apologizing to everyone

[Former Angels GM (Mike C.)]

Reds GM (Pat H.)

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Jul 2, 2021 at 09:02QuoteMessage Options


Please apologize to everyone.


Angels GM (Mike C)
Jul 5, 2021 at 8:54

The Reds has asked me to apologize to everyone and after July 4th and taking care of some family business, I had some time to think it over.  I completely agree that should happen.  We see coaches argue with umps, players argue with umps, players argue with players in a majority of sports, with Hockey, boxing and MMA being the only completely acceptable areas where fighting takes place.  Baseball, they do it but its all a bunch of yelling and puffy chests.  All those areas are and should be more competitive games than fantasy baseball is, apologies rarely but should happen more often in all those areas publicly as well, I know when playing we did do it, just did it privately over a beer or when you end up in a situation where you would end up playing together.

I want to say 1st and for most I have made, most likely more rules mistakes than any team in this league, but I have always corrected everyone of them as soon as I was aware of them myself or pointed out to me, especially if it had to do with the rules.  The Rules are the only equal common denominator we have.  The spelling and capitalization of players names issue does happen more than I wish, but when you throw out way more FA's over a season than maybe everyone combine, maybe with a streak of 6 consecutive seasons now, the spanish one's I cut and paste more now (bryan or Brian, John or Jon, Alix and Alex gets me even with my own nephews and nieces at this age )

To specifically, the 25 other teams that chose to read along, watch or interject into the argument that took place.  I am sorry for the display that went on.  It does happen in competitive situations but fantasy baseball should be handled like track and field or swimming, in an office, where no one sees it.  This caused a delay in Free Agents and trades of players to teams that missed a day or two of stats that could cause a different outcome, similar to the rules that were broke, for someone and that was never my intent.  I would be bugged if this week came down to the wire and my win or loss affected my post season entrance.  A huge apology for that.  I know it wasn't all me but I know I could have done more to shut it down.  I will not threaten to quit, I will not threaten you to chose between anyone, i will not threaten about future trades, I will not lie and promise it will never happen again.  I will hope that it doesn't.   I take full responsibility for my part

To specifically, the Rpyals GM Mac, you helped answer a ton of questions for me when I came into the league 9 years ago when many would not answer hardly any.  To be honest, I forgot about the rule of 8 non minor league pitchers and 8 non minor leaguer position players until I looked it up after a few teams asked questions about it.  For 9 years, I don't honesty know if you ever have had 16 of them, never cared, since so nobody said a word and it really didn't affect my team on really any level.  It was never questioned.  I did try to handle it all in private 1st, twice with 2 different COs.  You have always proven to be a good, honest guy from day 1 without an ill will in everything you have shown and I have no doubt you would have fixed it if anyone had brought it up.  Again, sorry to mix you up in the crossfire, so to speak.  This league is better with you in it.

To specifically, the Cubs GM Beau, we came into together 9 years ago,  You won it all first, then I won it all (but with a 24-1 record and a 12-0 WS), we both mentioned so many times that the FAs each other got were great finds.  Never one ounce of disrespect at any time and never ever saw you do anything against the rules or constitution.  I mentioned the max 34 rule to you as soon as I stumbled on it, privately, so you were aware.  You were a CO, a leader.  I next joked  in private that I would even take all your extra minor leaguers for some bench players (so I could drop them, everyone knows I don't keep minor leaguers).  I had to say something the 3rd time out loud by just citing the rule on a FA and contacting a 2nd CO.  I felt like Will Clark watching Rafael Palmero. who played together in college.  I am sorry that you put me in that position, I genuinely hope you just fix it, move on, let it go and stay in the league and I hope there isn't personal problems affecting the completely out of character actions.  There has never been an "interpretation" issue with the 3 rules in question in 12 years by anyone.  If they need to be changed, like it may have to be, they should, after the season.  

To specifically the Rockies GM Dan, I know your wishes are for me not to apologize to you but the Reds asked so I am stuck in the middle, again, here so I will, again,  thank you for being able to both place and remove players from DFA within the 7 day window since it was brought up 3 years ago, I don't have an issue with you at all about it since then.. I won't or have ever threaten to never trade with you again (always will be open to any team in the league, no matter what, it doesn't mean we will ever agree to a deal)  You have your opinions about prospects and build your team like you want and I have the right do so as well and can as well, as the constitution states we all can.  I know both systems and thought processes work, I have won both ways before.  I find the Bill James version that the A's, Royals and Rays are using interesting and wanted the challenge to pull it off in a fantasy league.

To specifically the Nationals GM Preston. You created this league, looks like you wrote most every rule and constitution.  Definiately should know all of it, expected all owners to know them as well.  Since turnover is so much lower and most everyone has been around for a while, everyone knows, it no secret, your trade tactics are what they are to any other franchise's foundation, trade committee or not.  Not against any rules, I have done it in most every league I have ever been in..  An owner who makes it to year 3 in PB they should get a plaque that says "I wasn't Prestoned" or "I was Prestoned but survived".  I was, king felix at 28m for chance sisco with 5 yr protection without a mlb ab, but it was a non power catcher, so I survived and proud of it.  Your suppose to be the leader and do it all by the book, that you created.  When I saw Luis Robert's spreadsheet amount to adjust from 2020, while helping hollar and confirmed it with the archived roster.  I was going to take it to the CO first to let them deal with it but it was all muddied with the Cubs  and Royals issues.  When two other owners asked specifically about your spreadsheet numbers and gave me the responses you gave them, it bugged me,. it honestly slipped out in my response to the trade and your response to it, I am sorry, it should have been addressed privately, or at least attempted privately first with, I don't know with who, but someone.  I hope it just gets fixed and we go on.  Everyone should actually help hollar with updating info on contracts of players on their teams for the spreadsheet and on their own team pages, Hollar already has the, by far, the most brutal and time consuming job in this league not put it all on him, talking 1500 players plus.  Again, I shouldn't have let it slip out during another issue.

Sorry, I have reread it a few times, pretty sure its all true, didn't check for spelling or capitalization though, been a long weekend and will be a long day today but thought this was important enough to find the time to do it.   Thank you for your time.  Reds: please don't say a simple "sorry" would have sufficed, it would be funny though.

[Nationals GM (Preston)]

Mike, I do not accept this apology, both at large and the specific portion addressed to me, which, frankly, is the opposite of one. I don't think it is appropriate to address most of the critiques here because they won't be settled and will only further delay everyone moving on, so if anyone would like to discuss, I welcome private messages.

At the end of the day, this blow up is ruining the fun I have in this league, where I previously got a lot of joy running and putting together to more recently, taking joy in others running the ship successfully to now (trying) to just be another GM getting to follow Mookie Betts, my favorite player, after he was traded by my hometown team. Although I will not deny past transgressions or questionable actions where I have worn both the commissioner and GM hats, I take strong issue with my approach for running my team, especially in recent years where I have chosen to be a more passive trade participant. Even when not passive (making offers), I would try not to exert any pressure one way or the other and let the offer, and the players involved, speak for themselves (I often find it very annoying when I receive an explanation of why I should accept an offer, so I have not done that in many years). I don't need to get into significant detail of certain acquisitions that have been brought up, because they neglect important details (e.g., I traded Lindor and Syndergaard, pre-TJ, as part of the Robert trade; I'm not sure what the Robert point is specifically; that was immediately addressed and updated last year, I even had a public post where I thought his salary was supposed to be higher last year and Holler reminded me of the rule). The Trade Panel has vetoed trades (see as recently as this winter with the Dom Smith/Carson Kelly swap, which was fine and received no complaint; we both moved on) and I have also lost trades (I'm not getting any sympathy for trading Matt Olson and pieces for Benintendi).

In any event, that is all entirely irrelevant and continues to be brought up, for what purpose I don't know. The Royals and I made a trade that was hijacked by a rant and while I was not particularly offended personally by what was brought up to me or about me, it was entirely unfair to others who had nothing to do with the trade. We repeatedly kept saying we had no issue with raising the rule issue. I said so in my very first response, but requested that any individual commentary or issues with specific GMs be brought to them privately to prevent everything that ensued thereafter. That's what we need an apology for - not raising the rule issue, which we thanked you for, but everything else that followed.

I don't know what the solution is here, but I do know that this is ruining my enjoyment of this league that we have all worked hard to cultivate for over a decade. To the extent that I have done the same for anyone else, I sincerely apologize and would be happy to address or discuss any issues you have with me privately that could help the league be as much fun as possible. I recognize that I have not always been the best fellow GM and I want to continue to improve in that regard.

[Rockies GM (Dan)]

I echo Preston's thoughts.

From the beginning of your apology to me, you make it clear that it is not a sincere apology, but something that is being forced from you. You do not apologize about your behavior towards me, which is what the issue is.

On the other hand, you taunt me in this so-called apology. I don't need an apology from you for "being able to follow DFA rules for 3 years". That isn't an apology for your behavior, and you're old enough to know that. I don't care if you never want to trade again if I'm ever in another league with you. Again, not an apology. And, seriously, that I ranked you 28th in the farm system rankings is not something to be angry and antagonistic about. There are 30 teams in this league, SOMEONE has to be 30, 29, or 28. Doesn't mean I hate you or anyone. It's entertainment, and if anything, puts me at a disadvantage for trading since people know which prospects I value.

For my part, regardless of my personal feelings towards you, I apologize for continuing the argument. I will defend myself when needed, but I do apologize for continuing the fight.

Tl;dr- you say you were asked to apologize for your behavior. I'm still waiting on an apology for your behavior towards me

[Rockies GM (Dan)]

In addition, I'll also take the opportunity to apologize to anyone else whose enjoyment was affected by my conduct.

[Royals GM (Mac - Retired)]

I don’t want an apology from anyone if you have to be told to apologize. What’s the point?

We lost a very good active member of the league because of this BS.

I will say that we need to have trades locked so that NOONE can comment except a CO and trade committee members on pending trades. We have a PM system to voice our opinions. If there is a problem with a trade for a possible rule violation, the trade review members can be PM’d and that person can decide where a trade goes.

There are new members to this league who have been affected by these rants and to them I would like to apologize on behalf of the league

Let’s return to PB fantasy baseball and try to enjoy the first full season of baseball in 2 years.

[Former Angels GM (Mike C.)]

Mac,

the Reds didn't force me too, I chose too, other than to the Rockies, which the Rockies requested that I don't apologize, I was only torn with his because of that request.

I agree 100 percent, we did lose a very good active member of the league, he even stated why he left and it wasn't because of this BS. It was because of something from last year that I am unaware of.

I agree 100 percent, lets return to fantasy baseball.

[Former Angels GM (Mike C.)]

Thank you Preston, for apologizing as well, it didn't go unnoticed.

[Former Angels GM (Mike C.)]

In some discussions, I realize that even if a player has had 1 mlb at bat or 1/3 of an inning, in his career, 10 years ago, he qualifies for being a non minor leaguer in PB. I said I would admit things when I was wrong and I didn't realize this.

Royals - your team was legit according to the rules that are currently in place, I am sorry. I didn't dig deep enough on the definition of non minor leaguer. Even if it doesn't hit the min abs or innings pitched each week, your lineup is still good.