Not even a seventy-eighth consecutive day of cloudy skies and intermittent showers could dampen the spirits of Seattle’s natives. The reason? Nathan Eagan had just been announced as the new manager of Seattle’s beloved Storm. Sporting a flannel jacket and carrying an umbrella, Eagan already appeared at home in the Emerald City. Despite the media horde, we were able to ask Nathan a few questions and get a better understanding of the man who is now responsible for Seattle’s baseball fortunes.
What was it that initially drew you to Seattle?
Starbucks and Trey Williams.I have a bit of an addictive personality; that manifests itself in a lot of ways that I shouldn’t discuss because I don’t want my contract voided, but it has also led to a coffee addiction. I drink at least ten cups a day, and I really like Starbucks. I figured that if I’m going to be drinking this much coffee every day, I might as well go to the source; and now I’m here. As for Trey Williams, he’s one of the top players in the MBBA. Working with a player like that is a treat for any manager, and I must say, being able to pencil Williams into my lineup every day certainly makes me look like a much better manager.
Trey Williams is, indiputably, the best thing to come out of Seattle since Jimi Hendrix.
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Other than Trey Williams, who are some other players on the team that you’re excited to work with?
I’ve always been an admirer of Todd Clay’s game. I know he just got hurt and he’ll be out for a few weeks, but I really admire the way he plays the game. He gets on base, and he always gives us good at-bats. I also think Grant Hardin and Austin Gibson are two pieces that should be in our lineup for a long time. Both of those guys are playing pretty well this year, and Austin is currently leading the team in home runs, which the team certainly needs.
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I can’t help but notice that you didn’t mention any of the team’s pitchers. Why is that?
I’ll be perfectly honest with you: I didn’t mention them because I’m not excited to work with them. I think they suck. I hope they don’t take that the wrong way: it won’t be difficult to change my mind on the subject; all they will need to do is to start getting hitters out instead of playing like they’re making a commission on the next salary of every hitter they face. I mean, have you looked at our pitching stats? It seems like the only thing our pitchers can do is keep the ball in the ballpark, and all that does is prolong the agony of watching opposing hitters hit line-drive after line-drive all over the field.
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Wow. How do you plan to make your pitchers better?
All I can tell you is this: fear is a terrific motivator. I would say more, but I don’t need a lawsuit from the Players Association before my first month on the job is complete. Let’s just say that your interview questions would be a lot more incisive if you knew you were going to be beaten with bamboo shoots if you did a bad job. Am I right?
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That’s a fair point. How would you describe your approach as both a manager and a general manager?
Well, I’m assuming you’ve seen my official Seattle Storm team picture? It’s a picture of me in a suit and a baseball hat. Those two things are incongruous; you never see a person wearing both of them. I think that’s a perfect representation of who I am as a manager and general manager. I can’t be pigeon holed. I want to acquire players who can help the team win, but I think there are a lot of ways a player can do that. I would certainly like to add some power hitters to the lineup, but I’d have to say that my first priority is acquiring better starting pitching. I’m not sure how I’m going to go about doing that, but that’s why they pay me the big bucks; I wouldn’t be a twenty-one year old GM if I wasn’t some type of prodigy, right?
It certainly is a confusing image.
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Last question: Seattle’s fans are known for their passion, but they’ve also experienced a lot of disappointment over the past few years. Do you have a message for them?
I know that the team hasn’t made the playoffs since 2003, but I can promise that I will do my best to change that. This team has a very bright future ahead of it, and with the fans’ support, I have no doubt that this team can turn things around pretty quickly. With that in mind, though, I would like to urge all of the fans to continue to come out to the stadium to support the team. All of the money that the fans spend goes, after a sizable portion goes directly into the owner’s pockets, directly back into the team, and that money will be used to sign the players we need and to keep the good players we have. We also might have to drag Lawrence Ryman’s carcass around for the next few years, and that’s certainly not cheap. If the fans come to games, not only will they have the opportunity to watch exciting, young players who have the Storm on the right track, but they will also have the opportunity to have a great time heckling Lawrence Ryman. It’s a win-win!
Eagan wants Ryman to feel like this every game; he's hoping that if he gets sad enough, he will retire and the Storm won't have to pay him anymore.
Perhaps the best word to describe this relatively unknown new manager is polarizing. His players already appear to cower in abject terror when they see him, but all of that will be forgotten as long as Eagan can lead the Storm to victory.
