Which lazy person would the manager of your favorite team like to face during a game? Which ace would they like to have on their side? And which manager do other managers respect most?
All 30 MLB captains are on hand last week winter meetings In Orlando, Florida, we took the opportunity to learn the answers to those questions, as well as get their thoughts on the state of the game, next year’s biggest rule changes and much more.
Here are our favorite reactions.
If you were commissioner for a day, what’s one change you would make in MLB?
Craig Albertaz, baltimore orioles, This is a very good question. I won’t make any changes. I like this game just the way it is.
Warren Schaefer, colorado rockies, Every Monday is a holiday. Just like the minor leagues – every Monday off. At Coors, you can go to a six-man rotation. You have the whole day to prepare for the next opponent. Every week, you get that rest, and maybe even filter in vacation days in between them.
Pat Murphy, milwaukee brewers, Shadows? Remove shadow. There can be no shadows — dangerous for players. Or communication devices for outfielders, so they don’t bump into each other.
How do you feel about MLB’s new ball/strike challenge system coming next season?
Albertaz: Like anything where there is a new rule change, you just have to see it and adapt to it. The strategy is coming, yes, we have talked about it. We have some strategies on how this will work in real time. Luckily last year in Cleveland, our stadium was one of those challenge system centers, so we got a chance to see it firsthand.
Craig Stammen, San Diego Padres, I think it will be exciting. This will be exciting for the fans. That will be another part of the strategy that you incorporate into baseball that we have to dive into and think about how we use those two picks, and when, where and who, so I think that will be exciting.
Clayton McCullough, miami marlins, In spring training, he stepped it up a little bit… I think it brought a different level of engagement at different points in the game. Giving players the opportunity to have a say in some impactful moments in the game, I’m excited to see how this plays out.
And I would also say that the umpires that are back there, it’s a very difficult thing, the kind of things they’re seeing, 300 pitches a night. They do extraordinary work. Now Major League Baseball has done a good job recently of creating some things that have enhanced our fan experience. And this is another one that has a chance to go well.
Blake Butera, Washington Nationals, I’m really excited about it. I’ve obviously seen it in Triple-A for a while. One thing that happens with this is that you always hear the umpires’ chatter from the dugout. It’s like, “Hey, challenge it. Let’s see what you get.”
I think one thing that’s really cool about it is that the umpires in the big leagues are really good. they are really nice. It’s a tough job, man. You have to lock in for that many pitches. And then you forget one, borderline one, you’re hearing it from the dugout. This is no easy task. I think now the challenge system, what it’s done is it’s like, OK, you don’t like it, challenge it.
Terry Francona, cincinnati reds, Last spring I didn’t want to do it because we weren’t going to use it. And then the league guys asked me – they were really nice about it – they went, can you please do it? Ok. Actually there was no objection to this. I thought it was okay, and I thought the fans liked it. Didn’t stop the game much. Everyone was waiting for the scoreboard. I think it will be fine.
What was your biggest takeaway from this year’s exciting MLB postseason?
Rob Thomson, philadelphia phillies, How competitive it was. Even our series, where we lost, was really tough. Obviously, the way the World Series played out was fascinating. The competition was really good.
Oliver Marmol, St. Louis Cardinals, This was one of the most exciting playoffs I’ve seen in a while. It was a lively, fun atmosphere. You wanted to watch the game. There was electricity in it.
Murphy: It’s not like the regular season. It’s like every pitch counts, it’s all hands on deck. You know, this is the most important innings. This is astonishing. Couldn’t get enough. You better have stamina. You better have stamina. Very good.
Albertaz: it was awesome. Just straight up baseball.
Which opposing hitter would you like to see line up during a game?
Schafer: shohei [Ohtani]He looks quite attractive,
Skip Shoemaker, Texas Rangers, I am going to say freddy freemanHits to the right, hits to the left, stays inside the baseball, he’s a hitter, he uses the whole field, he swings at the right pitches, he’ll take his walks, so you won’t be able to get him out swinging outside the zone, He knows where the field is, he doesn’t try to do too much, and he’s going to put it into play, Ohtani is obviously the best hitter, but I don’t want to see Freddy,
Murphy: Freeman has dominated us in sports for years. He has done this many times, breaking our hearts.
Torey Lovullo, Arizona Diamondbacks, Freddy will be able to read the pitcher, he will adjust his approach, he will put the ball in play. You need a double, he’s going to hit the double. You need a single, he’s going to find a way to get on base.
McCullough: kyle schwarberHe attacks at speed, He has become much better than lefties, Every time he’s in the box, I feel like the field gets a lot smaller, And he is in our division, there is [Aaron] Judge, but we don’t see the judge very much.
Stamen: One player, when I was a pitcher, who I always respected, who always batted well and was difficult to face, was mookie betsHe is a good hitter,
Which pitcher – not on your team – would you most like to hand the ball to during the season?
Stamen: I just think it’s probably Paul Skenes Or tariq skubalThose guys are probably the two best pitchers in baseball, I would have no problem handing the ball to those guys, It’s fun to be their manager right now,
Lovullo: Skenes is a young player on the rise and has had a lot of success, and there’s a reason for that. You talk process, understand the big picture and be able to go out and execute, never sit still and want to get better – he’s the poster child for that.
Schumacher: I would say Scooble. I think it would be hard to say no to Skubal.
Murphy: I like that man from the giants, logan webbBut I like a lot of pitchers, man,
Schafer: I think [Webb] Is a complete bulldog. I love the way he does business.
McCullough: christopher sanchez It was very difficult. You forget how hard he works. But the easier he does it, the longer it takes. Fastball-changeup combination. We tried different plans against him and the result was always that we couldn’t get him off the field. The man is difficult to catch, and he doesn’t get along with people.
Who is the best manager in MLB right now besides you?
Murphy: I mean, other than me? I’m not even in the top 28. I’m not even in the top 29. But I know Craig Council better than anyone, and I know how great he is.
Lovullo: just watching [Counsell] On the other hand, he does it very thoughtfully. Everything happens for a reason, very process-oriented, the ability to understand what’s going to happen. I think projection is a big factor in this game.
Schafer: AJ Hinch. He likes what he gets from his players in terms of the roles they accept on the team.
Schumacher: Before the World Series happens, I’d say Hinch. I’ll probably stick with AJ. but what doctor [Dave Roberts] Was this postseason super impressive. So I would give this a 1A and 1B, because everyone talks about the rosters Doc has, and yes, he has incredible talent. But after what he did this season – and honestly last season too, the way he took the Padres series – I give him a lot of respect.
Stamen: You have to go with the World Series champion. Dave Roberts has proven he can win two World Series in a row with a star-studded team. This is very impressive. You can do that, you’ve got my vote. But the other guy I’m thinking of is Tito Francona. I had him for a spring training in 2016, but I have a lot of respect for him and how he goes about his business.
McCullough: I think Dave, he has this ability to connect with any type of people. He manages such a high-profile group year after year, and the expectations that come and how steady Dave is at any given time in the season. Dave never wavers. There is always a sense of readiness among the people who are working for him. We all know what is at stake and we all do — I say we; I am not there anymore. But I think Dave has a really steady hand and he understands how to move through a season and then postseason, of course, he’s a master of bullpen moves.
