs (27). Can we expect to see him back in a Mets uniform next year?
dorsey: I love Wayne Goodier. Absolutely love the guy, but I would expect him to get a big contract this next off season for a lot of dough and a lot of years.  I think he will really only be good for another three seasons, but I will definitely try to bring him back. He is a great hitter, defender, and clubhouse guy, but like anything, it comes down to business, and he may end up out of our price range. But he is probably priority number 1 for us right now.

OSR: You have quite a few players with large contracts: Shigeuji Sato, Tai-Shan Chang, and Jamie Romak combine to make over 48 million a year. Any plans on trying to deal them to contenders for prospects or do you expect them to remain in New York?
dorsey: Sato has been a great, great addition to this ball club and the fans have fallen in love with him. For now he is definitely going to remain a Met. Chang really had a nice season this year, but we feel his big salary maybe could be used more efficiently. I would like to keep him, but he could move in the right deal. Romak has been a big bust so far, but this off season we will look into deals. I would like for him to stay and see if he can figure it out, but otherwise he will be on the market.

OSR: Now, let’s talk about the future of the franchise, namely the farm system. We’ll get to this year’s draft class in a second, but the 2019 farm system rankings had the Mets ranked 18th out of 32 teams. Would you say that was a fair assessment at the time?
dorsey: I was actually a little surprised that I was even that high at first, but I realize it was a very fair evaluation. A lot of the talent is not spread very widely with a top 8 or so that are just elite. Hopefully I can join those ranks in the next year or two.

OSR: The review mentioned names such as starting pitchers Reeson and Milland, and position players Bryan and Miller. Any comments about these players in particular? Are they part of the core you’re building around?
dorsey: Reeson was my first draft choice in 2019 and he along with Milland are untouchable at this time. Reeson is a power guy with great control that projects to be an ace or a damn good number two. Milland is more effective with his movement and getting ground balls, but look for he and Reeson to be household names in four years. Trav Bryant is just a baller. The kid has very solid all around tools, but the one thing that makes this kid special is his uncanny plate discipline. He could be our two hole hitter sometime in 2022, with a good glove, good bat, good speed, and knack for getting on base. Miller will likely pair with a certain shortstop to be an elite double play duo in the future. He may just be an ordinary hitter, but he could become an All Star caliber hitter if he develops well.

OSR: Moving on, the 2020 amateur draft class was clearly a big deal for the Mets, who had the number one overall pick. You mentioned a certain shortstop, and rumors were swirling that multiple teams tried to trade up for that top pick, but in the end you kept it and drafted shortstop Brandon Oldenburg as the first pick in 2020. Even at only 18 years of age, I’ve heard scouts call him a potential Hall of Famer. What can you tell us about this kid and the process that led up to his selection in the draft?
dorsey: Knowing I had the number one pick in the 2020 draft, I really really dug into tape and sent my scouts all around looking for that next face of the franchise. We didn’t go very far, staying in state when we found the guy that just had it all. Brandon is a great young kid that we feel will be that Hall of Fame player for us. He definitely is a five tool player and we look for him to be an MVP candidate year in and year out. He could eventually win double digit gold gloves, get 3000 hits, hit 300 homers, and steal 500+ bases. There was a lot of talent at the top of the draft, but we had our guy and decided no offer was going to keep us from drafting Oldenburg.
OSR: Interesting that you say “no offer was going to keep you from drafting Oldenburg” as we heard rumors that a couple teams were close to making a trade. Perhaps it was wishful thinking on their part.

OSR: Other big picks in the 2020 draft included 3B Jon Whisenant and LF Matt Crawford. Anything you’d like to say about these players or how well you think the overall draft went?
dorsey: My only regret about the draft was that in order to have some good players like Sato, I had to give up a couple of picks. I still had enough , though, to make an impact. Both Crawford and Whisenant were second round picks that I believe will soon gain that untouchable label that those four above have earned. Crawford has monstrous power, but I think can be a good hitter for average as well. Whisenant is like glue over there at third and I think will become a very fine MLB hitter as well. The name that I think people should fear the most, however, is catcher Ramon Cuevas. My 4th round pick went to this kid who – you can quote me on this – will be the best catcher prospect in two years and will eventually be one of the top 2 or 3 catchers in the game. All in all, draft day 2020 was a big success for the Met franchise.

OSR: Watch out, fellow owners – you heard it here first. Ramon Cuevas is a name to fear!
dorsey: Fa sho!

OSR: I think I’ve run out of questions. Any final comments you’d like to share with the rest of the league before we wrap things up?
dorsey: Well I’m not cocky by nature, so don’t be offended by my praise of my prospects, but I will say that the losing culture in New York has been eliminated. Those feared Mets for much of the Outahere league history are on their way back, and if you don’t believe me, I’ll let my players and coaches do the talking on the field.

OSR: Hey, that sounds like a winning attitude to me, and we’ll look forward to checking back with you in a few seasons to see if all your predictions come true. Thanks for being on the show.
dorsey: Thanks for having me.

OSR: We had a chance to sit down today with with the San Diego owner, PadresGM, who’s currently sitting at the top of the NL West with a 2.5 game [...]]]> Here’s the latest addition to our interview series. If  you would like to be the next to interviewed for the Outhere Sports Review, drop us a line!

OSR: We had a chance to sit down today with with the San Diego owner, PadresGM, who’s currently sitting at the top of the NL West with a 2.5 game lead over the Rockies. Thanks for taking the time to join us.
PadresGM: No problem, it’s my pleasure.

OSR: Tell us how you’d rate your team’s overall performance this year. Are the Padres meeting your expectations in 2020?
PadresGM: No, I feel the team has performed far below expectations. Gheorghe is having a sub-par year and Michah Balber is not performing as well as we had hoped. I believe if it wasn’t for injuries to Dave Anderson and Manuel Bernard we’d have a bigger lead.

OSR: Well, its impressive that you’re still winning the division even with your team not performing up to par. You have two important series against the Rockies in September, both on the road. Any special preparations for playing in Coors?
PadresGM: No, other than a few lineup changes or defensive changes. We will have to play very solid defensive ball against Colorado to hold our lead.

OSR: Lets talk about a few individual players. You signed Mike Vickers to a $65,000,000 contract earlier this season. Any hesitation about giving him such a large contract or was it a no brainer?
PadresGM: It was a no brainer. In my opinion one would be hard pressed to find a better second baseman then Mike Vickers. What we got him to sign for is much less then what he would have recieved in the open market. He is the cornerstone of the Padres franchise and will be a fixture in our infield for years to come.

OSR: Still, its been rumored that the Padres are in financial trouble. Does giving Vickers such a large contract mean you’ll have to cut corners at other positions? Outfielders Brian Honey and and Manuel Bernard are both up for free agency at the end of the season. Can we expect to see either return to San Diego next year?
PadresGM: Honey is a great player and has served us well. We will not be resigning him this off season. Bernard we will send to arbitration and explore our trade options. Odds are he will stay in San Diego. The Padres financial situation is not as bad as it looks. We will lose money this year but I see a huge increase in fan loyalty which will see us start making a profit while staying competitive by 2022.

OSR: You have a lot of young pitching, but before we move onto them, lets talk about one more position player who may have something to do with their success. What can you say about your catcher, Jon Egan, and his handling of your rotation? Not to mention the fact that he’s hitting .311 with 22 HRs has to be a pleasant surprise.
PadresGM: Jon Egan is a great leader and has really helped my young pitching. His hitting has been supurb. Our only concern is his health. We are hoping that he will be able to mentor our top catching prospect Eddie Timmins to be just as good of a catcher.

OSR: Let’s talk briefly about some of that young pitching. Obviously at the top of anyone’s mind has to be Aaron Emerick, who’s posted a 13-4 record with a 2.93 ERA (2nd in the NL). What can you tell us about this future ace?
PadresGM: What a surprise this kid has been. I didn’t expect him to be this good. He will be moved up in the rotation next year more than likely to the #2 slot. He could very easily get some Cy Young votes for this year.

OSR: The veteran of the staff has to be Dave Anderson, who’s been lights out since returning to the rotation after a 2 month shoulder injury. Any plans to sign him to an extension?
PadresGM: We will probably give him a 2 year deal. He is still a top notch pitcher.

OSR: Okay, last question. Where do you see yourself in five seasons? Will you still be the top dog in the West?
PadresGM: Without a doubt. We have a lot of future superstars in the minors. Holtzman, Wilson, Maathai, Collis. We will have to fight hard though to keep up with the Dodgers because they have built a very good young team.

OSR: That about wraps it up. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today, and good luck in your playoff race.
PadresGM: Thanks for your time and to the rest of the NL look out for the Pads in 2020!

OSR: Hey Carl, and thanks for taking a few minutes of your time to answer a few questions for the Outahere Sports Review. raysman1: No problem. OSR: So, first of all, you look to [...]]]> Just a few minutes ago, I talked with the Scrappers’ GM raysman1, discussing pitching, Azumabito Suzuki, Claudio Selan, and the team’s future, amongst other topics.

OSR: Hey Carl, and thanks for taking a few minutes of your time to answer a few questions for the Outahere Sports Review.
raysman1: No problem.

OSR: So, first of all, you look to have a nice lineup currently. But one has to wonder about the pitching. You’ve got a team ERA of 6.26, and that’s not going to get you very far. Thoughts?
raysman1: Pitching, on this team, I have to say is not at it’s best. Currently Nick Adenhart is 1-8, with a 6.94 ERA. I’m not happy with the way my team is pitching, but with the pick of Joey Jones, I believe he has started a new era for Portland pitching. (Also, Townsend looks great.)

OSR: What are your future plans for Gary Verret? His in-game ratings show that he is ready, but his statistics beg to differ.
raysman1: Gary Verret in my mind, looks like a solid #2 pitcher. In the years coming he will get better, pitch better and help us win games.

OSR: You recently drafted Joey Jones in the 2020 amateur draft, 4th overall. Tony Martin was also a first round pick, although it wasn’t you. Which one are you more excited about?
raysman1: Joey Jones, I see him as my future ace, and my future star. Martin in my opinion will be just like Jones, but I’m more excited for Jones.

OSR: So the Scrappers are 23-39 at the draft. Do you foresee this .371 winning percentage improve by the end of the season, hopefully?
raysman1: Currently, we are on a 5 game winning streak. I hope this lasts, but it’s a 50-50 chance.

OSR: Azumabito Suzuki. The guy is a great hitter, there’s no denying that. But his fielding skills aren’t too great. Are you worried about the affect that this may have on your pitching staff? Is it possible he moves to DH or 1B?
raysman1: Great question, his fielding skills are not great, but I’ve had a few ideas in my mind of moving him to DH, and maybe using Tony Taylor as my catcher.

OSR: I’m assuming you’re not resigning Hanley Ramirez when his contract expires at the end of the season? If not, where do you see yourself spending the saved money this offseason?
raysman1: With the $117 million dollars in the bank, I look towards a younger, and more potent SS. On the pitching side, I’m looking to cut a few pitchers right now, and aiming at high 80′s and low 90′s stars.

OSR: Claudio Selan was your rule 5 pick this season, and he’s performed nicely. What did you see in him when you picked him?
raysman1: I saw speed, a great arm, good hitting, and a great kid. He’s a great piece for the future of Portland.

OSR: Last question. When do you think that the Scrappers will finally get on their feet and become serious contenders for their first time?
raysman1: In about 4 years time, I see myself winning our division, or wild card. I see a great future.

OSR: Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. It’s appreciated, and good luck to the Scrappers now and in the future.
raysman1: Thank you.

[21:29] Rangr288: Hey mlb, and thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for the Outahere Sports Review.[21:29] mlb06showleague (Pirates): Glad to be here[21:32] Rangr288: First question is regarding your young SPer [...]]]> Earlier tonight I sat down and was able to talk to the Pirates’ GM mlb06showleague on various topics relating to their team. Enjoy.

[21:29] Rangr288: Hey mlb, and thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for the Outahere Sports Review.
[21:29] mlb06showleague (Pirates): Glad to be here
[21:32] Rangr288: First question is regarding your young SPer Josh McRuer. You’ve got to like what you’ve seen so far, what are your future plans for him?
[21:34] mlb06showleague (Pirates): We are are really excited for him to be a part of our changing pitching staff. We gave up a first round pick for him and we believe that he can anchor our starting rotation very soon.
[21:34] Rangr288: You’ve build up a very strong farm system, but which prospects are you specifically looking forward to the most?
[21:36] mlb06showleague (Pirates): Our farm system has improved dramatically recently with a lot of trades. But, we are really looking forward to 2B Tom Berryhill who could make his way to the majors next season as our starting second baseman. 1B Frederic Mertinez is also in the same category.
[21:38] Rangr288: Since Outahere began, the Pirates have had eleven consecutive losing seasons, with their best season coming in 2012 with 74 wins. When are you hoping this will improve? This year? Next year?
[21:40] mlb06showleague (Pirates): It has been a tough time since 2012 when I took over. But, honestly, I see us competing for a winning record next year or maybe even this year. We really upgraded our pitching staff this year which was a problem for us the last couple years. Our offense will be a lot better next year with Mertinez and Berryhill. But, we really want to put together a winning baseball team for our great fans.
[21:41] Rangr288: Well, speaking of the fans, it’s been rough on them. The Pirates’ fan loyalty is down to 59. You’re surely looking to improve this, but how? Possibly with a new stadium?
[21:44] mlb06showleague (Pirates): Yes, well a new stadium will not be built any time soon. PNC Park is already one of the best in the game and I dont see a need for it. We have spent more money this year than any other years since 2012. Next year, probably even more money will be spent. We have plenty of cash available and are waiting for the right time to use it. Relocation is always an option but we do not want to leave Pittsburgh without a winning ballclub. The fans deserve more than that.
[21:45] Rangr288: Gabriel Wallace – he was a first rounder a few years ago, but his progress has been a bit slowed, maybe even disappointing so far. Would you agree?
[21:48] mlb06showleague (Pirates): In my opinion, Wallace has met expectations so far. He did hit .316 in AA last year with 36 homers and 117 RBIs. However, he also struck out 141 times. We need to get that number down but he will likely move up to AAA very soon if he succeeds down in AA. He is blocked by Mertinez in AAA right now and he should be up soon to free that space. Wallace is still young at 21.
[21:49] Rangr288: You acquired Herb Hertel from Baltimore this offseason, and plan to use him as a starter. He had been a reliever his entire career since last year, what are you looking for from his this year? Any predictions?
[21:52] mlb06showleague (Pirates): We are very excited to bring Herb into our organization. He had a great ERA last year with Baltimore and we expect that out of him again this year as a starter or reliever. If he struggles, we may send him to the bullpen if needed but I do not see that as an issue. His endurance continues to grow as he seems to be developing into a starting pitcher. He is the kind of arm we needed as a lefty power pitcher.
[21:53] Rangr288: One last question, regarding your closer Shinjo Imura. He’s been proven as a great short reliever in his recent years in Washington, do you think he’ll maintain the same type of success being a full time closer?
[21:56] mlb06showleague (Pirates): He is another guy we were really happy to acquire. In my tenure with Pittsburgh, we have never had a stud reliever in my opinion. He fits that bill and we expect him to do well as a full time closer. We really wanted to add more lefties this year and we did that this offseason. Imura should be here for years to come.
[21:57] Rangr288: Thanks mlb for answering a few questions regarding the Pirates. We appreciate it, and good luck this year.
[21:57] mlb06showleague (Pirates): Thank you and I appreciate the opportunity. Hope to do it again in the near future.

[16:58] Rangr288: Hello Joshjaw, and thanks for taking your time to take part in an interview for the Outahere Sports Review Blog.[16:58] joshjaw83: I’m glad to be here[16:59] Rangr288: My first question is regarding [...]]]> A few days ago I was able to sit down for a few minutes to talk to Angels’ GM Joshjaw on various topics:

[16:58] Rangr288: Hello Joshjaw, and thanks for taking your time to take part in an interview for the Outahere Sports Review Blog.
[16:58] joshjaw83: I’m glad to be here
[16:59] Rangr288: My first question is regarding the future of your ballclub…where do you see them three years into the future?
[16:59] joshjaw83: hopefully with a winning record.
[17:00] joshjaw83: I have a few young pitchers that will susprise some people in the future
[17:00] Rangr288: Secondly, Brian Miller – he’s emerged as a great contact hitter over the last few years. Are you happy you selected him first when the Twins were taken apart?
[17:01] joshjaw83: [Definitely], he has been everthing I had [hoped] for. He is a staple at 1B for the Angels for years to come.
[17:02] Rangr288: What about his health? Has that ever been a concern for you?
[17:03] joshjaw83: Well he had come up in some trade talks recently and another GM gave me some advice and told me to trade him, but health is a risk I’m willing to take on a team in dire need of a Superstar.
[17:04] Rangr288: What about Mike Schore? He was selected first overall in the draft by you a few years ago, and he was placed into the rotation faster than most expected. Will he be placed in the rotation again next year, despite struggles, or will he go back to AAA?
[17:05] joshjaw83: He is #2 in the rotation going into spring training. Payroll is an issue with LAA right now as we try and get a new state of the art stadium built.
[17:05] joshjaw83: So no need for pricy SPs.
[17:06] Rangr288: As I looked over your roster, I saw that the most HRs on your team was 19, by Corey Hart. Are you looking to add some power threats to your lineup to fix this hole?
[17:08] joshjaw83: Well I’m hoping that Edwin and Alex can show some power this year but this year team is about small ball and not the long ball, as why Miller and Rolland are great contact hitters.
17:08] joshjaw83: They are highly valued on this team
[17:09] Rangr288: Since you’ve taken over as GM of the Angels, you’ve rebuilt a dry farm. Most of your top prospects are pitchers – Benji Nord, Mike Schore, Jorge Suazo – you seem to have plenty of pitching for the future, now are you starting to draft more on the offensive side of things?
[17:12] joshjaw83: Well I have been fortunate with the rule 5 draft and the Twins draft to take good hitters, but I [will] always take the best player(s) for our team. And if it is a pitcher, well then I could possibly trade them for hitters.
[17:14] Rangr288: Speaking of Edwin, since you said the Angels are on a tight budget, is he and his hefty 17 million dollar contract preventing you from signing some of the FAs you’d like? Is he holding up the process of building your new stadium?
[17:16] joshjaw83: Well yes and no. Last year we set a goal and signed the FA’s we wanted and [improved] the team’s record. We just recently looked into a new stadium this past year when we saw the attendence went back up over the previous year’s disaster. So fan support is there, they just want a better place to watch the game.
[17:16] Rangr288: Thanks, Joshjaw, for taking your time with us to answer a few questions. We appreciate it, and good luck this upcoming season.
[17:17] joshjaw83: Thanks for having me. Anytime.

Other than that, you can comment on postings, vote [...]]]> We are currently looking for GMs to volunteer to be interviewed. You will be asked various questions about your team over AIM or PM, and the interview will be posted on here. Contact me at metsrangers85@gmail.com, or you can reach me on AIM (Rangr288) if interested.

Other than that, you can comment on postings, vote in polls, and give suggestions. All contributions are greatly appreachiated!

- Dan