OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Dead Zone: The Philadelphia Phillies (1984-

The_Myth · 08-21-2019, 12:00 AM

Nov. 12, 1984

Had a fine afternoon hang and dinner meeting yesterday with Paul Molitor. We don't talk money, only what he's looking for out of a home. He wants to compete but doesn't necessarily love the spotlight. I tell him we're building a team that won't require him to carry the load. After checking back in for coffee, I head back to Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, at the airport I got some good calls: Gregg Jefferies, Billy Bates, and Steve Gasser have all come to terms on contracts. They're now in the organization. Big stuff. As I'm not looking to give bonuses to Zach Crouch or Kevin Nelson, I'm done with my 1984 draftees. Thirty-three of 35 are in place. That's good.

Nov. 13, 1984

The Giants hire Jamie Taylor, a relative unknown, to be their manager. And we're finished with interviews for bench coach, hitting coach, and trainer, which took place last week. Here are our offers:

Bench coach - Doug King / poor reputation
Hitting coach - Dan Stone / average reputation
Trainer - Gil Duran

Nov. 14, 1984

Trade proposal from Cincinnati: LF Cesar Cedeno and C Danny Lamar for SP Charles Hudson. Pass.

Nov. 15, 1984

Paul Molitor's agent Ron Simon calls to check in. He says meetings with teams have gone well, and his client really wants that fourth guaranteed year. I'm not necessarily hesitant … more playing the game. Still going to hold. Hoping we can really get things going at the Winter Meetings in about 10 days.

Nov. 16, 1984

The Mets ask for a bad deal. I'm not even going to dignify it here. By the way, this is interesting: I've gained the second-most WAR this season because I lost 1.6 bad WAR. Addition by subtraction!

Nov. 17, 1984

Texas trades SP Charlie Hough to Detroit for RHP Mike Henneman, 2B Jim Walewander, and C Bob Melvin. Looks like the Rangers are going full tank.

Nov. 18, 1984

Still very little going on. Time to check back in with Freddy Lynn, and now he'll do three years with a fourth-year option. Getting closer. Not going to offer yet.

Nov. 19, 1984

Bill Almon comes back wanting a little more, his agent saying the Yankees made him a good offer. Ugh. Yankees. I don't want to do more than two years (he says he wants four now), so I'll go $950K in year one and $1M in year two. He doesn't like that.

I come back with $1M in year one and $1.1M in year two, but he's still against it.

I decide to take a couple days off from Almon and call his bluff. Big risk here.

Nov. 20, 1984

Still nothing new.

Nov. 21, 1984

Still waiting. Made a few offers to minor league coaches. That's about it.

Nov. 22, 1984

Dan Stone is in as my new hitting coach. Good deal. Also, happy Thanksgiving.

Nov. 23, 1984

Here we go. Detroit swipes Dave Stieb with a six-year, $8.58M contract, setting the pitching market.

Texas trades C Marv Foley for CF Barry Jones and 2B Mark Lemke. Go Rangers, huh?

Time to check back in on Almon: No movement. Standing pat still. Sweating bullets.

Nov. 24, 1984

Gil Duran is my new trainer. Cool.

Back to Freddy Lynn: Same as before. And Molitor: He's back to wanting five years at $1.2M per season. Meh. I come back with three, again, at $1.1M per, with a $1.25M option fourth. Same as Almon with one more year.

Nope, back to five years. I am not giving him five.

Anyway, time to pack for the Winter Meetings, this year in Houston.

08-21-2019, 12:00 AM	#59
The_Myth Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: World Posts: 172	Nov. 12, 1984 Had a fine afternoon hang and dinner meeting yesterday with Paul Molitor. We don't talk money, only what he's looking for out of a home. He wants to compete but doesn't necessarily love the spotlight. I tell him we're building a team that won't require him to carry the load. After checking back in for coffee, I head back to Philadelphia. Meanwhile, at the airport I got some good calls: Gregg Jefferies, Billy Bates, and Steve Gasser have all come to terms on contracts. They're now in the organization. Big stuff. As I'm not looking to give bonuses to Zach Crouch or Kevin Nelson, I'm done with my 1984 draftees. Thirty-three of 35 are in place. That's good. Nov. 13, 1984 The Giants hire Jamie Taylor, a relative unknown, to be their manager. And we're finished with interviews for bench coach, hitting coach, and trainer, which took place last week. Here are our offers: Bench coach - Doug King / poor reputation Hitting coach - Dan Stone / average reputation Trainer - Gil Duran Nov. 14, 1984 Trade proposal from Cincinnati: LF Cesar Cedeno and C Danny Lamar for SP Charles Hudson. Pass. Nov. 15, 1984 Paul Molitor's agent Ron Simon calls to check in. He says meetings with teams have gone well, and his client really wants that fourth guaranteed year. I'm not necessarily hesitant … more playing the game. Still going to hold. Hoping we can really get things going at the Winter Meetings in about 10 days. Nov. 16, 1984 The Mets ask for a bad deal. I'm not even going to dignify it here. By the way, this is interesting: I've gained the second-most WAR this season because I lost 1.6 bad WAR. Addition by subtraction! Nov. 17, 1984 Texas trades SP Charlie Hough to Detroit for RHP Mike Henneman, 2B Jim Walewander, and C Bob Melvin. Looks like the Rangers are going full tank. Nov. 18, 1984 Still very little going on. Time to check back in with Freddy Lynn, and now he'll do three years with a fourth-year option. Getting closer. Not going to offer yet. Nov. 19, 1984 Bill Almon comes back wanting a little more, his agent saying the Yankees made him a good offer. Ugh. Yankees. I don't want to do more than two years (he says he wants four now), so I'll go $950K in year one and $1M in year two. He doesn't like that. I come back with $1M in year one and $1.1M in year two, but he's still against it. I decide to take a couple days off from Almon and call his bluff. Big risk here. Nov. 20, 1984 Still nothing new. Nov. 21, 1984 Still waiting. Made a few offers to minor league coaches. That's about it. Nov. 22, 1984 Dan Stone is in as my new hitting coach. Good deal. Also, happy Thanksgiving. Nov. 23, 1984 Here we go. Detroit swipes Dave Stieb with a six-year, $8.58M contract, setting the pitching market. Texas trades C Marv Foley for CF Barry Jones and 2B Mark Lemke. Go Rangers, huh? Time to check back in on Almon: No movement. Standing pat still. Sweating bullets. Nov. 24, 1984 Gil Duran is my new trainer. Cool. Back to Freddy Lynn: Same as before. And Molitor: He's back to wanting five years at $1.2M per season. Meh. I come back with three, again, at $1.1M per, with a $1.25M option fourth. Same as Almon with one more year. Nope, back to five years. I am not giving him five. Anyway, time to pack for the Winter Meetings, this year in Houston. Last edited by The_Myth; 08-21-2019 at 12:02 AM.