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October 21 1963
Owner gave a $40,000 budget increase. $556k in World Series revenue was the difference between a gain and a drop.
Dick Groat optioned out of the last year of his contract. What? I gave him an option year?
Fan interest shows 100. I looked under the hood. Its 97 plus a modifier of 50!!! Wow.
SP Bob Veale age 27 3.5 stars wanted 10 years. First year of arb, est is 77k. He's considering my offer of $880k/5yr $176k AAV.
RP Joe Gibbon age 28 3.5 stars wanted one year at $72k first year of arb, estimate $67k, he's considering my offer of $465k/5yr $93k AAV.
RP Ron Kline age 31 3.0 stars wanted 3 x $65k I (offered 4 x $60k
LF/RF/1B Lee Thomas age 27 2.5 stars as LF is in first year of arb and wouldn't move off $52k. Arb estimate is $40k. I submitted $42k to Arb.
SS Dick Groat age 32 4.0 stars pending FA, wants $1.432m/6yr $238k AAV. Groat has had two consecutive fantastic years. Groat has a 16 contact rating and the last three years has gotten better hitting .277, .287, and .323. The performance supports the ratings but I can't believe he'll continue this performance. No offer made.
3B/1B Don Hoak age 32 1.5 stars. A fan favorite but I probably won't make an offer. 54 games last year, mostly as late game defensive sub at 1B. Hit .333 in 12 ABs! His asking $41K. He made $155k each of the last two years.
I don't like impeding Donn Clendenon's career but the game took away his OF ratings and all he can play is 1B. Dick Stuart led the NL in HRs in 1962 (tie) and 1963 so I can't bench him for Clendenon. Trade? Well, Stuart is more productive right now so on that basis keep him and trade Clendenon but if I do that Stuart will run out of gas before the farm produces the next generation 1B. Maybe 3B Bob Bailey would be interested in 1B?
My attitude on 1B is don't go looking for one. Don't draft them, don't trade for them, and don't sign them as FAs. Look around the organization. There's usually a couple guys around who can't play another position.
Dick Groat, Bob Veale, Ron Kline, Donn Clendenon
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