January 3, 2015 I turned on my TV in my apartment building in downtown Chicago. It was early in the morning, and Comcast Sportsnet Live was on. The news was surprising. The White Sox have fired GM Rick Hahn after a large verbal argument with owner Jerry Reinsdorf. Rick Hahn was appointed to the GM position in 2013, after former GM Kenny Williams was promoted to Executive Vice President. I was the GM from 2008-2010, but was fired after two seasons of poor performances by the club. I had tried to revolutionize the club with Sabermetrics, but the idea did not pan out. After that, I became a producer for a local radio station, nothing special, quit the job after two years. I've spent the last two years saving up the money I made as GM and relaxing. Today, however, my life changed with one phone call.
Voice: "Hello, Matthew." Me: "Who is this?" Voice: "Emily, your assistant GM from way back when. I'm calling to ask if you've heard the news." Me: "What news?" Emily: "We have an opening at GM. I'd... I mean, we'd love to see you return as GM of the Chicago White Sox. Our time spent together was the best three years of my life. The new GMs have just treated me like a servant, they think I know nothing about baseball. You were different. You actually valued my opinion. We were partners. The three of us. Me, you, and Hirohito. Please accept this offer. Me: "Is Hirohito still on the staff?" Emily: "He disappeared in 2012. Last thing I heard him say was that he hated his new position. Me: "Oh... Well that's a shame. He was a great person to work with." Emily: "Hey, did you and Nina ever get married? Last I heard was you two were engaged." Me: "Well... Let's just say she left. We're leaving it there. Emily: Oh... Maybe she found out what we used to do during those long days in the office. That was pretty... Me: Shut up, Emily! We're never doing that again if I take this job. Emily: Geez sorry... I was just giving a reason. Anyway, come to the office at noon today if you want the job. See you then. Bye-bye.
Ah, Emily. My favorite person in the whole world to work with. I'm glad to hear she's still the assistant GM. Maybe she can become a GM one day. Anyway, I accepted the offer and drove to the White Sox office, near U.S. Cellular Field.
Emily: Matt! It's great to see you again! You look even better than I remember. Have you been working out more? Me: Well I can see you're back to your old flirty ways, Emily. But yeah, I have started to run and stuff. Realized sitting on my ass was even more boring than a long day in the office. Emily: True, true. Let me show you around. The office has changed in the past five years. Me: Alright, I'd love to see the new changes.
We toured the new office for a while, and then I sat down to talk with Jerry Reinsdorf.
Jerry: Hello, Matthew. How have the past five years been? Me: They've been alright. Just trying to forget what happened in 2010. That was a disaster. Jerry: Well, at least you did not scream at me when I denied you a certain payroll... All jokes aside, we'd love to see you take over as GM. I'm offering you a 3-year contract for a total of $1.5 million. Your goal is to reach the Postseason. What do you say, are you in? Me: Yes. I'm ready to lead this team to a title, and I have the pieces in place to win us one. Jerry: Good. I'm happy to have you on board. Go White Sox! Me: Go Sox indeed!
This was all too much for me. I did not expect anything of this nature to occur, but boom! This was the happiest day I've had since I was first hired back in 2007. I'm ready to become the best GM in baseball.
_________________ The source of my emotional anguish:
ZeroGibson13 wrote: So far your Game 1 and 2 predictions have been the opposite of right, so I'm gonna predict the Indians have a 3-1 lead after Game 4. ...
BrewersFuzz wrote: AND THEN IN A SHOCKING TURN OF EVENTS CLEVELAND BLOWS THE 3-1 LEAD THIS TIME
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