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PFellah · 05-01-2013, 12:12 AM

Pittsburgh Greyhounds Name Baxter New GM

PITTSBURGH. PA (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Greyhounds of the New Federal League named 42-year-old Ian Baxter to be the general manager of their new franchise heading into the league's inaugural draft this month. Although a relative unknown in organized baseball circles, team owner Alfredo Aguirre pegged the former sports journalist as his man to pilot the fledgeling franchise, starting with the inaugural player draft coming up later this month.

[Ed: "Ian" = my son. "Baxter" = my dog. Now you know.]

"I'm happy to have this opportunity," said Baxter. "It's exciting to get in on the ground floor of something like this and to hopefully bring a new era of winning baseball to my home town."

"It's true we have big challenges ahead of us and the clock is already running. Not only do we have to do all the normal things a baseball team does to win games, but we have to build an organization on the fly as we're doing it. But it's comforting to know there's 19 other teams and 19 other GMs who have those same challenges."

Baxter offered a few hints about his team-building strategy while still playing his cards close to his vest. "Alfredo and I have discussed the direction we want to take. We're going to build this team for the long haul. We don't know if this league will be in business one day, one year, or the rest of our careers, but we have to build the organization we would want to go forward with as if it's here to stay. We probably won't invest in a lot of splashy names that aren't going to be here in a year or two. That said, from the perspective of getting this new venture off the ground, you do want to strike while the iron is hot. We have to engage new fans and get them to come out the park, and you're probably not going to make that happen if you put a second-rate product on the field. So it won't be a bunch of unproven future talent either."

When asked about the future of the league and a potential turf war with MLB's Pirates, Baxter seemed unfazed. "That's nothing I can control in my position. If or when the majors, our teams will have some decisions to make at the ownership level. Until that happens, I have to deal with the job in front of me, and that's to build a team that will hopefully win some ballgames."

05-01-2013, 12:12 AM	#3
PFellah Minors (Single A) Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 64	Pittsburgh Greyhounds Name Baxter New GM PITTSBURGH. PA (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Greyhounds of the New Federal League named 42-year-old Ian Baxter to be the general manager of their new franchise heading into the league's inaugural draft this month. Although a relative unknown in organized baseball circles, team owner Alfredo Aguirre pegged the former sports journalist as his man to pilot the fledgeling franchise, starting with the inaugural player draft coming up later this month. [Ed: "Ian" = my son. "Baxter" = my dog. Now you know.] "I'm happy to have this opportunity," said Baxter. "It's exciting to get in on the ground floor of something like this and to hopefully bring a new era of winning baseball to my home town." "It's true we have big challenges ahead of us and the clock is already running. Not only do we have to do all the normal things a baseball team does to win games, but we have to build an organization on the fly as we're doing it. But it's comforting to know there's 19 other teams and 19 other GMs who have those same challenges." Baxter offered a few hints about his team-building strategy while still playing his cards close to his vest. "Alfredo and I have discussed the direction we want to take. We're going to build this team for the long haul. We don't know if this league will be in business one day, one year, or the rest of our careers, but we have to build the organization we would want to go forward with as if it's here to stay. We probably won't invest in a lot of splashy names that aren't going to be here in a year or two. That said, from the perspective of getting this new venture off the ground, you do want to strike while the iron is hot. We have to engage new fans and get them to come out the park, and you're probably not going to make that happen if you put a second-rate product on the field. So it won't be a bunch of unproven future talent either." When asked about the future of the league and a potential turf war with MLB's Pirates, Baxter seemed unfazed. "That's nothing I can control in my position. If or when the majors, our teams will have some decisions to make at the ownership level. Until that happens, I have to deal with the job in front of me, and that's to build a team that will hopefully win some ballgames."