Power Pros Forum

WHITE SOX HIRE INEXPERIENCED GM
Breaking news in Chicago as the Chicago White Sox have hired GM Matthew Ratajczyk. Ratajczyk is fresh out of college and a life long White Sox fan. He has a knowledge of the team history and landscape. Many are skeptical of Ratajczyk, saying he "cannot manage a team at a professional level." Ratajczyk is a recent graduate of Northwestern University. ESPN did an interview with him.

"How much pressure is there to be a GM of a professional team?
"Obviously there's gonna be a stress level over the top. It's gonna be a lot of work, and there's gonna be a lot of rough times, but in the end I'm doing what I've always wanted to do, and that's all that matters to me. I can't wait to get started.

"What are your expectations for this season?"
"I expect many things from this team, but we gotta redeem ourselves after that disastrous season in 2007. We're loaded. We've got pitching, speed, contact, and plenty of power. We've got a great pitching staff, led by Mark Buehrle. We've got power with Paul Konerko and Jim Thome. We've got contact with Joe Crede and Juan Uribe. And we got speed with Alexei Ramirez, the promising young Cuban. I expect great things from our guys this year. First, I expect the AL Central crown, and I expect to at least get past the ALDS. Chicago deserves another championship. We got one in 2005, we can get one in 2008.

"What is your strategy in managing this team?"
It's definitely not a rebuild. We're in it to win it all this season. I think we have the talent and the personnel to get the job done. Bring on the new campaign! Go go Sox!

And so the first year of my new career began. This log will be told in a journal form.

CURRENT TEAM RESULTS
2008- 86-76, AL Central Division Champions (Lost 3-1 to New York in the ALDS)

November 29, 2007
It was a chilly day in the Windy City. I woke up earlier than usual, but I had plenty of sleep the night before. I was extremely nervous. I didn't know what my first day would be like. I got to my office, and organized my desk. It was pretty much everything White Sox in the building. At 10 AM, I was introduced to my assistant GM. She was my age, short, pretty, and blonde. She explained to me everything about my job, which was really nothing new. I outlined my plan to her. It was a mathematical one, resembling the A's Moneyball strategy. We need to produce at least 900 runs in order to win the division. We also need to have a team ERA of 3.35. If we are to win, we need to have state of the art medical facilities. My first order of my GM career was to build several top notch medical buildings, to make sure we stay healthy. Pitchers must not pitch over 300 innings in the regular season, in order to prevent arm injuries. My first day went pretty smoothly.

December 4, 2007
Things are coming along nicely in the front office. I've used a computer system to predict our team's strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths
-Power Hitting
With our current lineup, we are expected to hit 175 homers this year. Our guys definitely can hit out of the park.
-Run Production
One of the keys to our season, our boys can produce runs at a high rate.

Weaknesses
-Bullpen
Our bullpen was our Achilles Heel last year, and caused us to go 72-90.
-Base Stealing
We aren't really concerned with this, but our base stealing is below average.

We still have a lot of work to do.

good premise so far. like the idea, and go sox btw!

I like it so far, good work.

December 8, 2007
We made our first big move of the Offseason, signing OF/1B Nick Swisher. Nick will give us a huge boost. We also inked Orlando Cabrera to a deal. He can help our fielding be where it should be. Days are moving pretty quickly around the office; we have a lot on our hands during the offseason.

December 14, 2007
We made two more big signings today, inking Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel to deals. I was jumping around in the office when they signed, as they can fill the holes in our bullpen. We were not going to sign any more free agents, as there was nothing really good left on the market.

Are you using any of the success mode, real-life Wii players? Clayton Richard is the only one that was on the White Sox roster in 2008, but Dayan Viciedo and Chris Sale are also kicking around if you were interested.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I'll probably use Clayton (I met him at a baseball camp once) right away, and then use Viciedo and Sale later.

December 25, 2007
Christmas in Chi-town is different every year. One year it's ugly, and the next it's perfect. Today it was ugly. There was a huge blizzard on Christmas Eve, and I was trapped in the office. So I spent my Christmas doing player evaluations and boring shit like that. I found a player in our Minor League system that I instantly new was my guy; Clayton Richard. Clayton is a young starter with great control. I smiled to my assistant and said, "This is the guy we've been looking for. A swing man." Clayton can really help our team, either as a reliever or a starter. Thanks to Alloutwar for telling me about him.

December 30, 2007
Being a GM is tough. The White Sox are my life now. Tomorrow, instead of celebrating the final 24 hours of 2007, I'll be on my computer, studying Japanese prospects. Tomorrow starts the International Free Agency period. Right now, I've outlined several great options from around the world.
- Worsano Astronera, Cuba [Baseballteen9500]
- Rukivaki Lupanyo, South Korea [Baseballteen9500}
- Masato Kurihara, Japan [Baseballteen9500]
- Daiki Hirayama, Japan [Aar0nat0r]
- Dayan Viciedo, Cuba [Philliesfan134]
- Chang Jing Song, China [Baseballteen9500]

Hopefully we can get at least two of these guys.

Ayyy my guy Daiki!!!

January 1, 2008
It's finally here. 2008. So much has changed since last year. I went from a college kid to a young, unproven GM trying to use sabermetrics to win a championship. Today I had a phone conversation with my idol, Billy Beane of the Oakland A's. [Whenever I hear about him, I always think of Brad Pitt's portrayal of him in Moneyball.]

"Hello, Matthew."

"Hello, Mr. Beane! Thanks for taking the time to explain to me the world of sabermetrics."

"Before we get started, remember, my shit doesn't work in the playoffs. Sabermetrics can build a great regular season team, but it falters in October.

"I understand. That's why we have a balance of talent here in Chicago."

"That's different. Chicago is a large market. Here in Oakland, we're small market bastards. We're bottom feeders, organ donors for the rich. Boston takes our organs, New York takes our brain. No offense, but you took our first baseman. We have to do what we can in a small market. How do we do it? It's a long process, but it all starts with player evaluations. My assistant GM does about 350 per week. We then put the stats into a computer program, and we get our results.

"What's your mathematical formula?

"I printed you off a sheet of every calculation. It's pretty much what we use here in Oakland."

"Thanks for the time Mr. Beane!"

"Hey, we both have the same job. Call me Billy."

I learned some critical information today, and I've got great things planned for the future. I've been considering a total rebuild of the team, using homegrown players. It will never go down with the ownership though. I just have to use the resources I have to build a winner.

January 4, 2008
I'm scheduled to fly to Japan to meet with Daiki Hirayama next week. I'm actually pretty excited to talk to him. Daiki is nineteen and a CF. We have Swisher in center, but we'll move him to right. We're looking to trade Jermaine Dye [Who is worth nothing in sabermetrics] for a young reliever. There was some controversy over this in the daily meeting.

"Daiki Hirayama is the guy I'm looking for right now. I'm meeting with Daiki next Thursday. He's not the best power hitter, but he can do pretty much everything else," I told my scouts.

"Matthew, Daiki plays center. We have Swisher. What are we gonna do trade Dye?" Bob, one of my scouts, asked.

"Yes. Dye is worth nothing. Face it, his glory days are over. We have home run hitters already in Jim Thome and Paul Konerko. We don't need Jermaine," I replied.

"*(censored)* think before you say more dumb shit kid! Daiki has only played in the NPB! How can he transition to the MLB fast enough to fit in?" Bob yelled.

"Hey! I may be younger and less experienced than you, but I'm still your GM! You still have to give me respect! I have a plan and I'm enacting it!" I fired back.

"You're a dictator. A fascist. A Communist. You can't just do all that by yourself! *(censored)* you kid!" Bob screamed.

"Bob, you're fired. Please leave the room," I said, with an evil-looking stare in my eyes.

The room went silent. Everyone now knew that I meant business. I continued.

"Daiki can hit, run, throw, and field. He's a four-tool player. Anyone who objects can leave the staff," I said as I finished the meeting.

Love this log, very interesting