Mark Shapiro
Mark Shapiro
davis guys improve money opportunity original plan player playing role rotation saw signing slate spend spot team unable upgrade younger
Our original plan in the off-season was to slate the No. 5 spot in the rotation for a younger player (Jason Davis or Fausto Carmona) and to spend money to upgrade elsewhere. When we were unable to get some other things done, we saw an opportunity to improve the team by signing Jason. The young guys still could end up playing a role for us in 2006.
core decisions improve readiness team
We want to improve our readiness and preparedness for April. The core of our team is in place. If we feel it's easy, we want to make our decisions sooner.
improve juncture time unable
As a GM, you always want to improve your team, so you are disappointed at any juncture in time when you are unable to get something done,
felt guys improved multiple player positions production reasonable retain
There wasn't anything I felt significantly improved the production we're getting at those positions with a player we could retain for multiple years. There weren't that many guys who were a fit, and we weren't able to get those guys for what we thought was a reasonable price.
finished good improve left product swing
There's some things left in his swing that he could still improve upon, but nothing dramatic. He's not a finished product right now. But he's going to be a good player.
josh solid work worst
We've got to get him more work. He's another switch-hitter and a solid receiver. It wouldn't be the worst thing for Josh to play more.
alienate bridge bring build core entertainment news people shows sides tent three time trying wider
We're trying to build a wider tent to bring more people in, but at the same time not alienate our core audience. These three shows will be a bridge between the news and entertainment sides of sports.
broadcast brought nose rubbing
We thought if we brought it back, we would be rubbing it in the nose of one of our most important broadcast partners.
along amount best bit certainly critics-and-criticism dealt decisions extensive interest judged last looking quite three
We're not looking to be judged along the way. We have certainly dealt with criticism, quite a bit of it, an extensive amount of it over the last three years, and we're making decisions that are in the best interest of the fans.
coming contending expectation games leading record yankees
To say we're contending with the Yankees and the A's was not our expectation coming into the season. If you told us our record would be 14, 15 games over .500, I would have said we'd be leading our division.
almost eclipsed far level production surprised
To say I'm not surprised at the level of production by Sizemore and Peralta would be almost humorous, ... Those guys' level of productivity has far eclipsed any expectations we had.
jason somewhere true truth
I don't think he showed us the true Jason Dubois when we got him. I'd like to think this is the real guy, but the truth is he's probably somewhere in between.
complex position strongly team
This was a complex transaction. It could have been no deal. But we feel strongly that our team will be in better position for the long haul.
attention focus point team tried
What I've tried to do is just focus my attention on the team and feel if we keep winning, at some point it will happen,