OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - From Germany to... the Reds, at the moment

Curveball · 04-01-2015, 02:48 PM

Hi folks, this is going to be my first Dynasty Report. And I will not hook it onto a single franchise. Let me know what you think of it and always give me hints what could be better

09/24/2019
"Again? That must be the... fourth time in three days. How am I expected to maintain a good season if you keep taking my players away and send me crap?" I asked, tired and slowly waking up.
"What? Yes, Sir, I do understand you. You know what you do and it's not my job. Alright. Bye!"
I hung up. What does he think who he is? Sure, he is the Braves' GM, but well, he took over this job just a year ago. So nothing to brag about. And he knows what he does? Of course...

And I? Who was I to question him? Well, I am just a German who came over the pond 5 years ago to take over the Atlanta Braves Gulf Coast League team. And I think I did quite good. Good enough to get a promotion directly to the Mississippi Braves, the Double-A team. And I ot them a playoff berth, albeit that material Mr. Hart gave me. I seemed to have done a godd job, as he sent me as manager to the Gwinnett Braves, so I made it up the Triple-A league wthin 3 years.

And here I am stuck. I try to do my best, try to keep a winning record recommend myself for higher stakes. And my players weren't that bad. They get called up to MLB quite often. But that douchebag sends them down three days later, just to call them up again two weeks later.And I have to adjust my lineups every 3 days. And the pitching lineup as well. Oh, the pitching lineup... What shall I do with a single SP and 9 RP?

'OK, time for a change!' I say to myself. If they don't all me up after this season I should look smewhere else. But I love the Braves. Should I really give up? I guess I have no choice if I want to proceed. 3 years at AAA-level are enough, especially if you have a winning record. But who would employ a guy like me? It has to be an MLB club, thats for sure. I will wait if the Braves want me. If not, the Offseason will bring some news.

11/01/2019
I am sitting at the breakfast table reading the newspaper. Nice comic they have here. I grin. Then the sports page. Oh. The Reds fired their GM and said they are looking for an successor. Should I? Things haven't worked out with the Braves yet. No offer to step up to the big show. So I guess its time to take the next step. So i grab the phone and call the Reds front office.

"Hi, this is Steven Kane speaking. Yeah, exactly that Steven Kane. I am surprised you know my name. Oh yes, that's why I am calling. Is there any chance I could get an appointment with him? When? Anytime, the season is over, right? Tomorrow? Sure, I'll be there. Should I bring a resume? Oh, of course... If you haven't heard of me, I would be no option at all. Right, I got that. Who would apply for a GM job in the MLB wihtout experience and a record? Yes, ma'am, I'm finished, sorry for holding you up."
So, where is this Cincinnati, anyway? Didn't I have a map somewhere?

11/02/2019
Well, that was quite relaxed. At least from my point of view. Just a standard interview as you would have in the business world. 'What are your plans? What can you bring to the team? Why do you want to switch franchises?' and that stuff. I think I did great. Well, I'll see in a couple of days, when they decide. They have other options on the table as well, so this might take some time.

11/09/2019
"When? This afternoon? I'll try to get a ticket and then I'll be with you soon! Oh, you have the ticket already? Thats great. So see you later!" I hung up. They want me to be there this afternoon. That can only mean they want to sign me as GM. I speed to my bedroom and fill my suitcase with stuff I might need the next days. Then I rush to the airport and sure enough there is a ticket for me waiting. Business class. Things start great.

11/10/2019
My first press conference! I've seen the newspapers this morning. "Kane hired! Kane... WHO?", "Reds go with Kane!", "Things will be better with Kane!" and such. Even the portier at the hotel looked at me and seemed more friendly than yesterday. This is a good sign, right?
Robert Castellini, the owner, met me shortly before this press conference. "Everything will be fine, just relax!" he said. Thats easy to say if you're a pro with decades of media experience. I was a newbie on that area, but when I stepped up to the podium and took a seat right next to him, everything smoothed out. I grinned into the crowd of reporters, as Robert introduced me...
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to announce that our search for a new GM has come to an end this quickly. We have decided to engage Steven Kane, former manager of the Gwinett Braves. He may not bee that famous, but his record and his strategy impressed us and we are sure he will led the Reds to a higher level. Any questions so far?"
Hands rose immediately. "Sharon, please!", Robert pointed to the lady in the first row.

"Thank you, Robert. This is definitely not what we or the public expected. What makes you think he is better than the other options you had?"
Ouch. That hurt. I can't imagine a more rude way to tell that I am not experienced enough... But Robert kept cool:"Sharon, you know that it is not always about records or plain numbers. It is also about the future. Steven has convinced us with his managing style, but I am sure he will tell you more himself. Right, Steven?" He looked at me. Was I expected to talk now? Huh...
"Yes, thank you Robert. See, I might be coming from the minors, but during my 5 years there I have learned a lot about player abilities and strategies. I had to cope with more fluctuation than any of the MLB-GMs had to, I'm sure. So I am convinced that, with a deep analysis of the Strength' and Weaknesses of our roster, we will be able to pull the right triggers to improve our record and be a contender pretty soon. Speaking of analysis, I want to emphasize that I don't bet on great names, I go for abilities. So I guess I am a Sabermetrics guy, I listen to what numbers tell me." I leaned back. Wow, I was in a flow. What's next?

"Jerry Harper, Cincinnati Daily. Mr. Kane, why did you leave the Braves? They are a pretty good organisation and it looks lilke you are, well, running away?"
"Well, I guess you are right. It looks like I ran away. And in some way I really did. It was time for a step forward. I am ready to take the wheels. I want to define, what material I am working with. I think everyone prefers working with the tools he choses, not the ones that someone gives to you. Give a carpenter a scissor and tell him to create a table with it. Won't work, right? I prefer being a carpenter having a hammer instead of a scissor. Mr. Castellini wants a new table, and I intend to create him the best one around." Oh, I love my analogies.

"Alright folks, I think that's it for today. Feel free to come back next week to our regular press conference." Robert finished that press conference and we went to lunch.

Now I am sitting with him in my new GM office and we are talking about the goals. They are pretty easy:
- Have a winning record next season
- have 24.000 visitors per game
- improve the draft record
- reach the playoffs by 2023

I think that is easy. Then he tells me that I should get some new personnel. I take a look at the vacancies and call around to get new coaching staff aboard. I hired a new hitting coach, a new pitching coach and a new team trainer. Oh, and an assistant GM as well. This guy makes almost as much money as I do. Is he worth it? Am I worth it?

The first thing I do as Robert left was an intense analysis of the player material the Reds have.
I immediately figure out some guys are pulling down the team average and so I decide to trade them away. I actually shop them around and hope some one wants them.
Bingo, I got good deals for most of them.

11/29/2019
The first two weeks are in the books and I feel confident that we will improve our record next season.
I am still checking the roster, but at the moment it looks quite good.

So, today I will check the upcoming rule 5 draft eligibilities and the arbitration costs.

But first, I need to have a break. This day was awesome so far, can't wait for the evening to come.

04-01-2015, 02:48 PM	#1
Curveball Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Stuttgart, Germany Posts: 23	From Germany to... the Reds, at the moment Hi folks, this is going to be my first Dynasty Report. And I will not hook it onto a single franchise. Let me know what you think of it and always give me hints what could be better 09/24/2019 "Again? That must be the... fourth time in three days. How am I expected to maintain a good season if you keep taking my players away and send me crap?" I asked, tired and slowly waking up. "What? Yes, Sir, I do understand you. You know what you do and it's not my job. Alright. Bye!" I hung up. What does he think who he is? Sure, he is the Braves' GM, but well, he took over this job just a year ago. So nothing to brag about. And he knows what he does? Of course... And I? Who was I to question him? Well, I am just a German who came over the pond 5 years ago to take over the Atlanta Braves Gulf Coast League team. And I think I did quite good. Good enough to get a promotion directly to the Mississippi Braves, the Double-A team. And I ot them a playoff berth, albeit that material Mr. Hart gave me. I seemed to have done a godd job, as he sent me as manager to the Gwinnett Braves, so I made it up the Triple-A league wthin 3 years. And here I am stuck. I try to do my best, try to keep a winning record recommend myself for higher stakes. And my players weren't that bad. They get called up to MLB quite often. But that douchebag sends them down three days later, just to call them up again two weeks later.And I have to adjust my lineups every 3 days. And the pitching lineup as well. Oh, the pitching lineup... What shall I do with a single SP and 9 RP? 'OK, time for a change!' I say to myself. If they don't all me up after this season I should look smewhere else. But I love the Braves. Should I really give up? I guess I have no choice if I want to proceed. 3 years at AAA-level are enough, especially if you have a winning record. But who would employ a guy like me? It has to be an MLB club, thats for sure. I will wait if the Braves want me. If not, the Offseason will bring some news. 11/01/2019 I am sitting at the breakfast table reading the newspaper. Nice comic they have here. I grin. Then the sports page. Oh. The Reds fired their GM and said they are looking for an successor. Should I? Things haven't worked out with the Braves yet. No offer to step up to the big show. So I guess its time to take the next step. So i grab the phone and call the Reds front office. "Hi, this is Steven Kane speaking. Yeah, exactly that Steven Kane. I am surprised you know my name. Oh yes, that's why I am calling. Is there any chance I could get an appointment with him? When? Anytime, the season is over, right? Tomorrow? Sure, I'll be there. Should I bring a resume? Oh, of course... If you haven't heard of me, I would be no option at all. Right, I got that. Who would apply for a GM job in the MLB wihtout experience and a record? Yes, ma'am, I'm finished, sorry for holding you up." So, where is this Cincinnati, anyway? Didn't I have a map somewhere? 11/02/2019 Well, that was quite relaxed. At least from my point of view. Just a standard interview as you would have in the business world. 'What are your plans? What can you bring to the team? Why do you want to switch franchises?' and that stuff. I think I did great. Well, I'll see in a couple of days, when they decide. They have other options on the table as well, so this might take some time. 11/09/2019 "When? This afternoon? I'll try to get a ticket and then I'll be with you soon! Oh, you have the ticket already? Thats great. So see you later!" I hung up. They want me to be there this afternoon. That can only mean they want to sign me as GM. I speed to my bedroom and fill my suitcase with stuff I might need the next days. Then I rush to the airport and sure enough there is a ticket for me waiting. Business class. Things start great. 11/10/2019 My first press conference! I've seen the newspapers this morning. "Kane hired! Kane... WHO?", "Reds go with Kane!", "Things will be better with Kane!" and such. Even the portier at the hotel looked at me and seemed more friendly than yesterday. This is a good sign, right? Robert Castellini, the owner, met me shortly before this press conference. "Everything will be fine, just relax!" he said. Thats easy to say if you're a pro with decades of media experience. I was a newbie on that area, but when I stepped up to the podium and took a seat right next to him, everything smoothed out. I grinned into the crowd of reporters, as Robert introduced me... "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to announce that our search for a new GM has come to an end this quickly. We have decided to engage Steven Kane, former manager of the Gwinett Braves. He may not bee that famous, but his record and his strategy impressed us and we are sure he will led the Reds to a higher level. Any questions so far?" Hands rose immediately. "Sharon, please!", Robert pointed to the lady in the first row. "Thank you, Robert. This is definitely not what we or the public expected. What makes you think he is better than the other options you had?" Ouch. That hurt. I can't imagine a more rude way to tell that I am not experienced enough... But Robert kept cool:"Sharon, you know that it is not always about records or plain numbers. It is also about the future. Steven has convinced us with his managing style, but I am sure he will tell you more himself. Right, Steven?" He looked at me. Was I expected to talk now? Huh... "Yes, thank you Robert. See, I might be coming from the minors, but during my 5 years there I have learned a lot about player abilities and strategies. I had to cope with more fluctuation than any of the MLB-GMs had to, I'm sure. So I am convinced that, with a deep analysis of the Strength' and Weaknesses of our roster, we will be able to pull the right triggers to improve our record and be a contender pretty soon. Speaking of analysis, I want to emphasize that I don't bet on great names, I go for abilities. So I guess I am a Sabermetrics guy, I listen to what numbers tell me." I leaned back. Wow, I was in a flow. What's next? "Jerry Harper, Cincinnati Daily. Mr. Kane, why did you leave the Braves? They are a pretty good organisation and it looks lilke you are, well, running away?" "Well, I guess you are right. It looks like I ran away. And in some way I really did. It was time for a step forward. I am ready to take the wheels. I want to define, what material I am working with. I think everyone prefers working with the tools he choses, not the ones that someone gives to you. Give a carpenter a scissor and tell him to create a table with it. Won't work, right? I prefer being a carpenter having a hammer instead of a scissor. Mr. Castellini wants a new table, and I intend to create him the best one around." Oh, I love my analogies. "Alright folks, I think that's it for today. Feel free to come back next week to our regular press conference." Robert finished that press conference and we went to lunch. Now I am sitting with him in my new GM office and we are talking about the goals. They are pretty easy: - Have a winning record next season - have 24.000 visitors per game - improve the draft record - reach the playoffs by 2023 I think that is easy. Then he tells me that I should get some new personnel. I take a look at the vacancies and call around to get new coaching staff aboard. I hired a new hitting coach, a new pitching coach and a new team trainer. Oh, and an assistant GM as well. This guy makes almost as much money as I do. Is he worth it? Am I worth it? The first thing I do as Robert left was an intense analysis of the player material the Reds have. I immediately figure out some guys are pulling down the team average and so I decide to trade them away. I actually shop them around and hope some one wants them. Bingo, I got good deals for most of them. 11/29/2019 The first two weeks are in the books and I feel confident that we will improve our record next season. I am still checking the roster, but at the moment it looks quite good. So, today I will check the upcoming rule 5 draft eligibilities and the arbitration costs. But first, I need to have a break. This day was awesome so far, can't wait for the evening to come.