If you are named GM of your favorite baseball team..how would you build a winning franchise?

Question

Lets presume for a moment that team is in a major market and is profitable with great revenue streams.

Answer 1

All my top draft picks would be pitchers.
I am talking guys who can really roll it up there 94 plus. Then I would teach them the off speed stuff, and make sure they all have command of at least 3 pitches.I would make sure they dont pitch too may innings in the minors.....and never over 75 pitches in a game. My second priority in drafting would be speed at the following positions..Centerfield, Shortstop, and second base. Those spots need to each be able to steal 35 plus bases a year. bunting is a must. Defensive Catchers with great arms would be the next priority. 5 pitch at bats or longer would be rewarded with extra spending money. My big boppers would be obtained from trades or free agent acquisitions...a blend of young and old. All batters must have high on base percentage to play for me. My team would always be at top of league in pitching, defense, stolen bases and on base percentage. I would never carry more than 2 hitters that strike out more than 90 times a year.

Answer 2

Well I'm a Yankees fan, and this is what I would do.

Firstly I would invest heavily in my farm system, and teach them from the beging the pressure of playing in NY regarless if they are A, AA or AAA make them play alot for the Staten Island Yankees ( a single A farm team for the NY Yankees) this gets them prepaired for how tough playing in NY is before they get to the majors.

Secondly I would build the team around great starting and relief pictching, not over paid 40 year olds, but young pictchers between early 20's to mid 30's on the high side, that have great control, volocity, and a variety of pitches they can throw.

Thirdly a great defensive team, with range, quick acurate throwing arms, and outfielders that can throw far and acturate.

Fourthly a team that knows how and plays little ball well, singles, sac flys, bunts, sac bunts etc. anything that moves the base runners along the bases and pick up a run here and there. When they hit homers fine that's the icing on the cake, but little bal is far more important.

Fifthly a catcher that plays well with all the pitchers, understands the opposing batters, thier strenghths and weaknesses, even if there are better hitting catchers, those qualities are the first thing I look for, secondly I want him to be a good defensive catcher, can block wild pitches, has a quick relase to throw to 2nd or 3rd base, doesnt over throw to 2nd or 3rd base. Whether or not he is a good batter doesnt matter as long as he does the other things well.

Sixtly a manager exactly like Joe Torre's personality, doesnt show emotion, keeps everyone calm, has the repect of his team, understands what it's like playing in NY and for the Yanks esspeiclay, and why playing in NY is so different from playing anywhere else. He must also have good undertanding of strategy, understand why little ball is more important than the home run, etc.

So that's how my team would be designed, on pitching, defense, and little ball.

Answer 3

OK So, Fav team is the Yankees. So first, you know we have the money to spend. My philosophy is great pitching beats great hitting. First 2 moves. Get Johan Santana and Jake Peavy. Resign Mo Rivera and sign Joba Chamberlain to a long term deal and keep him in the bullpen. Eventually he will be Mariano's successor. KEEP JOE TORRE. Wang as #3 SP. Then let the young guys have a shot. Hughes and Kennedy as your #4 and #5 SP. If I can sign Arod great. If not, oh well. If you get Santana and Peavy, that will more than make up for Arod's missing bat. Resign Posada. Build around Jeter, Cano, Posada, Cabrera and yes I would keep Abreu especially, If I'm gonna let Arod walk. You don't need an all star at every position especially with that type of starting pitching and bullpen mentioned above. Thats what I would do. Now who's gonna hire me? Come on, I got some experience. I did play in the minor's for a few years. Give me Cashmen's job George! :)

Answer 4

You need a pitching ace who can stop a losing streak and shut out other teams, and a wily veteran pitcher who will throw junk and upset other teams' timing. You only need 1-2 power hitters, but contact hitters are important. A good short stop-second base combo, and a guy at 3rd who fields like a vacuum cleaner. Righty and lefty set-up men in the bullpen, and a closer and a possible substitute closer. The fastest man on the team with the strongest arm for center field.

Don't take pitching reclamation projects, or guys who have obviously peaked. Get guys who will bust a gut to win, who get in people's faces about loafing. A healthy farm organization is also important.

Sort of like the Mariners? Yes, dump Sexon and get Santana. Then stand back.

Answer 5

I would follow the blueprint of Mark Shapiro. If he could build a championship caliber team in a small market, imagine what he could engineer in a major market that is profitable and has great revenue streams.

Answer 6

Very good question because I think people tend to think they could do what a GM does and don't realize all the hard work and hours spent on it.

I would surround myself with scouts that I trust (possibly why Jocketty became unhappy in St. Louis, he didn't have that) and pitching/defense would be first and foremost. Then I'd go after all-tool guys like Jimmy Rollins, Edgar Renteria, Carlos Guillen...

I'd concentrate on guys that hustle and play hard like the D'backs.

Answer 7

Buid it around pitching. Get a couple veterans, couple young prospects, strong bullpen, both middle and closers. Then get good defensive players and above average hitters. I would work as a GM for free.

Answer 8

Chase Utley, he is THE dominate 2 bagger and you have to take into account the numbers gained or lost as per position. For instance, you would take Santana and I would take Utley, there were more SP's who out-performed Santana than out-performed Utley. And I feel as if you have to take into account the age of the player; Utley's only downside is injury.

Answer 9

Get rid of the manager and hire one who knows how to play the game, handle the players and the pitching staff, and isn't afraid to kick some butt when it's needed.

Sign top notch starters and relievers.....thru draft, free agency or trades.

First rate catcher.

Speed.

Answer 10

I would do whatever John Schuerholz has been doing since the early 90s in Atlanta.