Building a successful baseball team

Building a baseball team is not easy. Many good and hard working people contribute to the process of building a successful team. A franchise needs a supportive owner, an insightful general manager, a team of good scouts and talent evaluators and an encouraging fan base. When teams are successful, there is enough credit to go around to make everybody happy. Egos must be left at the door. Everyone involved must be dedicated to a common cause.

An owner needs to empower the general manager to make baseball decisions. A good owner gives the franchise financial support. A good owner needs to hire the right general manager and empower that person to make baseball decisions.

A general manager needs to provide the vision for the franchise. He or she needs to create a blue print for improving the organization. Once the plan is created, the organization needs to implement it. Developing minor league players is probably the best way to rebuild a team. They are paid lower salaries than free agents. A team can have control of a minor league player for 6 years at a reasonable salary. After the rookie contract is over, a team needs to decide whether or not to re sign the player. Drafting the right players and developing them well is the best way to build a team. Once a core is in place, then a team can supplement the core with free agent signings.

Free agents can fill in the gaps that a team has. Free agent signings can shore up weaknesses. However, they are not a substitute for developing players from within. Many have observed that free agency is not an efficient way to build a team because free agents often demand long term lucrative contracts. Also, free agents are paid for past performance. They often do not play as well in the future. Teams try and sign players who are under the age of 30 because players over 30 are more susceptible to injuries.

During the 2008 offseason, the New York Yankees made three free agent signings and made one trade that illustrate how the right moves can supplement a team's core. They signed pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J Burnett and signed first baseman Mark Teixeira. Additionally, the team traded for outfielder Nick Swisher. All four players were still in their prime with presumably good years ahead of them. Sabathia was a true ace that season and Teixeira was an MVP candidate. Burnett also pitched well and helped them win the World Series. Swisher added more offense to a core that included Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Jorge Pasadena, Robinson Cano and the newly acquired Teixeira. Burnett, who did not pitch well for the Yankees after the 2009 season, helped them win the World Series by winning game two after the Yankees had lost game one. These additions helped solidify an already strong team. They show how free agent signings and trades can supplement a core and help a team win a championship.

David Kaplan wrote about how the Chicago Cubs were rebuilt the last few years. His book "The Plan" chronicles the path that the Cubs took to rebuild their team and eventually win a World Series. Kaplan points out that the Cubs hired an experienced and accomplished team president in Theo Epstein, who helped guide the Red Sox to two World Series championships. Additionally, the Cubs hired Jed Hoyer to be their general manager and Jason McLeod to be their Senior Vice President. Kaplan points out that the Cubs build a strong front office. This helped the organization sign the right free agents and draft good players.

In addition to having the right people in front office positions, the Cubs hired the right manager. Joe Madddon had guided the Tampa Bay Rays to their only World Series appearance in 2008. They lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. However, making the World Series was a landmark achievement for a small market team like the Rays. The role that Maddon played in helping the Rays become successful did not go unnoticed throughout baseball. Maddon was hired by the Cubs to help them make their first World Series since 2008

Epstein told Kaplan that the Cubs benefitted a lot of from Maddon's managerial style. Epstein told Kaplan that the payers respected and admired Maddon. He created a relaxed environment that worked for new players and veterans. The Cubs needed this approach at this time. Maddon was uniquely suited to this team at this time. His approach worked for the Cubs.

The Cubs also made key trades and free agent signings. They traded for pitcher Jake Arrieta in 2013, two years before they hired Maddon. Arrieta struggled with Baltimore but the Cubs believed that he would benefit from a change of scenery. The Cubs believed that he was a better pitcher than what he had shown in Baltimore. The insight shown by the professional scouts and the Cubs' front office paid off. They were right. Arrieta started in the minor leagues for the Cubs in order to work in a pressure free environment. Also, according to Kaplan, the Cubs' pitching coach Chris Bowie helped Arrieta alter his pre game routine.

Signing free agent Jon Lester was also important for the Cubs. Kaplan says "Lester believed in the Cubs brain trust and he was confident that in time the Cubs would be winners. His big question though, was just how soon they would be contending. He had won two World Series rings with the Red Sox and he wanted more." However, Lester believed that the Cubs' leadership would help them become a top notch team. According to Kaplan, Lester also believed that the Cubs were assembling players of good character who were good teammates.

Both Arrieta and Lester helped the Cubs win the World Series in 2016. Both are good examples of how trades and free agent signings can help a team to win. Both show the importance of an organization making sound and good decisions.

The Cubs' organization also drafted good players and developed them well. Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, Kriss Bryant, Addison Russell and Javier Baez were all developed within the Cubs' minor league system. They all contributed to the Cubs' 2016 World Series championship. They added youth and enthusiasm to the lineup. They added energy and talent to a Cubs team that had veteran leadership with Lester, Arrieta, Dexter Fowler and Ben Zobrist. The Cubs were a good blend of veterans and young players. The roster reflected a combination of good trades, wise free agent signings and good player development.

Scouting is an inexact science. It is difficult to project how high school or college players will play at the professional level. It's hard to measure how dedicated each player is and whether their skills will translate to the next level. Amateur scouts travel to watch high school and college players. Then the scouts fill out reports to give people within the organization. There is no substitute for seeing a player in person or talking to the player. However, even after seeing a player and meeting them, it is difficult to project how they will do in minor league baseball. All scouts and organizations can do is make an educated assessment of the player's abilities.

Teams look for offensive players who can hit for power and average, run well, field their position well and throw well. These are commonly referred to as "5 tool players." Players that can do many things well are sought after. Players that are versatile and multi talented are appreciated by major league organizations. Mike Trout, of the Anaheim Angels, is the best example today of a "5 tool player." He can hit home runs, steal bases, get on base often and field his position well. Bryce Harper and Manny Machada are also multi talented players.

Likewise, it is difficult to project how well a minor league player will adjust to the major league level. A pitcher may be able to get minor league hitters out, but may struggle against the major league hitters. Or a hitter may hit minor league pitching, but struggle against major league pitching. A hitter at the major league level will face pitchers who throw better breaking balls. Also,
pitchers at the major league level may have a better assortment of pitches.

After a player makes it to the major league, a team has to decide how patient it will be with the player. If a hitter struggles, should the team demote him to the minor leagues? Or should the team be patient with him and help him work through his struggles? If a pitcher is giving up too many runs, should the team continue to have him pitch at the major league level? Or should the team demote him to the minor leagues and ask him to develop another pitch? Player development is an ongoing issue for any organization. A player's development never ends completely. No matter how much money a player makes, he can still develop his skills.

Deciding when to bring a player up from the minor leagues is also important. A team has 6 years to work with a player that the team has drafted. So, an organization has time to develop the player. Some wonder if bringing up a player too early would ruin a player's confidence. If a player struggles, will the player lose confidence in his abilities? If so, can a player regain his confidence?

However, sometimes a young player can inject enthusiasm into a big league team. A young and talented player may be able t help a team immediately and inspire the team's veteran core. These are some of the considerations that an organization has when dealing with minor league players. During the month of September, major legue teams expand their rosters to 40 players. So, this can often be a good time to bring up minor league players.

A team also needs an overall strategy. An organization tries to answer these questions: How are we going to win games? Will we win with an emphasis on power? Will we try and play for the 3 run homerun? Or will we try to advance the runner through bunting, sacrifice flies, hitting runners over and stealing bases? What basic offensive approach will we have? The approach on offensive is dictated by the talent on the team. If a team has a decent number of power hitters, then playing for the three run home run may work. However, if the team is build around speed, then another approach will probably be better.

Organizations have to decide how they will develop pitchers as well. Will they limit the number of innings a pitcher can pitch when he is developing? Will organizations put young pitchers on a pitch count in order to preserve their arms? Or will organizations encourage young pitchers to pitch many innings in order to strengthen their arms? Experts disagree on what works best. Some believe that a pitcher should gradually build up arm strength. While other experts believe that pitchers would be stronger if they threw more innings at the minor league level. Both approaches seek to avoid injury. However, no matter what approach is taken, injuries may be impossible to avoid because pitchers throw so fast today. The speed that pitchers throw at may cause injuries no matter how a pitcher is developed. Former pitching coach Rick Peterson and former pitcher Ron Darling are among those who believe that overthrowing and pitching so fast are what is leading to injuries of pitchers.

The strategy used for the bullpen is also important. During the 1980s pitchers became more specialized. Tony Larussa and other managers used relief pitchers in specialized roles. Some were closers, while others were set up men. Still others were long relievers. Then later on, some left handed pitchers would only pitch to left handed batters. They became known as "left handed specialists."Closers pitch one inning to end a game. They try to "save" the game. Set up men try and hold the lead. Long relievers pitch when the closer is out of the game early.

Some observers have even suggested that teams go to a 6 man rotation in order to give starting pitchers more rest. Some think this approach would preserve the arms of the starting pitchers. Some believe this would help prevent injuries or at least make injuries less likely. For the most part,teams go with a 5 man rotation. No team has tried to go with a 6 man rotation for the whole season. Since teams make extensive use of their bullpens, starting pitchers are not taxed too much. A 5 man rotation probably makes the most sense

When building a team, an organization has to consider it's home stadium as well. The Yankees have a short right field porch, s they look for left handed power hitters who can take advantage of the dimensions of Yankee stadium. Additionally, Yankee stadium yields many home runs, so it makes sense for the Yankees to acquire and develop pitchers who keep the ball low I order to induce ground ball outs. If a pitcher gives up a lot of fly balls, he would not be a good fit for Yankee stadium. This was the problem with Phil Hughes- a fly ball pitcher. Hughes gave up too many fly balls to be a successful pitcher in Yankee stadium. Conversely, Masihiro Tanaka is successful, in part, because he keeps his pitches low.

Building a successful baseball team is difficult. The Cubs went 108 years before they won another World Series in 2016. Their opponent, the Cleveland Indians, last won a World Series in 1948. Teams need to hire the right people and draft the right players. Additionally, signing the right free agents and making timely trades can help strengthen the team's core. Even with everything in place, it is difficult to win the World Series. Injuries can derail a team's chances, and other teams can have excellent seasons. When a team is in the World Series, a team needs to win because it may not get back for many years. Every other team in Major League Baseball is also trying to improve. The league will always be competitive.

Trying to improve a baseball team is a year long task. Organizations scout amateur players throughout the year. Additionally, organizations continually evaluate and develop their own players. They are looking at other teams for potential trades. Organizations are always trying to stockpile talent and improve their team.

Win or lose, organizations take pride in their team's accomplishments. They are proud of the players they develop. They are proud of their successful free agent signings and timely trades. It's especially rewarding when all of the hard work results in a World Series championship.