AR: Good evening folks, Andy Russell along with Dale Spencer, bringing you a very special edition of "
The Fast Track", your source for insider coverage of the Pittsburgh Greyhounds. Folks, I don't want to waste one minute of time getting to our special guest, so Dale, tell the viewers what we've got for them tonight!"
DS: Well, Andy, this week, the owner of the Greyhounds inked his general manager. The name Ian Baxter* is not exactly a household name in baseball, but team owner Alfredo Aguirre is hoping it will be in the coming years. He's a bit of a baseball outsider, a former college sports journalist, and we could tell you more, but why do that when we can ask him... he's in our studio tonight. Ian Baxter, welcome to The Fast Track.
*Ed. - Ian is my son, Baxter is my dog. Now you know.
IB: Thanks, fellas. I was always a big fan of your morning show.
AR: See, Dale... we DO have fans. I told you. Anyway, Ian... I think the first thing people would want to know is, what's it like being cast in the role of David taking on MLB's Goliath?
IB: You know, it's not really something I have to dwell on on a daily basis. At the ownership level, Mr. Aguirre and the other owners have to keep tabs on the situation and monitor what's going on with the MLB work stoppage, but I'm fairly insulated from that. Where I sit, my job is to put together a team that can win some games. The big picture... it's more, "what happens will happen".
DS: In terms of that team-building, you're coming up on the Player Dispersal Draft in a month or so. You've basically got the entirety of major league baseball to pick from, and 19 other teams clawing for the same players... where do you start with that?
IB: Good question, Dale. Well, Mr. Aguirre and I have had meetings to map out a rough strategy. It's going to be tough to walk that line where... we do want to capture fan interest and get people out to the park to support the team, but at the same time, we want to build an organization for the long-term. I don't think you'll see us throw a bunch of money at players just because they're names, but nor are we just going to grab a bunch of prospect talent. It's important to get off to a strong start too.
AR: What does that translate to in terms of players and assembling a roster? Are you focusing on hitting, pitching, defense, speed... what sorts of things do you look for?
IB: Well, we have a short list of guys we hope are available at #18 who we'd hope to build a team around, and those guys represent the whole diamond. More generally, I've always felt like it starts with strong starting pitching. That's not to demean the role of defense or solid hitting, but so much good comes from having solid guys who can take the ball every five days and give you a comfort level that you'll get six or seven good innnings, maybe even more if you're lucky. Now, if there's a hitter who's a great value sitting there when we pick, maybe we take him, but if it's a toss-up, tie goes to the pitcher.
DS: OK, let me ask this a different way... since it's a serpentine draft, you'll pick at 18 and again at 22. Give me... let's say... one pitcher and one hitter that, if you walked out of the first two rounds with those guys, that'd be the kind of start to your draft you'd be happy with.
IB: Well, I'm not sure he'd be available, but for a batter, I'd love a guy like Dale Murphy who can do it all... hit, run, field... he's a special talent. On the pitching side, gosh, that Fernando kid looks like he can do it all with a baseball,doesn't he**? So maybe him, or maybe someone with a little more of a track record, like a Mario Soto or Steve Rogers. But like I said, I don't think I have the luxury of getting too attached to specific names where we're picking.
**Ed. - The whole "omniscience" thing doesn't apply to current players, only rookies. By 1981, people knew Fernando was really freakin' good.
AR: With the name "Greyhounds", is team speed going to be a focus?
IB: Well, we do think speed helps win baseball games, but we're not going to target it just because we've got a name to live up to. Besides, that's only part of the reason for the name. It was also meant to provide a tie to the Homestead Grays of the old Negro Leagues, to be something of a homage to their legacy. Kind of a look back while looking at the future.
DS: So speaking of that future, what sort of conversations have you and Mr. Aguirre had about expectations for the team?
IB: Well, I don't think he would've given me this chance if there wasn't something of a meeting of the minds. He's a little cautious about throwing too much money into this while so much is up in the air (
Ed: Economizer). But on the other hand, he told me the first day that he's in this for the long haul, and willing to do what it takes to do that right. We're not just going to be the travelling circus, here one day, gone the next. That it takes time to build a winning organization and prime that organizational pump with the next generation of prospects. (
Ed: Lenient).
AR: OK, so that's the guy who signs the checks. What can the fans coming out to the park expect from this team?
IB: We're going to give you a show, we're going to play hard and execute at a high level, and we'll try to give the people of Pittsburgh another team they can be proud of.
AR: And on that note, we'll say good night. Ian, thanks for being on the program, and good luck in the draft. You'll come back after the draft is over and give the fans a little more inside scoop on that?
IB: Absolutely. Any time, guys.
AR: Well there you have it. Ian Baxter's first interview as General Manager of the Pittsburgh Greyhounds. We'll see you again soon, at which point, we hope to bring you analysis and player interviews from the complete Greyhound roster that our guest will be putting together. For Dale Spencer, this is Andy Russell, and you've been watching "The Fast Track".