2063.06 – Zoom, Zoom, Boom

[Graham]

Graham Luna had spent most of the morning trying to find an angle that didn’t make him look like an over-eager substitute teacher about to hand out a worksheet.

He adjusted his collar, opened the Zoom meeting early, and waited as the squares began filling in. Some players logged in from living rooms, a few from back patios, and one -- Graham was fairly certain -- from the deck of a fishing boat. The GM made a mental note of the lone player who had his camera off, pitcher Cisco Medrano .

Antonio Rosario, who agreed to the role of Assistant General Manager this morning after a fruitful day spent with Graham yesterday, popped on screen. He was seated in front of a stark white wall that somehow managed to scream both 'extreme minimalist' and 'extreme procrastinator' at the same time. Graham couldn't decide if it was intentional or a cry for help.

After a few minutes, Graham figured it was time to start. “Good afternoon, gentlemen,” he said clearing his throat. “Thanks for making time today. I know offseason schedules can be...let’s say, creative.” That got a chuckle from a few screens.

“I’m Graham Luna, your new General Manager. I won’t take up too much of your time. Today’s just about putting faces to names, hearing any thoughts you have, and making it clear that I’m here to work for you.”

He paused, scanning the screens. “Berto tells me the team chemistry’s fine, but I want us to be committed, hungry.”

Simao Hayagawa was first to unmute. “We just want to win, sir,” he said, in lightly accented English. “We don’t care about anything else. Whatever it takes.”

Hayagawa, one of the team’s captains, looked every bit the part: calm, mature beyond his years, hoodie zipped all the way to his chin. The kid had finished third in Rookie of the Year voting, and Graham could see why.

Veteran reliever Ramon Ayala chimed in. “You give us a plan, boss, we’ll get behind it. Lotta hungry guys here.”

That lit up the chat for a second with fire emojis and thumbs up, not to mention one random pizza slice emoji.

Graham smiled. “Good. Because I’ve got some ideas brewing. Might even be a philosophy in the making.”

As the meeting wound down, Graham asked for any last thoughts. It was outfielder and recently awarded GBC Rookie of the Year Adam MacDonald, baseball cap pulled low, who spoke up, unmuting slowly. “Just want to make sure we’re not giving up,” he said, blunt but not cruel. “I had a good year last year, didn’t feel like it mattered.”

Graham let the words hang a second before answering.

“It’s going to matter this year,” he said. “I can’t promise miracles. But I can promise direction. And we’re not standing still.” There was a silence — not uncomfortable, but weighty — before a few players nodded and gave actual thumbs up to their cameras.

One call didn’t change a culture. But it could start something.

As Graham ended the meeting and leaned back in his chair, he let himself smile. Arbitration was next. Then the Winter Meetings and his all-important first crack at free agency.

Time to start building the team they deserved.