This story is obviously entirely fictional and should not be taken seriously. There's always some clown out there that likes to inject his negative nancy two cents into something like this. Don't be that guy.
However, positive feedback and suggestions are welcome and appreciated!
I thought it would be fun to GM my favorite team, so let's get to the story!
My name is Danny Edwards, and I am the new GM of the Detroit Tigers organization.
December 4, 2014 10:30am
(phone rings, it's Dave Dombrowski GM of the Detroit Tigers. I've been his assistant for the past five years after my own failed venture into playing baseball)
"Hey Dave, what's up?"
"Danny! Just the man I want to talk to. There is a situation that I'd like to discuss with you."
Manager Brad Ausmus and his Tigers were still smarting from their disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs at the hands of Nelson 'Tiger Killer' Cruz and the Baltimore Orioles and were all away relaxing at home or in the tropics or something. I don't know.
We all watched as our AL central rival Kansas City Royals go all the way to game 7 of the World Series before being shut down by Madison Baumgardner and his San Francisco Giants.
Well, something really struck a nerve with Mike Illitch, owner of the Tigers, and the front office.
"Chris (Christopher Illitch, son of Mike) called me yesterday and asked me to meet him for breakfast. Well, we did, and I'm afraid that there is some good news and bad news."
Perplexed, I said "Well, let's hear the bad news first."
"Well....I'm being relieved of my duties as GM effective January 1st after the meetings."
I almost dropped the phone...
"Wh...why..what? Hold on..."
"It's true"
Dave said "and that's where the good news comes in - you are taking over for me. Mr. Illitch is a very kind, generous man and he wants nothing more than to bring a title to this city, but he is getting very impatient. Don't be discouraged, though. Mr. Illitch has insisted that I remain in the front office and be your mentor, even giving me a raise to do so. Between me, Jim (Leyland, former manager), and Brad...you'll do a fine job. They are all aware of this situation and are on board with it. But I must ask...who ever heard of a guy getting a demotion THEN a raise? Not me. Guess that there IS a first time for everything."
"I dunno Dave, this is too much to take in and just doesn't make sense. I mean come on, I'm 32 and am going to be GM of one of the biggest teams in professional sports? I'm going to get skewered by the press enough as it is."
"Dan, don't be so hard on yourself. You have an absolutely brilliant analytical mind, and you already have a great working relationship with Brad and the Ilitches. With our roles reversed, it could actually work into our favor. This actually lets you do what you were born to do, and that's this. Between you and I, I've been looking at other opportunities like joining the league office. They've been begging me the last few years to join them, but my loyalties have been here. So this can be the perfect point for us to do what we want to do. Don't get me wrong, I love this place and this team, but I can't do this forever. But I have to run. I'll meet you at Metro in a few days before the meetings. I'll text or call you later. Bye."
I sat there for a about ten minutes with the phone still to my ear before I finally set it down. I thought to myself "Wow...I'm going to be the GM of the Detroit Tigers!"
So it begins...