Post by White Sox GM (Michael) on Dec 24, 2017 21:14:14 GMT -5
We continue our Meet the GMs series with Jeff of the Baltimore Orioles. Jeff is one of the longest-tenured and storied owners of our league, overseeing several playoff runs and a World Series appearance. I recently sat down with him to discuss his plans for 2018 as well as his heated rivalry with the Tampa Bay Rays.
You represented the American League in the World Series last season. Was this your most successful season with the Orioles so far?
In terms of outcome, yes this was my most successful season with the Orioles having made it to the world series. However, in 2016 my team was the 2nd highest rated team in ODC history, according to some model of Justin’s I believe it was. This year however, I feel that my improved rotation, lineup, and mightily improved bullpen, will generate my best season yet.
Your lineup has three MVP contenders in Altuve, Blackmon, and Votto, but it runs much deeper than that. Besides those three, who do you think is a key hitter for 2018 and why?
Aside from my three headed monster, I think that a key hitter on my team is Chris Owings. With his triple eligibility, and his flashes of 5 tool ability last year, I see him as being a key player for the Orioles this season.
A lot has been made about your lineup, but your rotation perhaps carries more risk. Are there plans to make an upgrade there before the season, or are you confident in your pitching?
There are no plans to make an upgrade at this point in time. While my rotation certainly isn’t the strong suit of my team, it was my strategy to acquire a deep rotation if not stellar, and then create a stellar bullpen to supplement the rotation. It was cheaper and easier to do that than go for great starting pitching. With bounce back years from Quintana and Salazar, I see potential for my rotation to surprise people.
Your farm system is barren as usual. If you do end up needing an upgrade either on the pitching staff or in your lineup, how do you plan to make one?
I intentionally created a lineup where I have two players eligible for every position. I will deal from this depth, or downgrade some of my top hitting pieces if I find my pitching is holding me back.
What player should we keep an eye out for a surprise season in 2018?
I think Solarte can surprise people. Triple eligible guy who’s got pop and makes consistent hard contact. Might see a 25 HR season from him this year.
Jose Altuve is a highly emotional player, and he isn't afraid to show it on the field. Has Brian McCann beaten the shit out of him yet?
He has not, because he knows anyone who even dares to look at Altuve, will be shipped out of town. That includes Blackmon, Quintana, and Votto.
What's longer, Charlie Blackmon's beard or Joey Votto's contract?
Forbz’ matchup drought against me.
Your rivalry with Forbz is highly publicized. What do you think of his team this season, and why do you think it sucks?
I think his team is solid. It should compete for a wild card, but ultimately it’s little league compared to mine. My team is superior even without Jose Altuve. When push comes to shove, you need reliable players, especially hitters, who you know will produce. My lineup is stock full of them. Blackmon, votto, and altuve were #7, #4, and #2 on the Player Rater in 2016, and then #1, #2, #4 in 2017, doesn’t get better than that. Add in a supporting cast with the #1 2017 SS in Elvis Andrus, a 100 RBI Mark Reynolds, and a 40 HR hitter in Khris Davis, and his lineup doesn’t touch mine. His rotation ill grant him is superior, however there are a lot of injury concerns there, and a lack of depth will certainly hurt forbz. His pen is solid, but mine is much better with Kimbrel, Robertson, Chapman, Strickland, and more. Again, his team is solid, maybe could beat mine, but 9/10 I’m going to come away with the matchup.
Of course, you two have put money on who has the better record this season. Maybe the winner of the bet buys the loser a nice dinner with the $50? I think that would be kinda cute.
I’m game for that. We’ll invite JT too when Forbz loses that bet as well.
Any final thoughts?
I’m fairly confident that I have one of the top 3 records all time in this league. Would love to see that spreadsheet updated. Also, I want to remind everyone that I have 3 of the top 4 players in fantasy, I own the best regular season in ODC history, AND I went undefeated two years back. SMDDDDDDD
Thanks again to Jeff for his time, and we look forward to sucking his dick.
You represented the American League in the World Series last season. Was this your most successful season with the Orioles so far?
In terms of outcome, yes this was my most successful season with the Orioles having made it to the world series. However, in 2016 my team was the 2nd highest rated team in ODC history, according to some model of Justin’s I believe it was. This year however, I feel that my improved rotation, lineup, and mightily improved bullpen, will generate my best season yet.
Your lineup has three MVP contenders in Altuve, Blackmon, and Votto, but it runs much deeper than that. Besides those three, who do you think is a key hitter for 2018 and why?
Aside from my three headed monster, I think that a key hitter on my team is Chris Owings. With his triple eligibility, and his flashes of 5 tool ability last year, I see him as being a key player for the Orioles this season.
A lot has been made about your lineup, but your rotation perhaps carries more risk. Are there plans to make an upgrade there before the season, or are you confident in your pitching?
There are no plans to make an upgrade at this point in time. While my rotation certainly isn’t the strong suit of my team, it was my strategy to acquire a deep rotation if not stellar, and then create a stellar bullpen to supplement the rotation. It was cheaper and easier to do that than go for great starting pitching. With bounce back years from Quintana and Salazar, I see potential for my rotation to surprise people.
Your farm system is barren as usual. If you do end up needing an upgrade either on the pitching staff or in your lineup, how do you plan to make one?
I intentionally created a lineup where I have two players eligible for every position. I will deal from this depth, or downgrade some of my top hitting pieces if I find my pitching is holding me back.
What player should we keep an eye out for a surprise season in 2018?
I think Solarte can surprise people. Triple eligible guy who’s got pop and makes consistent hard contact. Might see a 25 HR season from him this year.
Jose Altuve is a highly emotional player, and he isn't afraid to show it on the field. Has Brian McCann beaten the shit out of him yet?
He has not, because he knows anyone who even dares to look at Altuve, will be shipped out of town. That includes Blackmon, Quintana, and Votto.
What's longer, Charlie Blackmon's beard or Joey Votto's contract?
Forbz’ matchup drought against me.
Your rivalry with Forbz is highly publicized. What do you think of his team this season, and why do you think it sucks?
I think his team is solid. It should compete for a wild card, but ultimately it’s little league compared to mine. My team is superior even without Jose Altuve. When push comes to shove, you need reliable players, especially hitters, who you know will produce. My lineup is stock full of them. Blackmon, votto, and altuve were #7, #4, and #2 on the Player Rater in 2016, and then #1, #2, #4 in 2017, doesn’t get better than that. Add in a supporting cast with the #1 2017 SS in Elvis Andrus, a 100 RBI Mark Reynolds, and a 40 HR hitter in Khris Davis, and his lineup doesn’t touch mine. His rotation ill grant him is superior, however there are a lot of injury concerns there, and a lack of depth will certainly hurt forbz. His pen is solid, but mine is much better with Kimbrel, Robertson, Chapman, Strickland, and more. Again, his team is solid, maybe could beat mine, but 9/10 I’m going to come away with the matchup.
Of course, you two have put money on who has the better record this season. Maybe the winner of the bet buys the loser a nice dinner with the $50? I think that would be kinda cute.
I’m game for that. We’ll invite JT too when Forbz loses that bet as well.
Any final thoughts?
I’m fairly confident that I have one of the top 3 records all time in this league. Would love to see that spreadsheet updated. Also, I want to remind everyone that I have 3 of the top 4 players in fantasy, I own the best regular season in ODC history, AND I went undefeated two years back. SMDDDDDDD
Thanks again to Jeff for his time, and we look forward to sucking his dick.
