The Kansas City experience with Eitan the Intern

If I could describe to a person all of what Kansas City has to offer within the confines of one intersection, I would point to the corner of 18^th and Vine Street outside downtown Kansas City. The intersection of 18^th and Vine remains an integral part of American history even though it may not contain the same glamour as 42^nd Street and Broadway in New York City or Bourbon Street in New Orleans. 18^th and Vine and its surrounding district has established 35 Baseball Hall of Famers, numerous Grammy award winners, and barbeque so amazing it would make some strict vegetarians eat meat.

If you have already made it through the first paragraph of this post, you might be wondering why the streets of 18^th and Vine have any relevance to Phoenix Bats. Phoenix Bats traveled to Kansas City recently to witness the first bat give-away promotion, provided by Phoenix Bats, with a major league ballclub. On July 18th, the Kansas City Royals held a Billy Butler Youth Replica Bat Giveaway to the first 8,000 children who entered the ballpark. Since Billy Butler swings Phoenix Bats, the Phoenix Bats and Fox Sports Kansas City (the giveaway’s sponsor) logos were placed on the replica bat. To a company the size of Phoenix Bats, Billy’s promotional giveaway was very significant because it highlighted not only Billy Butler but Phoenix Bats as well.

After landing in Kansas City at 11 o’clock on Saturday morning, Phoenix Bats general manager Seth Cramer and I ventured to Arthur Bryant’s BBQ, a few short blocks away from the Negro League Baseball Museum. After quickly noticing the line at Arthur Bryant’s extended to the nearest intersection, Seth and I made the wise choice to go the Negro League Baseball Museum first.

The museum itself was very impressive. Though the museum’s size was smaller than I had imagined, the museum articulated the bittersweet tale of the Negro Leagues quite well. The museum celebrates the accomplishments of the Negro Leagues and African-American baseball, but conveys the tragedy of many talented African-American baseball players who were denied a spot in the major leagues. The museum houses an impressive array of memorabilia from “Buck” Leonard to the legendary pitcher Satchel Paige. I highly recommend the museum as the museum weaves baseball, Kansas City, and past racial segregation in this country all into one.

I have one short story from the museum that reflects how far this country has progressed since the founding of the Negro Leagues. In the museum, there is a miniature sized baseball field towards the exit with statues of baseball legends of the Negro Leagues such as “Cool Papa” Bell and Josh Gibson. This is also the only spot in the museum where hyper-active little children can run around freely without much protest. As I was heading towards the exit, I noticed this energetic young blond child romping around the field. As I passed him, he said “I’m sorry, I just love baseball.” I wasn’t really sure what to make of what the child said at first but then a thought hit me. To this kid, the museum wasn’t about white baseball players or black baseball players, it was just about baseball. Even the young ones can provide a good moral lesson from time to time.

When Seth and I finished the typical tourist tour of the museum gift shop, we went back to Arthur Bryant’s BBQ. The restaurant was packed when Seth and I arrived, but it didn’t appear that we would be waiting until next week for food. As a somewhat principled vegetarian, I did not taste the meat at Arthur Bryant’s (I left that to Seth) but it seemed everyone at the restaurant thought they just landed in barbeque heaven. Post-barbeque nirvana, Seth and I drove to Kauffman Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Royals.

I can safely say that Kauffman Stadium is one of the most underrated stadiums in baseball. If stadiums could be compared to women, Kauffman Stadium was a girl with a pretty face that had a little bit of meat on her bones earlier but then went to Curves and lost 20 pounds. Kauffman Stadium contains the amenities of any modern ballpark, is relatively cheap in concessions compared to other stadiums, and offers a beautiful view of a Kansas City hillside. Of course, it did need a renovation or two to reach that stage, but Kauffman Stadium is still a beautiful ballpark. The stadium had the feel as if it had just been built and appeared quite well maintained. The Royals did an amazing job of providing an in-game experience for fans as well.

That weekend, the Royals played the Oakland A’s, the team I grew up rooting for when I was younger. It was a great experience seeing my hometown team playing on the road. The vast majority of the A’s games I’ve attended have been in Oakland, so I gained a new perspective on being a visiting fan. After the game (and a very long day), it was onto to a hotel in suburban Kansas City for some much needed rest.

On Sunday, it was back to the ballpark for the bat giveaway. Although I was a tad too old to receive a bat, it was nice seeing the numerous amounts of children glowing as they received a bat of their hometown hero. Before meeting with the Manager of Special Events and Promotions for the Royals, Kasey Schweitzer, I went to the Royals Hall of Fame. If you like baseball museums, Kansas City might just be the place for you. Between the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the Royals Hall of Fame, there is good amount of baseball history to go around. I must say, the Royals Hall of Fame displayed a tremendous amount of memorabilia as well. In fact, a Phoenix Bat is even displayed in there. After touring the Hall of Fame, it was time to interview Kasey. Kasey and I discussed organizing promotions for a ballclub and the thought process that goes into a promotional giveaway. Right as the interview wrapped up, it was time for the first pitch. Despite the good old Midwest humidity, I had a great time at Sunday’s game as well. Following the Royals-A’s game on Sunday, Seth and I finally headed back to Ohio, our tummies full of barbeque and baseball.

Coming soon: An interview with Kasey Schweitzer, the Royals’ Manager of Special Events and Promotions.

-Eitan the Intern

Interview with catcher Chris Gimenez

A few weeks ago, I was able to interview then Clippers catcher Chris Gimenez. As of July 10th, Chris was called up by the Cleveland Indians as a backup catcher. I spent some time with Chris in the Clippers clubhouse and asked him about his time in both the major and minor leagues.

Last year you were with the Indians for 45 games before coming back to Columbus. How did your experience in the big leagues change your approach as a ballplayer when you came back to Triple-A?

CG: There were a lot of things I changed in my approach. Being up in the majors and performing in the way that I did, I learned a ton as cliché as it may sound. Becoming a bench player was probably the biggest adjustment I faced in the majors. I was so used to playing everyday in the minors which makes you gain a sense of timing. It doesn’t matter if you’re facing 98 miles per hour that day or 87 miles per hour, you’re going to have that timing in the batter’s box if you play often. When you play every five to six days, you start to lose that sense of confidence in the batter’s box. You might start taking pitches you might normally don’t take or swing at a ball you might not normally swing at because you don’t have that sense of timing and confidence about hitting.

There wasn’t an adjustment to the pitchers as much. The pitching level is better in the big leagues; the pitchers there are the best of the best after all. However, it was my approach of going up to the plate, and sticking with my strengths that mattered. Understanding what I am good at along with getting a good pitch to hit and not miss it was the biggest part of facing big league pitching. Don’t get me wrong, the pitching in the big leagues is better, but it was never to the point that I felt I couldn’t get a hit off of pitchers like Zach Greinke, who was the AL Cy Young winner the year before.

Were there other changes you noticed in the majors?

CG: There is more of an emphasis on the little things in the majors such as moving runners over, or being able to control the barrel of a bat in a hit-and-run. In the majors, I got called to bunt a couple of times last year. It’s not that the little things aren’t stressed in the minor leagues, the little things are just emphasized in a “Hey, we NEED you do this” manner in the majors. You take the spot of a role player as a new call-up to the majors. In Columbus, I was hitting higher up in the order where you didn’t bunt as much. It’s not that I can’t bunt, in fact I feel that I am a really good bunter. But in the big leagues, most of the recent call ups are in the 7-8-9 hole where you bunt more often. You are pretty much taking one for the team when you come up to the big leagues.

You were in the minor leagues for about 5 years, you then got called up by the Indians in 2009. How did you keep yourself focused to improve while so much was changing around you?

CG: The average guy in the minors stays there for four years and then is done. There are a couple of guys who are called “AAA-lifers.” Hopefully as a player, you don’t get grouped in that category as a player.

For me it was my dream to make it to the majors. You just got to have that passion and drive to know you could belong there in the majors. Improving and maintaining focus requires believing in yourself. You have to know “you can do it,” and go up to the plate with a plan and sticking to it. It’s a long season. Things will eventually work itself out if you just keep believing “I’m going to attack this ball and my approach is the right way.” When you keep repeating your approach, something is bound to happen, someone will notice your efforts, and things will eventually workout in your favor. Then you start gaining confidence and the belief you can play at the next level or in the big leagues.

What was it like being in the majors?

CG: If you haven’t gone there, it is hard to see what it is like. You hear stories from everyone who has gone to the majors and they tell you how great it really is. In every category, there is nothing that is not better up in the majors. We have a great clubhouse here in Columbus and there is a lot of fun stuff to do, but being on the buses for eight to twelve hours in the minors, it’s a physical and emotional toll. There is a toll in the majors as well, but it is all worth it. In the majors, there are neat places and cities you get to play in and nice hotels you stay at. You get to fly everywhere, which makes cross country travel a lot nicer. The best of the best play there and they get treated well for that reason. That’s why guys like Alex Rodriguez get paid the millions per year because they go out there on the biggest stage and perform consistently year in year and year out.

Now, you have another set of guys who have been there and are now in Triple-A like myself, and are doing everything they can to get themselves back to the majors. As a player, you have that little bit of taste and saw what its like in the majors which makes you want to do anything you can to get yourself back there.

How did you explain your big league experience to younger players on the Clippers?

CG: I feel like it is my role to let the younger guys know certain things you can and can’t do in the big leagues.

Do you remember when you got called up to the big leagues and what was your initial reaction?

CG: I remember it like it was yesterday. I got called up on May 30^th of last year. It was my little brother’s birthday so my family had a little get together for my little brother and his wife back home. Before the game started, I was in the bullpen warming up the pitcher and suddenly I got taken out of the game. My parents, who were listening on the radio heard the announcers say, “Chris Giminez just got pulled from the game.” It just so happened to be that night, Victor Martinez got hurt after I got taken out of the ballgame. I was supposed to be called up for Grady Sizemore but then some started speculating that I got called up because Victor got hurt. My family is hearing the ball game back home and is going nuts since my family had no idea what was going on. After the game, I was told that I would be going up to the big leagues. I called my brother to wish him a happy birthday and told him “I’m sorry to take your thunder, but I’m going up to the big leagues.”

My first day up in the majors, we (the Indians) were playing the Yankees in Cleveland. It was just an unbelievable opportunity to get called up for that series and an amazing experience.

The first game I played in was at Minnesota. I was completely ok until I stepped into the batters box for the first time. My heart was beating a million times a minute. It was so hard to calm myself down because I’m standing in the batters box thinking I can destroy the baseball like I have super-human bat speed. It was also tough because when I looked at first and saw Justin Morneau, and behind the plate catching was Joe Mauer. I struck out my first at-bat, but after that I thought, “I can do that, its not like I’ve never struck out before in my life.” I became calm and collected and put some good swings on the baseball after that.

What is it like being a veteran on a relatively young club in Columbus?

CG: It is actually kind of fun. We have a pretty young group of guys here. I’m only 27 years old, which I like to think is not very old, but on this team it definitely is. It’s great to see a young group of guys who are so energetic, the young guys bring the best out of everybody.

For one, we are one of the best teams in the league this year, which makes playing a lot of fun. It’s great playing here, being able to be part of a young team. I’m a big believer in that you’ve got to have a loose clubhouse, you’ve got to have a loose team. Guys who are uptight don’t play that well. I’m the first one to crack a joke or mess around with someone during the game or batting practice. This is a game–you are supposed to have fun doing it. The guys that can do that are the most successful.

Everybody has a great time in here (in Columbus). You spend so much time together, you have to have an enjoyable camaraderie in the clubhouse. You can’t have guys on the team who are bitter at each other all the time. You spend eight months out of the year this close to each other all the time. There will be little flare ups or what not from time to time like every clubhouse but you need to have this looseness in the clubhouse or you’re going to get eaten up alive out here.

You are in a unique position. You can catch, play the infield or even the outfield. How do you transition between playing positions that are so different?

CG: Believe it or not I really do enjoy playing different positions. I love the fact that I can come in and see a different number on my name in the lineup everyday. It’s a unique challenge to play many positions.

With regards to catching, first and foremost I’m a catcher but I can play anywhere else. I feel like my best position is catching but I have played the outfield before and I’ve played the infield before. Playing multiple positions is a lot of fun because it makes batting practice the hardest part of the day. I’ll field groundballs in the infield, I’ll take fly balls in the outfield, some days a couple of guys and I will do catching drills during batting practice as well. I use batting practice as my chance to stay sharp because you never know when the manager says “Gimenez, you’re going to be in the outfield,” or “Gimenez, you’ve got to play third base.” I have to be at the drop of the hat ready to go. I get a kick of being able to do and I feel like a really can play all three areas on the field. After playing in the outfield, infield, and catcher, you get a sense of confidence that you can play anywhere on the field whenever you need to. I feel like I can make myself stand above somebody else because I can play a range of positions.

You were drafted out of high school by the Colorado Rockies in 2001 but instead went to the University of Nevada. What made you decide to go that route?

CG: Getting drafted out of high school, the Rockies wanted me to go a junior college in a draft-and-follow. This meant the Rockies had the rights to sign me until the June 2002 draft. If you go to junior college, you get a year of experience at a higher level. You have a little bit of leverage with the contract as well by going to a junior college.

For myself, I felt the decision was easy to go to the University of Nevada. It wasn’t a situation where it would even be worth missing four years of school for financial reasons. I also made a commitment to the University of Nevada. If I spent a couple of years at college and played at a Division I skill level, I felt I would benefit myself more. I could hone my baseball skills a little and obviously get my degree if I went to Nevada. Although it was a big risk to go the University of Nevada, my decision paid a lot of dividends. It happens to a lot of kids where they get drafted out of high school, don’t sign and go to college. Unfortunately, they then get hurt in college and don’t get drafted by a team again. Thankfully and luckily for me, my situation didn’t turn out like that. I went to school and my baseball skills got much better. I got stronger, and gained some great experience having to face the three guys from Rice every other weekend it seemed like; Jeff Niemann, Wade Townsend, and Phillip Humber (all three pitchers were first round picks in the 2004 Major League draft). Going to school also helped me maturity-wise. Luckily, I met my wife there so it my decision all seemed to work out.

If you had a son who was drafted out of high school what would you tell him?

CG: My advice to him would be to weigh your options out. I felt I had the opportunity to go a four-year school, get an education, play baseball and gain the college experience. Gaining the college experience is the best experience anyone can make. You grow up at college. You learn how to become someone who is capable of living on their own outside, getting a job and going to the real world so to speak. I feel like it’s a necessary step for some people. It’s a necessary step to become well-rounded.

Once the season is over, what do you do in the off-season?

CG: I go back home to Northern California in the off-season. My wife and I have a house in the East Bay, so that’s kind of our own home base. When I was in the lower levels of the minor leagues, I worked for my grandfather. In the lower levels you don’t make a lot of money and you have to do something as work as well along with maintaining your work-out routine. I got to help my grandfather on the ranch, which was a lot of fun. I got to hang out with my grandparents, who are just unbelievable people. I helped coach at the local junior college during the off-season as well. Last year I was in the big leagues so I didn’t have a job in the off-season. However, in addition to working myself out and getting ready for the upcoming season, I played winter ball and got married, so it was busy off-season.

Do you have any superstitions?

CG: You’re probably talking to one of the most superstitious people on Earth. I hate to admit it because superstition just occurs for me. If I get a couple of hits one night, I’ll eat the exact same thing I ate the day before or I’ll wear my pants a certain way from then on. I will have little superstitions like that. As a player, you’re looking for anything you can to keep your luck going, especially with a hitting streak.

Thank you to both Chris and the Clippers organization for being very accessible for the interview. Game day for a player can be a very tense time, yet Chris was very accommodating for the interview. Kudos to him for getting called up to the Indians.

-Eitan the Intern

Interview with Clippers Director of Clubhouse Operations George Robinson (Part II)

After discussing life in the clubhouse with George in Part I, I asked George about his interactions with players, past and present in the Clipper organization.

What is your connection to the players on the team?

I just had a heart attack and triple bypass surgery last year. I had it during the season. When I woke up from my triple bypass, the first day when they took my ventilator out I asked “how are my boys? (the players)”. I didn’t want to go to the hospital that day because we had a game.

The players are my kids. I want to get them to the big leagues and help them in anyway I can. I just do that every year. I don’t look at the organization, I look at the kids I have every year. I want to see them succeed no matter who it is with. They’re reaching their goal and to me that’s my goal to help them get there.

What does the clubhouse mean to the players?

This is their home to a certain aspect.. They’re here eight days, gone eight days, but this their home. All their personals and things like that are here and I have to protect their privacy. When the ballpark opened last year, there was such a large press contingency in our locker room that it was intruding on the players’ privacy. The players didn’t know what to do so I asked the media and asked them to leave the clubhouse for the sake of the players. I gained credibility with many of the players that day.

Are the player’s superstitious?

There is so much superstition. The player’s laundry loops have to be a certain color, you have to lay out their uniforms a certain way, examples like that.

Do you keep in contact with the players that come through here?

Oh yeah. Derek Jeter contacted me when I had my surgery to see how I was doing, him and Mariano Rivera called. I stay in touch with them all of the time. I stay in touch with Kevin Long (the Yankees’ hitting coach). Kevin Long is pretty much my best friend. He comes down and does hitting clinics for us (George is also a co-owner of MVP Baseball, a baseball facility in Reynoldsburg, Ohio). The last 3 hitting coaches that we’ve had here in Columbus are now in the big leagues.

You have been here 20 years. What the most memorable player you’ve met here?

I’d probably have to say Alex Arias. I picked him up at the airport and we just kind of clicked. We’d stop at Starbucks everyday and get the same drinks. When he got called up to the Yankees, he flew me to New York where we went onto the field (at Yankee Stadium) and played Frisbee with players such as Mariano Rivera and David Wells. I traveled with the Yankees for one month all on Alex’s dime and that was just incredible. You can’t explain that sort of experience. Alex probably exposed me to more than anyone. He wasn’t a superstar, he was just a great guy. There was just something about him, we stay in touch to this day.

What are your responsibilities for the visiting team?

I have bus companies pick the visiting team up at the airport and take them to the hotel. I make arrangements for the arena bus to run them back and forth, before, during and after the game. I make all their nametags for the lockers. I want them to feel like they’re in the big leagues. I’ll talk to their athletic trainer to find out what they need, I’ve already called them and asked what time the equipment and players will get here. When they’re here I have to take care of them. I want them to say that they want to come back here, that’s my goal. I set up in the offseason promotion deals also in order that they have fun things to do during their downtime. I set those guys up, just like our local players.

Do you feel lucky to be around baseball as your job?

I’m blessed and lucky to be all around this, I really am. I bless the Lord for letting me be able to do this everyday and come in here. I get paid to come into the ballpark everyday, I love it. I mean, I live here most of the time. Its tough and no doubt about it I have my moments but still. I am very lucky, I will tell you that. Mr. Schnake has been good to me by giving me this position and the large responsibility that comes with it.

Interviewing George provided a tremendous amount of insight into behind the scenes work in a baseball club. As you can tell from the interview, George has a very busy schedule and usually does not have the time to do interviews. Thank you so much to Mr. Robinson as well as the Clipper organization for granting me the opportunity to interview George.

That’s all for now,

Eitan the Intern

Interview with Clippers Director of Clubhouse Operations George Robinson (Part I)

Recently I had the privilege of meeting George Robinson, the Director of Clubhouse Operations for the Cleveland Indians AAA affiliate, the Columbus Clippers. George is a veteran in the Clipper organization, having been in Columbus since the early days of the Clippers’ New York Yankee affiliation. I sat down with George in this two-part interview while the Clippers were on a road trip and asked him some questions about his experience in baseball as well as life in the Clipper’s clubhouse.

Seth (the general manager of Phoenix Bats) and Charley (the founder of Phoenix Bats) have told me a small amount about what you do for the Clippers. What exactly does your position entail?

I take care of the home team and everything they do. I take care of the team’s travel arrangements, hotels, bus trips, airplanes. When the visiting team comes in, I do the same thing for them. I order our team’s equipment, their balls and uniforms. I take care of the umpires, I take care of the batboys. Anything to do with the baseball end of it, I’m in charge of.

What is your game day routine?

I start here (at the clubhouse) about 8 or 9 in the morning, run upstairs, and check my emails. I’m on 24/7 call. If there is a trade or movement in any way with player going up or down in levels, I’ve got to get them to or from Columbus. When we add somebody we’ve got to subtract somebody because we carry a 24-man roster while the big leagues have a 25-man roster. Then I also have to get the other player to where ever he is going. Usually when the Indians call up a pitcher they need him for the start that night. So I have to get the player a flight, get him to the airport, and make all the arrangements to get him with the Indians. Same thing goes for a player coming down here. You get 12 hours, maybe, in advance to know where the player is going.

In my routine, you just go. It is really hard to explain. I also get the player’s tickets for their families and friends first thing in the morning after I check my email. I get the lineup cards of both ball clubs together. I make sure all the laundry is done, make sure all of the “loops” (stirrup socks) are out. I write on the board the color uniform that we are wearing today. I make sure that we have our meals planned for pre-game and post-game. I write what time the opponents can have the batting cage and what time they can lift weights. I let both ball clubs know if we can have batting practice on the field or off the field in the batting cages.

Once we’re very close to First pitch, I have to make sure everyone is on the field for the National Anthem. I make sure the pitcher is on the mound at exactly 12:02 PM (for a day game) since all of our games are televised in-house. Sometimes our games have been on STO or MLB.TV, so you co-ordinate all of television broadcast times also. In my job, you’re constantly on the move, you just roll with it. It is hard to tell somebody what exactly I do.

What happens on get-away day?

I will have both teams on buses and gone within an hour after the game. During the game I’m making sure our guys are packed and trunks ready. Sometimes I load four buses within an hour and get them out the door. On the seventh inning of get-away day, I’m out in the parking lot just loading stuff up.

How does the offseason compare?

You actually start the day after the end of the season, to get ready for the upcoming season. You get the guys to the airport; a lot of the guys fly out the next day because by the time they pack everything after the game, they’re worn out. Right after the players leave you start arranging motels for the next season and setting up motels for the visiting teams. I start with the bus trips and then the airlines. Come November, I try to get everything ready. We have to order new uniforms, hats, socks, I try to get that stuff done by the winter meetings in December. January comes; and  you need to start getting stuff ready for spring training. Spring training is here, and then the regular season is here again. You’re just as busy in the offseason as you are during the season.

Do you fly to spring training with the ballclub?

I haven’t been to Arizona yet. I went down to Florida this year to see Kevin Long, the hitting coach for the New York Yankees, who is one of my best friends.

How did you become the director of clubhouse operations?

I don’t know: loving the game, my passion for the game. When I started with the Clippers I was putting stickers on bells. I did whatever Ken Schnake (the Clippers’ General Manager) asked me to do. I’ve been in group sales. I‘ve talked to youth leagues, I’ve been a “clubbie” (clubhouse manager). I’ve done the radar gun. I’ve done the charts. Whatever the Clippers ask me to do, I do. I get paid to come to the ballpark, I don’t care what I have to do! This is really the ultimate job. I think I’m the only director of clubhouse operations in AAA baseball.

I love baseball, I do. I think you need to have a passion for this. You have to love the game, and I do. I jokingly tell people I wear pine tar for deodorant.

It is so incredible to think you are so occupied with your position, that you don’t really have the time to think of what you are doing.

No,you don’t have the time. It’s crazy. I am on the go so you just flow through the day. It is really hard to explain. If something’s not working, I have to have it fixed immediately. For example, If we’re out of dental floss in the clubhouse, I need to make sure we have dental floss.

What changes did you need to make for the club when the team moved from Cooper Stadium into Huntington Park?

I didn’t like the ballpark at first because I’m old school in many aspects of life as well as baseball. At first it was hard, but we adapted very well. There is more work because the ballpark is so much bigger: the clubhouse is so much bigger, the cages are so much bigger, the dugouts are so much bigger. I miss the Coop.. I still call it the Coop.

But I love this place, I call it a cathedral. It’s a cathedral to me. Ken did a wonderful job. I don’t think he gets enough (recognition) around town for what he has done for Columbus baseball. He has been our general manager for 30 something years. To get this ballpark paid for through public funding where he built it and everything..I mean we got ballpark of the year over new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field (the Mets’ ballpark). That’s incredible! We won ballpark of the year and we didn’t stand pat, we started changing stuff. The cages, training room, manager’s locker room, we haven’t stopped. We want to be the best organization in baseball if we can, especially in the minor leagues. All winter we were doing something, there was always construction.

Speaking of the Yankees, what was your experience like with George Steinbrenner, an Ohio product who was very influential in the Clippers’ organization?

He is a great, great man. All you hear is the bad stuff about him, but he has built Ohio State’s marching band and many of their facilities. He has done so much for Ohio State University and Columbus that many people don’t even realize. Look at the stuff he has done in Tampa as well. He’s first class and ran the team in that manner. Everyone wants to pattern themselves after the Yankees.

Coming up in Part II, George talks about his experience with players who have passed through Columbus on their way to the Big Leagues.

Ask an Agent with Eitan the Intern

In this entry of “Eitan the Intern”, I interviewed sports agent Michael Bonanno of Oak Sports Management. Only 23 years old, Michael was recently featured as the cover story in Biz Magazine. I was able to catch up with Michael over email to ask him some questions about his profession.

Here is my Q&A interview with Michael:

What influenced you to become a sports agent?

MB: Business and personal relationships. I played professional baseball and always enjoyed the business side of it. I enjoy being around the game and enjoy seeing a client succeed and do well.

How were you able to become a sports agent?

MB: I was a law major while at Brevard College (FL), and when my playing career finished, through a mutual contact, I met the President of our company (Don Webster). We discussed starting the agency and why I believed it could be successful. Being a co-founder of a company with one of the top contract negotiators in the world is humbling. I try to learn as much from him as possible.

How do you decide when to sign a client?

MB: It varies, some perspective clients are referrals through current clients, while we approach others or they contact us. When we sign a client we want them to be as comfortable as possible about the decision. Ultimately if the agency wants the player, it is always his decision about what agency to join.

How often do you have to touch base with your clients? Do you tend to follow your clients on a day by day basis or do you tend to follow your clients weekly?

MB: Each client is different, I would say on average it is every 3-5 days though. Some prefer speaking daily, while others are biweekly or monthly. I leave it completely up to the player to dictate; they know I follow them daily and my phone is there day or night if they would like to talk.

What are the players looking for when they sign with you and Oak Sports Management?

MB: You are getting one of the top contract negotiators in North America, and an agency that prides ourselves on the integrity of our athletes and the game of baseball. We are committed to meeting the individual needs of our players, during and after their professional playing careers.

Does the prominence of agents such as Scott Boras or David Falk hamper the ability of smaller sports agencies to sign clients?

MB: It could, but I have found no affects of that. I respect those two individuals but am excited, in only one year, what we are accomplishing at Oak Sports. I believe what we offer as a company can compete with anybody.

How does becoming an agent for baseball players vary than becoming an agent for athletes in other sports?

MB: Each sport has different requirements to become a certified agent. Certain sports are a little bit more extensive then others. There will be a hockey division of Oak Sports Management, but I am strictly a baseball agent.

What do you consider the most gratifying and stressful aspects of your profession?

MB: As good as seeing a client hit a double, steal a base or strike a batter out is, the most gratifying for me is the personal and business side of baseball. Being able to negotiate a contract, get an endorsement deal or having them call me for advice is gratifying. In all honesty, I don’t stress much doing this job. It is very time consuming and isn’t easy but that’s what drives me and challenges me to become one of the best in this industry.

How do you maintain a contract for your client if he is either not performing well or not getting enough playing time so to speak?

MB: That is out of the agents hands and in complete control of the organization he is with. When speaking with the team you will know how they feel about him and if they’re in the team’s future plans. If a client is not getting playing time however and we believe he should be, we will contact the organization to get more information but it is a case by case basis.

What is the biggest challenge for a young player in the minors?

MB: The biggest challenge would be the competition and mental aspect of baseball. It’s not an easy job being a minor league baseball player, it is a full out grind. Between the hours you put in, travel, competition, struggle and personal life, you need to be strong mentally.

Thank you to Michael for allowing the time to do an interview with him given his very busy schedule. I am sure in a few years we will hear of him and his clients quite often.

That’s all for today’s post. Have a great July 4^th weekend.

-Eitan