Home Run Derby Chat

MLB Front Office Manager Year 2

We just wrapped up Season 2 of MLB Front Office Manager – Kansas City Royals. Coming into the season the goal was to improve the organizations .348 winning percentage from the first season. I’m already on the hot seat so if this goal isn’t reached, I might be GM of a different team. Maybe the Pirates would be fun. Because of payroll limits, free agent Prince Fielder was lost to the Yankees. The Evil Empire signed Matt Holliday also. I implemented a new plan and signed tons of minor leaguers with high potential. The Single A and Rookie League teams almost had a complete personnel turnover. The extra prospects were then used to sweeten some trade offers and the results were good. The Royals added Geo Soto from the Cubs, the Orioles’ Adam Jones, Justin Upton from the D-Backs, Carlos Gonzales from Oakland, and Milwaukee’s promising shortstop Alcides Escobar. The Rule 5 Draft also netted some young guns to put in the Royals bullpen. I’m excited for the new season.

The season begins and the Royals are actually better. After the first two months of the season, we’re only four games out of the wildcard hunt. This might get interesting. Fast forward… KC has already won more games than last season’s squad and is sitting at 64-64 for the season. Post season play is out of reach unfortunately. Apparently the pressure from the media is too much for the young team as the Royals lose 28 of their final 36 games and finish with 70 wins and 92 defeats. Did I mention I’m on the hot seat again? That last stretch was a killer. On a good note, The Burlington Bees made the playoffs in the Class A Midwest League and advanced to the second round before bowing out. The season was a success in my eyes as most teams in the organization improved their win totals from last year.

Sorry, but I’m a stats guy, so here are some winners and losers. Alcides Escobar was named the team MVP for Season 2. He finished the season with some nice numbers. Escobar led the team with a .303 avg., 214 hits, 96 runs, 60 doubles, and 81 RBI. Centerfielder Hector Giraldo of the Burlington Bees was named the Minor League Player of the Year. Giraldo had a monster season as he racked up a .346 avg., 33 HR, 133 RBI, and an OPS of 1.064. Luke Hochevar was the letdown of the season. He went 0-9 as a starter, followed up with a short 0-2 stint as setup man, and ended the season on the bench. It’s a good thing he’s cheap. A final note, the Cincinnati Reds beat the Minnesota Twins in the World Series.

Organization records:
Kansas City Royals..........70-92
Omaha Royals.................66-78
NW Arkansas Naturals....46-94
Wilmington Blue Rocks...47-93
Burlington Bees...............93-47
Burlington Royals............32-36
Idaho Falls Chukars.........40-36