Power Pros Forum

"Alex, we need to hire a manager by the end of the week." said Bob.

"Who do you have in mind?" asked Alex.

Bob stopped to think. "Wasn't Bobby Valentine a manager?" he asked.

"The guy who manages in Japan?" asked Alex.

"Yeah. We could talk to him. He sounds like a good fit. I'm sure he'd rather be in America than Japan." said Bob.

"I like him. Let's get him in here for an interview." said Alex.

"Wait. What about Backe?" asked Alex.

"I sent him to AAA, so he can keep playing while we find the rest of our team. It would've cost too much to bring him here, then send him right back." said Bob.

"Oh. I'll set up an interview with Valentine." said Alex.

"Sounds good." said Bob.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TWO DAYS LATER

*Knock-Knock-Knock*

"Come in" said Bob. It was time for Valentine's interview. He was hoping it would work out, since he didn't know who else he would hire.

Bobby Valentine walked in to the room. "Hello Mr.Chambers." he said.

"Welcome to the office, Mr.Valentine." said Bob. "Let's get started."

"Alright." said Bobby.

"Do you think you would be a good fit for the Sluggers, with our very young rookie team? Could you provide the guidance these young players need as they develop in the league?" asked Bob.

"I think I could fit in well with the Sluggers, because I have a laid back attitude that I think would fit in well with these young players. I have enough experience that I could hand down to the youngsters as the start off in the league." said Bobby confidently.

"We don't have our full roster decided yet. Do you think you could coach any of the players that we decide to sign?" asked Bob.

"I find myself to get along with most people, and the people I don't get along with, I still find a way to get by with them." said Bobby.

"Could you make the commitment to stay with team for multiple years?" asked Bob.

"I don't plan to retire from baseball until I'm 70, so that's 13 years left." answered Bobby.

"Would you be willing to leave Japan, and come to Hawaii?" asked Bob.

"Yes, I'm in the last year of my contract in Japan, so I will be done at the end of next year anyway. I also miss America very much." replied Bobby.

"If you could please step into the lobby for a moment, I will consult with my assistant and get back to you in about 5 minutes." said Bob.

"O.K., thank you for the interview." said Bobby.

Bobby stood up, and stepped into the lobby.

"What do you think Alex?" asked Bob.

"Well, I think he is definitely qualified, and he has experience that will rub off onto all of these rookies. I think he's a good candidate." said Alex.

"Well, I like him too. But, Selig said we have to interview at least three people. So, I guess we find more." said Bob.

"Tell Bobby we have no further questions, and he can leave." said Bob.
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LATER THAT DAY

Bob and Alex had interviewed 2 others, Dan Lewis, a AAA manager, who was very nervous and jittery, and Kaleb Wall, a 24 year old kid who had just graduated from college, and had played baseball in college. Kaleb was more of a joke. He thought it would be cool to be a manager, but he had no experience. Valentine was by far the best.

"Hello?" said Bobby Valentine, as he picked up his phone.

"Yes, Mr.Valentine? Welcome to the Honolulu Sluggers. You got the job!" said Bob.

Valentine broke into a grin, and then laughed. "Thank you Mr. Chambers. I'll be at the office tomorrow."

"We'll be waiting for you." said Bob. "See you tomorrow!"
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"Alright then Bobby, tell us what you think." said Bob Chambers. "We hire Sammy Sosa as hitting coach, and Curt Schilling as our pitching coach."

"Well, that sounds good to me!" said Bobby. He didn't really know what to say, since he had not talked to the two men in many years.

"Alright then Mr.Valentine, you can go back to work." said Bob.

"Um... what exactly am I supposed to be working on?" asked Bobby.

"Not much now." said Bob. "Just make whatever preparations you need for the season." said Bob.

Bobby nodded and left the room.

"Let's check our e-mail!" said Bob after he left. He knew he would sign pretty much anybody Rudy recommended.

Before he could even click on the e-mail icon on his computer, Alex rushed into the room.

"I think you should see this." said Alex

Bob went into the lobby, and saw Alex pointing at the TV screen. It read along the bottom of the screen; "The Charlotte Flyers have signed Joe Torre as manager of the team"

Bob was shocked to say the least. That Dan Myers really was rich! And persuasive.

"We are gonna have to watch out for the Flyers." said Bob.

"Yeah." Alex agreed.

Bob went back into his office, and found a bunch of e-mails from Rudy that he had received over the weekend.

Preston Greene- 1B
Leo Collins- SP
Kyle Miller- RP
Julio Pena- SP
Rocky Thornton- SP
Nathan Withey- C
Pablo Gonzalez- DH
Sheldon Anderson- CF

"Wow..." Bob said to himself.

He opened the first e-mail, Preston Greene.

Name: Preston Greene
Position:1B
Number:30
Trajectory:3
Contact:D
Power:A-
Run Speed:E
Arm Strength:E
Fielding:C
Error Res:C
Abilities:Hot Hitter

Description: He is a great power hitting 1st baseman, but he has low speed and arm strength. He can field the ball well though.
He would make a great 3,4, or maybe 5 hitter. He gets hot after a few hits, like Backe.

Summary: I wouldn't send him to you if I didn't want you to sign him.

Name:Leo Collins
Position:Starting Pitcher
Number:23
Top Speed:87
Control:C
Stamina:B
Slider:3
Slurve:3
Vertical Slider:2
Abilities:Vs. LH Batter 4, Poise 4, Recovery 4

Description: He'll make a good 5 or 6 starter. He looks decent on paper, but people seem to hammer his pitches. He is lacking a good top speed, but he can work on that.

Name:Kyle Miller
Position Relief Pitcher
Number:33
Top Speed:85
Control:C
Stamina:C
Slow Curve:3
Splitter:3
Sinking Fastball:3
Abilities:w/RISP 4, Vs. LH Batter 4, Good low pitch

Description: He has good breaking balls, and decent stamina so he can be a spot starter and long reliever. He also lacks in speed, but that can also be worked on.

Name:Julio Pena
Position:Starting Pitcher
Number:32
Top Speed:85
Control:C
Stamina:B
Cutter:3
Drop Curve:2
Changeup:3
Abilities:Vs. LH Batter4, Good pickoff

Description:He will also be a 5 or 6 starter, He also lacks speed, but can work on that.

Name:Rocky Thornton
Position:Starting Pitcher
Number:44
Top Speed:90
Control:C
Stamina:B
"Rocker" slider:3
Curve:2
Circle Changeup:2
Abilities:Vs. LH Batter 4, Dr.K, Intimidator, Good pickoff,Spider catch, Good Morale

Description:A starter that looks bad on paper, but is great! I think he could make a 2 starter, and eventually a 1 after a few years. His Rocker slider is wicked gnasty, and he strikes out a ton of batters. His top speed is good for this team, but still below average.

A question: Where's my guy in the email?

Also, what's Sammy Sosa gonna do? Teach them how to inject steroids?

No, in all seriousness, this log is rockin'!

Who's your guy? I probably haven't made him yet.

This is amazing, the one knock is that I wish you could get his contact to a C. Other than that, it's exactly how I want him to be. Great work.

Sweet, I've been trying to make these guys as close to description as possible. The rest of the guys will be posted tomorrow.

Name:Nathan Withey
Position:Catcher
Number:17
Trajectory:4
Contact:C
Power:B
Run Speed:C
Arm Strength:C
Fielding:C
Error Res:A
Good Strike Zone:Middle and Middle outside
Abilities:Hot Hitter

Description:A good catcher, with good hitting and fielding skills. He hits high pop-ups a lot, so if it isn't a homer, its usually caught. Not very many line drives from him.

Name:Pablo Gonzalez
Position:DH
Number:35
Trajectory:3
Contact:C
Power:A
Run Speed:D
Arm Strength:G
Fielding:F
Error Res:G
Abilities:Clutch Hit 4, Tough Out, Good B2B Hitter, Hot Hitter, Consistency 4

Description:A good DH with good power and contact. He hits a lot of homers. He's a good clutch hitter, and is very consistent. He heats up with each hit, and he hits better if the batter before him got on. Overall, a good hitter, but don't put him in the field.

Name:Sheldon Anderson
Position:Center Fielder
Number:25
Trajectory:3
Contact:C
Power:B
Run Speed:D
Arm Strength:D
Fielding:D
Error Res:C
Abilities:Clutch Hit 2, Good B2B Hitter, Firstball Hitter, Hot Hitter, Durability 4, Consistency 2, Tough Runner, Aggressive Runner

Description:A decent Center Fielder, sort of slow for that position, but he can hold his own. He is also a decent hitter, and will probably be able to bat 6, behind the heart of the order. Not good in the clutch, and not consistent. Even though he isn't fast, he is a tough runner to get out once he gets on.

Bob typed in a reply saying,

They all look good to me. Send them to LaCrosse.

"We need to get signing some more players. It's fun to look at them and evaluate them." said Bob.

"Yep, it sure is." Alex agreed.

"Do we know who we play yet in our first series, Alex?" Bob asked.

"No. We won't know until we get enough players to fill a roster. If they made the schedule now, and we ended up short on players, they would have to remake the whole schedule." explained Alex.

"Well, that makes sense." said Bob. "We're ready for the season then, it's just we don't have enough players."

"I'm sure Rudy is trying his hardest to find us players. He found us 8 players just this weekend." said Alex.

"I know, its just that I'm sick of waiting and doing nothing." said Bob. "I just want the season to start."

"Me too." said Alex.
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Sorry, that was a short update, but I couldn't think of anything else to put. I'm going to go and try to make Alex Gordon again. Dishnetkid, I think I'm gonna save and reload on Techer a little, because I NEED an ace.

Sure, go for it.