My GM history

Giants · Post by **Giants** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:23 pm

So I just discovered how to track down the old stats as saved on this site, and it was fun to dig through some of the old rosters and results and see how my team got to be where it is today.

Note: Yes this means I have too much time on my hands.

Anyway let's start with 2005, my first year in the league running the Texas Rangers. It was a learning experience, to say the least, as we went down to a 65-97 record. When I got the team the anchor was Vernon Wells, who I ultimately in a deal for Randy Winn and some pieces. This was a team populated with names like Craig Counsell, Brad Radke, Alex Cintron, and Geoff Blum, along with every Stanford washout imaginable (Eric Bruntlett, Justin Wayne, John Gall, Mike Gosling, and Ryan Garko for a brief time before I traded him, got him back and he ultimately stopped sucking). The truth is that this roster didn't really last long, as it was minidrafted away after the season in a move that inadvertently cost me Dan Haren once as I wasn't paying attention. I also didn't quite understand the value of draft picks at that point, as I traded the #6 pick, which would probably have been someone like Ryan Braun, Cameron Maybin, or Troy Tulowitzki, for Jeremy Accardo and a pick that became John Mayberry. Oops.

In 2006 I moved to Oakland, and then very nearly quit the league in a story that probably only Bren knows about because I was so upset that Ropers didn't trade me Barry Bonds. In a move that was not at all self serving Bren pointed me towards JB, suggesting I target Frank Thomas. JB was already after me for Joe Mauer, my prize of the minidraft, and we wound up consummating two deals in a short span of time that netted him Mauer, Garret Atkins, and Dan Johnson (along with a throw in named Ricky Nolasco), and netted me Jonathan Papelbon, Frank Thomas, and not much else. This was also the genesis of team 1997, as in early April I traded Dewon Brazelton and Jason Stokes to JP for Luis Gonzalez and Chad Bradford, and Jason Michaels and Jeff Weaver to Dave (who was in Tampa at the time) for Ken Griffey Jr. and signed Carl Everett to go along with Craig Counsell and Brad Radke. I started experimenting with projection guys like Mike Thompson, Willie Eyre, Eric Munson, and Bobby Seay without much success. In June I traded Miguel Batista, Troy Glaus, Chris Seddon and Chad Bradford to Colorado for Paul Konerko (this becomes a theme), Kevin Millwood, and Mike Piazza. I also made perhaps my best trade in the IBC, sending Omar Quintanilla, Matt Tuiasosopo, and Lance Niekro to the Mets for Tom Glavine and Dennys Reyes. I call this my best trade because all three players ultimately found their way back to the IBC A's, and obviously Jim has gotten much better at making trades since then. I also got Pete Happy from Jim later that month. Jeremy Accardo, Craig Counsell, and Ryan Dempster became Braden Looper, Wilson Betemit, and Manny Delcarmen from Colorado in Mid-July. Wow John, we've made some fun deals. Later that month I made my first in-season blockbuster, sending Jonathan Papelbon, Paul Konerko, Brad Radke, and Brad Ausmus (one of these names is not like the other ones) to JP for Dan Haren, Ian Snell, Nomar Garciaparra, and Chris Stewart. As we faded from contention Luis Gonzalez was the next to go, this time to Bren along with Colter Bean for Dallas McPherson, Taylor Tankersley, and another prospect who for the life of me I can't remember. In August I sent Josh Towers and Bobby Crosby to Nils for Bill Hall and Brad Hennessey, then at the deadline made a flurry of moves sending Alex Cintron to Houston (that must have been Ken) for Yorvit Torrealba; sending Nomar, Jeromy Burnitz and Brad Hennessey to Florida for Aubrey Huff and Paul Byrd, and sending Ken Griffey to the Mets for Mike Jacobs and Chad Gaudin. The final trade of the year sent Millwood and Joe Kennedy to Texas (who was that?) for Milton Bradley.

We finished the year 81-81. Wily Mo Pena had the sim year of his life, with 50 XBH including 29 home runs and Frank Thomas led the league with 52 bombs. No one else did much to write home about offensively. On the mound Ryan Dempster had a terrific first half before being traded, and Noah Lowry went 10-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 177 innings and would have been better if the pen hadn't choked away so many leagues. But I know that what you really care about is the 1997 All-Star count, so here it is: 5 1997 All-Stars (Griffey, Thomas, Glavine, Piazza, Garciaparra). Radke missed out in 1997 (the year he won 20) but made it the following year in 1998, while Jeromy Burnitz, Paul Byrd, and Brad Ausmus made it in 1999, making at total of 9 late 90's All-Stars on my 2006 squad.

So that's part I, next time I'm bored I'll go into what it takes to win 100 games in back to back years without any good players (preview: a crappy division).

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:12 pm

I don't remember the Bonds or Thomas thing at all.

Giants · Post by **Giants** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:33 pm

It might be my most vivid memory of the league. I'm sure in your mind it pales in comparison to all the times you've been called a moron and reminded how bad a commissioner you were by a league that survived this long based on a lot of your work.

Astros · Post by **Astros** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 2:11 pm

How did you almost quit cause someone wouldn't trade somebody to you?

Giants · Post by **Giants** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:56 pm

At the time I thought I was going to leave after that season because it looked like I was going full time with the SaberCats (wow that was a long time ago), and since I wanted to take a shot with that one year I had left, I saw Bonds as the only opportunity to do it. So I guess you all have JB to blame for my continued presence here.

Athletics · Post by **Athletics** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:26 pm

Nice going JB