IBC ARCHIVES: Volume 5 - Interview with Z, prior to 2003
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:50 am
At the time of this interview, Z had just joined the league. In the text that follows, our good friend Brett talks about several players who have since vanished off the face of the Earth. Seriously, some of these guys...I don't even recognize the names.... Enjoy.
Brett Z. walked into this league knowing that he had a tough road ahead of him. He took over a team that had received very little attention from it's previous GM, and was thrust into one the IBC's premiere divisions, the NL Central. But, Brett has managed to avoid the traditional "New GM Rapings," and has begun the construction of a very young, very talented team. I, Gabe, the infamous interviewer of the IBC, was able to sit down with Brett and have a short little chat about all things baseball.
Gabe- Ok. First question. You're one of the newest additions to the IBC family -- so what's been your first impression of the league?
BZalaski12: I've enjoyed, i like the concept behind it, definitely different then any fantasy league that I've been in...the people have been cool on the most part too
G: You've made your share of deals since joining the league...but unlike most new GMs, you haven't been raped of all your talent. How did you manage that?
B: haha, i knew with the team i was given that it would be at the least a year before i challenged for anything so the goal was to get some young guys with pro experience who would put me in the position of being somewhat competitive--i have a decent lineup but I'm relying a lot on young pitching now--talented but young
and let a lot of my older, talented guys go for young players who can play right away
G: Now that you have a pretty good feel for the league, who would you say is the team to beat in 2003?
B: wow, good question, i cant lie, i like what JB has done with Toronto, good lineup, great rotation and a solid bullpen--i don't see many teams with his overall talent--i think the mariners are closest after that
G: Your division, the NL Central, is pretty damn tough. Do you think it's the toughest in the league? If not, which one is?
B: id say definitely, there are four excellent teams in the division--either the reds, cardinals, astros and cubs have the talent to compete this year
G: Which team do you think is the weakest in the IBC?
B: id say definitely Milwaukee right now, though bren has done a good job giving them a good young base
G: Which division do you think is the weakest the IBC has to offer?
B: id say the al central--i think with the switch of the mets in there they will be more competitive, but, top to bottom, i don't see a lot of strengths
G: What do you think is the best deal you've made since joining the league?
B: i think it was getting Vernon wells and Corey Thurman right away--i think both will be excellent players this year and for many years to come--each is young and talented and both had good years last year, though Thurman struggled a little at the end
G: Who do you think will finish last in each division?
B: new York yanks, Minnesota, Oakland, Montreal, Milwaukee, Los angeles
G: Is there anyone in the league that you've grown to dislike?
B: well i definitely find one particular AL central GM a tad annoying, but beyond that it has been a good experience so far
G: Are there any IBC Rules/Policies you would like to see changed?
B: i think bren does a great job with the league, I'm not a huge fan of the carryover rule though, though ben grieve seems to be a perennial carryover at this point, id just as soon the players go off their own accomplishments, not something they never did
G: What's the biggest weakness of your team right now?
B: definitely starting pitching--i like the potential out of jensen, rusch, van hekken, pavano, diggins, douglass and smith--but none have proven themselves at a high level yet, could be a rough area for me on the season
G: Do you think the team is better than it was when it was given to you?
B: I'm not sure if it's better as much as it is definitely closer to where i want a team to be...the team i inherited had a lot of problems with it...best hitters were old, relief pitching was awful...I've tried to turn it into a young team that can be competitive as opposed to an old team that can be competitive, i figure off I'm much better off this way
G: Have you developed any rivals yet, friendly or otherwise?
B: well, i cant be considered in his league yet, when all of pat's old fogies retire over the next year or two it will be a pleasure to beat my former classmate into submission
G: Haha. What teams do you see making the playoffs in 2003?
B: Toronto, Boston, new Cleveland, Seattle in the AL, Phil, St. Louis, cincy, sanfran/az too close to call.
G: Just so everyone knows, what are the Pirates currently in the market for?
B: young starting pitching, another infielder and bullpen depth, in that order
G: From 1st to last place, how do you expect your division to look at the end of the year?
B: St. Louis, cincy, cubs/astros too close to call, pirates, brewers
G: How soon do you expect the Pirates to be serious IBC contenders?
B: i think if bud smith can come back healthy next year and van hekken pitches how i believe he is capable of pitching, i think we can improve drastically in the 2004 season, and hopefully be competing full time in 2005
G: Any final comments?
B: none that i can think of
Notes:
1) Brett has since developed a taste for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
2) Z pins his hopes for future contention on Bud Smith and Van Hekken.
3) "i like the potential out of jensen, rusch, van hekken, pavano, diggins, douglass and smith" ..... Wow. Now, you could combine all those guys into one big uber-pitcher and he'd still have about a total of 20 wins and ERA north of 6.
Brett Z. walked into this league knowing that he had a tough road ahead of him. He took over a team that had received very little attention from it's previous GM, and was thrust into one the IBC's premiere divisions, the NL Central. But, Brett has managed to avoid the traditional "New GM Rapings," and has begun the construction of a very young, very talented team. I, Gabe, the infamous interviewer of the IBC, was able to sit down with Brett and have a short little chat about all things baseball.
Gabe- Ok. First question. You're one of the newest additions to the IBC family -- so what's been your first impression of the league?
BZalaski12: I've enjoyed, i like the concept behind it, definitely different then any fantasy league that I've been in...the people have been cool on the most part too
G: You've made your share of deals since joining the league...but unlike most new GMs, you haven't been raped of all your talent. How did you manage that?
B: haha, i knew with the team i was given that it would be at the least a year before i challenged for anything so the goal was to get some young guys with pro experience who would put me in the position of being somewhat competitive--i have a decent lineup but I'm relying a lot on young pitching now--talented but young
and let a lot of my older, talented guys go for young players who can play right away
G: Now that you have a pretty good feel for the league, who would you say is the team to beat in 2003?
B: wow, good question, i cant lie, i like what JB has done with Toronto, good lineup, great rotation and a solid bullpen--i don't see many teams with his overall talent--i think the mariners are closest after that
G: Your division, the NL Central, is pretty damn tough. Do you think it's the toughest in the league? If not, which one is?
B: id say definitely, there are four excellent teams in the division--either the reds, cardinals, astros and cubs have the talent to compete this year
G: Which team do you think is the weakest in the IBC?
B: id say definitely Milwaukee right now, though bren has done a good job giving them a good young base
G: Which division do you think is the weakest the IBC has to offer?
B: id say the al central--i think with the switch of the mets in there they will be more competitive, but, top to bottom, i don't see a lot of strengths
G: What do you think is the best deal you've made since joining the league?
B: i think it was getting Vernon wells and Corey Thurman right away--i think both will be excellent players this year and for many years to come--each is young and talented and both had good years last year, though Thurman struggled a little at the end
G: Who do you think will finish last in each division?
B: new York yanks, Minnesota, Oakland, Montreal, Milwaukee, Los angeles
G: Is there anyone in the league that you've grown to dislike?
B: well i definitely find one particular AL central GM a tad annoying, but beyond that it has been a good experience so far
G: Are there any IBC Rules/Policies you would like to see changed?
B: i think bren does a great job with the league, I'm not a huge fan of the carryover rule though, though ben grieve seems to be a perennial carryover at this point, id just as soon the players go off their own accomplishments, not something they never did
G: What's the biggest weakness of your team right now?
B: definitely starting pitching--i like the potential out of jensen, rusch, van hekken, pavano, diggins, douglass and smith--but none have proven themselves at a high level yet, could be a rough area for me on the season
G: Do you think the team is better than it was when it was given to you?
B: I'm not sure if it's better as much as it is definitely closer to where i want a team to be...the team i inherited had a lot of problems with it...best hitters were old, relief pitching was awful...I've tried to turn it into a young team that can be competitive as opposed to an old team that can be competitive, i figure off I'm much better off this way
G: Have you developed any rivals yet, friendly or otherwise?
B: well, i cant be considered in his league yet, when all of pat's old fogies retire over the next year or two it will be a pleasure to beat my former classmate into submission
G: Haha. What teams do you see making the playoffs in 2003?
B: Toronto, Boston, new Cleveland, Seattle in the AL, Phil, St. Louis, cincy, sanfran/az too close to call.
G: Just so everyone knows, what are the Pirates currently in the market for?
B: young starting pitching, another infielder and bullpen depth, in that order
G: From 1st to last place, how do you expect your division to look at the end of the year?
B: St. Louis, cincy, cubs/astros too close to call, pirates, brewers
G: How soon do you expect the Pirates to be serious IBC contenders?
B: i think if bud smith can come back healthy next year and van hekken pitches how i believe he is capable of pitching, i think we can improve drastically in the 2004 season, and hopefully be competing full time in 2005
G: Any final comments?
B: none that i can think of
Notes:
1) Brett has since developed a taste for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
2) Z pins his hopes for future contention on Bud Smith and Van Hekken.
3) "i like the potential out of jensen, rusch, van hekken, pavano, diggins, douglass and smith" ..... Wow. Now, you could combine all those guys into one big uber-pitcher and he'd still have about a total of 20 wins and ERA north of 6.