OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

Orcin · 03-08-2013, 01:49 PM

Monday, May 18, 2015

We have an off-day, so I made the rounds of other teams looking for ways to improve the club and/or the farm system.

One GM that I had not contacted since my return was my predecessor, Chris Porter. I thought it might be an uncomfortable conversation, so I was putting it off. I know Porter quite well from his time as the personal attorney for the Colonels’ former owner, the late Henry Cooper. My current boss, Henry’s son Gordon, relieved Porter of his duties here only a few short months ago, and I wasn’t sure how Porter would react to my call. As it turned out, the exchange was quite pleasant and all business. I was probably nervous for nothing. After all, I had not been involved in his dismissal and I was always careful to avoid criticizing my former team (and therefore Porter’s work) during my tenure at BNN.

Porter’s new boss, Cincinnati Bobcats owner Ruben Urbina, is known as “demanding” and fiscally “controlling”. Urbina’s expectation is “play .500 ball” and Porter is barely in compliance today with a 19-19 record. The Bobcats have the #14 starting rotation in the Patriot League, and Urbina considers it a “weakness”. Porter would like to upgrade it for the rest of this season, buying time to get the rest of his house in order. Urbina has tied Porter’s hands because the budget has been exceeded. Porter’s attempts to clear dollars by dumping 32-year-old wrecked SP Benvenuto Casoli and his $13M salary have failed so far, so Porter is forced to seek trades that involve no additional salary expense.

I have a starting pitcher that is available for the right price, and Mike Anderson’s $1M salary and 100 mph fastball look pretty attractive to Porter. He seems willing to overlook the 5.59 ERA and 4.91 FIP. Porter isn’t the only one. There are several teams around the league asking about Anderson. He will give you innings, and most teams need that. I prefer quality innings myself. If I am going to leave someone out there to be shelled, I might as well give younger pitchers a chance to prove themselves. I have a couple of veterans in Clark and Mazzone that deserve a look also.

I asked for Cincinnati’s top prospect Jose Diaz, and Porter didn’t blink an eye. Diaz is the #17 prospect in the CBA. He is currently playing center field in AAA, batting .279 with a .827 OPS. He has power and a good eye, but his speed is fairly ordinary. Diaz is very skilled defensively and plays all three outfield spots along with first and third base. The versatility is very attractive. Porter is willing to include a veteran player plus cash, or let me have a second prospect if I will include a small amount of cash.

I told Porter I would get back to him as soon as Phil Green has completed the updated scouting reports on Diaz and a few other Cincinnati players. Green’s “task list” is quite full at the moment.

03-08-2013, 01:49 PM	#95
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,890	Monday, May 18, 2015 We have an off-day, so I made the rounds of other teams looking for ways to improve the club and/or the farm system. One GM that I had not contacted since my return was my predecessor, Chris Porter. I thought it might be an uncomfortable conversation, so I was putting it off. I know Porter quite well from his time as the personal attorney for the Colonels’ former owner, the late Henry Cooper. My current boss, Henry’s son Gordon, relieved Porter of his duties here only a few short months ago, and I wasn’t sure how Porter would react to my call. As it turned out, the exchange was quite pleasant and all business. I was probably nervous for nothing. After all, I had not been involved in his dismissal and I was always careful to avoid criticizing my former team (and therefore Porter’s work) during my tenure at BNN. Porter’s new boss, Cincinnati Bobcats owner Ruben Urbina, is known as “demanding” and fiscally “controlling”. Urbina’s expectation is “play .500 ball” and Porter is barely in compliance today with a 19-19 record. The Bobcats have the #14 starting rotation in the Patriot League, and Urbina considers it a “weakness”. Porter would like to upgrade it for the rest of this season, buying time to get the rest of his house in order. Urbina has tied Porter’s hands because the budget has been exceeded. Porter’s attempts to clear dollars by dumping 32-year-old wrecked SP Benvenuto Casoli and his $13M salary have failed so far, so Porter is forced to seek trades that involve no additional salary expense. I have a starting pitcher that is available for the right price, and Mike Anderson’s $1M salary and 100 mph fastball look pretty attractive to Porter. He seems willing to overlook the 5.59 ERA and 4.91 FIP. Porter isn’t the only one. There are several teams around the league asking about Anderson. He will give you innings, and most teams need that. I prefer quality innings myself. If I am going to leave someone out there to be shelled, I might as well give younger pitchers a chance to prove themselves. I have a couple of veterans in Clark and Mazzone that deserve a look also. I asked for Cincinnati’s top prospect Jose Diaz, and Porter didn’t blink an eye. Diaz is the #17 prospect in the CBA. He is currently playing center field in AAA, batting .279 with a .827 OPS. He has power and a good eye, but his speed is fairly ordinary. Diaz is very skilled defensively and plays all three outfield spots along with first and third base. The versatility is very attractive. Porter is willing to include a veteran player plus cash, or let me have a second prospect if I will include a small amount of cash. I told Porter I would get back to him as soon as Phil Green has completed the updated scouting reports on Diaz and a few other Cincinnati players. Green’s “task list” is quite full at the moment.