Of course, I'll be doing this 'chise with my fav team...The Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I'll start a new post shortly to open up the season.
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Re: WSB 2K3 Devil Rays Franchise...
M = Media
LP = Lou Piniella
CL = Chuck LaMar
CL - I would like to welcome all members of the media here today for this historic event in Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise history. Certainly, it was a long, drawn out process, but, the ultimate goal was to bring Lou Piniella here, and back home, to Tampa. Before, introducing our new manager, I would like to make clear the compensation package sent to Seattle was Randy Winn and a player to be named later. Also, we have signed Lou to a 4 year $14 million dollar contract. So, without further adieu, I would like to introduce the 3rd manager in Tampa Bay Devil Rays history...Lou Piniella.
LP - Thank you, thank you, I really appreciate the warm reception I have received from the front-office and organization. First, I just want to say I'm glad this whole process is behind us, it seemed like each day that dragged on, I was going to different places, or I was unhappy with the Mariners organization...that was all media-hype, I'm just glad, I'm here, in Tampa, where I'm from and hopefully we can turn this thing around. So, if you have any questions, I'll answer them as best I can at this time.
M - Lou, what are your expectations for this upcoming season, the team is coming off its worst-record in franchise history?
LP - Well, I'm not a miracle-worker, I'm a baseball manager. So, my expectations are a lot of hustle and hard-work. A committment to the fundamentals of the game and sportsmanship.
M - Lou, have you gotten a chance to look at the pitching staff yet, and if so, who are your early favorites heading into Spring Training?
LP - My EARLY favorites would be Kennedy (Joe), Zambrano (Victor), Brazelton (Dewon), Standridge (Jason) and the 5th spot is open to just about anybody.
M - Don't you think it might be somewhat presumptious to even give any early favorites for the starting rotation, I mean this team did lose 106 games last year.
LP - Well, last year, the starting pitching wasn't atrocsious, it was the bullpen, this team lost a lot of 1-run games last season. If anything is wide open its the bullpen.
M - Lou, with the youngest team in baseball, is there any incentive to possibly give #1 prospect Rocco Baldelli a chance to compete for the starting CF position?
LP - Rocco's a huge prospect, so to say we haven't thought about having him in CF on opening day would be a lie. But, we also aren't going to pus him.
M - Have you filled out your coaching spots, if so, may we be told who and what positions?
LP - Yes, the staff has been completed. Chris Bosio (Pitching Coach), Lee Elia (Bench Coach), Tom Foley (3rd Base Coach), Billy Hatcher (1st Base Coach), John McLaren (Hitting Coach) and Matt Sinatro (Bullpen Coach).
M - What are key areas you want the organization to fill either through FA or trades?
LP - Our bullpen. Simple as that, the bullpen we have now either lost leads or continued to fall behind.
M - This one is for GM LaMar...What exactly are the team's plans for Greg Vaughn? He stands to make $9.25 million this year, and has continually fallen off in production the past 3 years.
CL - Well, we continue to evaluate the options available to us in terms of Greg Vaughn, and I personally have spoken with Greg on the situation and was very candid. I told him, flat out, he needs to produce, he is being paid way too much money for the production he has put out. I was very candid and he understood.
M - Lou, first melt-down? *laughs*
LP - *laughing* I don't know, we'll see how the first day goes. Anyway, that's all the time I think the organization has allotted us, I'll see all you guys, in February.
*More to come later
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Re: WSB 2K3 Devil Rays Franchise...
M = Media
LP = Lou Piniella
CL = Chuck LaMar
CL - I would like to welcome all members of the media here today for this historic event in Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise history. Certainly, it was a long, drawn out process, but, the ultimate goal was to bring Lou Piniella here, and back home, to Tampa. Before, introducing our new manager, I would like to make clear the compensation package sent to Seattle was Randy Winn and a player to be named later. Also, we have signed Lou to a 4 year $14 million dollar contract. So, without further adieu, I would like to introduce the 3rd manager in Tampa Bay Devil Rays history...Lou Piniella.
LP - Thank you, thank you, I really appreciate the warm reception I have received from the front-office and organization. First, I just want to say I'm glad this whole process is behind us, it seemed like each day that dragged on, I was going to different places, or I was unhappy with the Mariners organization...that was all media-hype, I'm just glad, I'm here, in Tampa, where I'm from and hopefully we can turn this thing around. So, if you have any questions, I'll answer them as best I can at this time.
M - Lou, what are your expectations for this upcoming season, the team is coming off its worst-record in franchise history?
LP - Well, I'm not a miracle-worker, I'm a baseball manager. So, my expectations are a lot of hustle and hard-work. A committment to the fundamentals of the game and sportsmanship.
M - Lou, have you gotten a chance to look at the pitching staff yet, and if so, who are your early favorites heading into Spring Training?
LP - My EARLY favorites would be Kennedy (Joe), Zambrano (Victor), Brazelton (Dewon), Standridge (Jason) and the 5th spot is open to just about anybody.
M - Don't you think it might be somewhat presumptious to even give any early favorites for the starting rotation, I mean this team did lose 106 games last year.
LP - Well, last year, the starting pitching wasn't atrocsious, it was the bullpen, this team lost a lot of 1-run games last season. If anything is wide open its the bullpen.
M - Lou, with the youngest team in baseball, is there any incentive to possibly give #1 prospect Rocco Baldelli a chance to compete for the starting CF position?
LP - Rocco's a huge prospect, so to say we haven't thought about having him in CF on opening day would be a lie. But, we also aren't going to pus him.
M - Have you filled out your coaching spots, if so, may we be told who and what positions?
LP - Yes, the staff has been completed. Chris Bosio (Pitching Coach), Lee Elia (Bench Coach), Tom Foley (3rd Base Coach), Billy Hatcher (1st Base Coach), John McLaren (Hitting Coach) and Matt Sinatro (Bullpen Coach).
M - What are key areas you want the organization to fill either through FA or trades?
LP - Our bullpen. Simple as that, the bullpen we have now either lost leads or continued to fall behind.
M - This one is for GM LaMar...What exactly are the team's plans for Greg Vaughn? He stands to make $9.25 million this year, and has continually fallen off in production the past 3 years.
CL - Well, we continue to evaluate the options available to us in terms of Greg Vaughn, and I personally have spoken with Greg on the situation and was very candid. I told him, flat out, he needs to produce, he is being paid way too much money for the production he has put out. I was very candid and he understood.
M - Lou, first melt-down? *laughs*
LP - *laughing* I don't know, we'll see how the first day goes. Anyway, that's all the time I think the organization has allotted us, I'll see all you guys, in February.
*More to come later
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