2035 Frick League FA Review

[Ted]

Randy and I tackle the Frick Free Agency Signings here.

Madison 6:25
Twin Cities 9:49
Omaha 13:52
Des Moines 18:02
Yellow Springs 20:29

Hawaii 27:14
Valencia 34:14
San Fernando 37:37
California 40:27
Long Beach 47:48

Vancouver 49:55
Seattle 54:01
Edmonton 57:32
Boise 1:04:00
Calgary 1:06:50

[RonCo]

Still listening...great job so far.

I did the Alvarado deal specifically because I wanted a solid reliever who would take a 1-season deal. I had money now and didn't want to put any cash out into next year so I could extend Chavez.

[RonCo]

Overall, a nice job. It's always interesting to see how different people view certain players and deals--which is kind of the root of GMness, eh?

[Ted]

Yeah. I feel overall we came across as really critical in both of the FA review pods. I regret that somewhat. But on the other hand, it's even more boring if we say everything is fine.

[usnspecialist]

Yeah. I feel overall we came across as really critical in both of the FA review pods. I regret that somewhat. But on the other hand, it's even more boring if we say everything is fine.

I think that is natural because in a FA type situation it is easy to "overpay" guys because you are trying to top someone else.

[bcslouck]

Being critical is more entertaining. It's even more entertaining later if you guys end up wrong.

[RonCo]

If you like something, you like it. If you don't, you don't. That's part of the deal, I suppose. That's also why I like multiple reviews. Though conflict can often feel uncomfortable if it's pushed too far, people's differing approaches makes the game fun to me.

[agrudez]

In reviewing a trade, you are usually either critical of one team and complimentary of the other or complimentary of both - the process lends itself to being more positive overall (even if you spend more time discussing the critical parts).

In reviewing FA, you don't have that "balance" of the zero sum game. If a team overpays, you are critical. If a team does nothing when they should've done something, you are critical. If a team does something, but should've done something else, you are critical. The only way to *not* be critical of a team in FA is if they did everything "right" (in your opinion) - it's a high bar that lends the process to being more critical overall.

[RonCo]

I like that little bit of conversation in there about the impact of other aspects of the off-season process. It's hard to judge an off-season on one aspect only.

That said, providing a critique of an off-season is a lot like reviewing a movie (or a book for that matter--a subject I'm quite familiar with).

There are reviewers who take a fairly distant approach critiquing it from their own tastes. These reviews say as much about the reviewer as it does about the movie. If they get the movie, they might like it or might not. If they don't get the movie, they'll hate it with the deepest of hates. The problem with this kind of criticism is that there is no way to argue with these reviewers. It's their taste, their opinion. It can't possibly be wrong. At least that's their defense. They don't seem to care much that their view might turn off viewers who don't share their tastes. It's kind of the Libertarian "all for themselves" kind of review at the far end.

There are other reviewers who attempt to first see what the director was trying to do, then critique it as to how well they did that. This is the camp of the dearly departed Roger Ebert, and I camp I admire the most. The problem, though is that this is a hard camp to be a part of because it's a lot of work to understand what the director is trying to do, and even harder to deal with it when that thing is not your thing.

Even Ebert got critical, though. And when he got critical it probably hurt more because, since he understood what you were trying to do, his well-crafted words carried even more weight.

And, of course, the truth is that all reviewers sit on this spectrum, probably varying from review to review based on lots of factors (including whether they had their morning coffee or not).

Anyway. That was more than needed, I suppose.

[indiansfan]

Really enjoyed this and thanks for the positive comments on my signings. I thought Perez was a steal and getting Farrell back at $1 mil and then converting him makes him a decent reliever. Sturdivant was signed to be a bench bat and a backup to Rupert Grant. I originally planned on resigning Dan Leonard to a cheaper deal $5-6 mil per year, put him in left and then move my LF to RF. San Antonio ruined my plans so now Sturdivant will have to play as part of a platoon. He will probably play at home and at certain parks on the road. If the park isn't a homer park he will probably sit. It was great to hear some outside thoughts on my moves, thanks for putting the time and effort into this, it was fun to listen too.

[bcslouck]

Ted, did you do the previews as yourself or Offie?

[usnspecialist]

Ted, did you do the previews as yourself or Offie?

that was one of the first questions I asked in fact haha.

[Ted]

The podcasts and previews are me. I can't do a German accent and don't know any German, so podcasting Offie is out for now, although I'd like to find a way. The previews are just too much work to do ask Offie. A single team preview like the one I did for Brooklyn takes me about 45 min to an hour usually. Writing it as Offie took about twice as long. THat would turn the media guide previews int a 24 hour affair, which is just too much for me.

[recte44]

When does the JL one come out?

[Ted]

When does the JL one come out?

Later this afternoon. And hopefully the trade review this evening, if I can stand listening to myself long enough to review/edit it.

Also, there may be a fourth one.

[recte44]

Looking forward to it

[bschr682]

Offie's podcast debut clearly needs to happen on AFBI

[usnspecialist]

Offie's podcast debut clearly needs to happen on AFBI

a drunk offie? God help us all.

[bschr682]

I bet he is an angry drunk...

[usnspecialist]

I bet he is an angry drunk...

he is german, so im going to channel this gentleman right here...



IS THERE ANY OTHER KIND?!?!