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Q: Who is eyetoeye?
A: John, 40 year old living in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. Have also lived in Ohio, California, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
Q: How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
A: I was a Strat-o-Matic freak as a kid and found their online game through the Sporting News web site (I believe). One of the owners on that site asked if I had ever heard of WhatIfSports and suggested I try it.
Q: Which games of ours have you played?
A: Just Sim League baseball.
Q: Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
A: Reading, TV, current events.
Q: Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
A: Jesus, Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson, Hank Aaron, and Jim Tressel.
Q: Who are your favorite players of all-time?
A: Being a Reds fan, any of the Big Red Machine of the 70's. I also loved Nolan Ryan and George Brett.
Q: Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
A: The '76 Reds, the greatest lineup in the modern era. Also a Cowboys fan in football and Ohio State fan.
Q: Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
A: Just baseball. I was a fairly good player in my younger days. I led my little league in home runs one season, and led my junior high team in batting one season, hitting over .500. It started to go downhill once I hit high school.
Q: What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
A: Attend a Game 7 Reds World Series victory, or attend a Super Bowl. I would also like to visit Wrigley Field.
Q: What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
A: I still remember my first sim league champion. It was a very low salary cap league and every platoon I had worked perfectly. I also won a league with only players from 1985. I remember the 1985 John Tudor was pretty unbeatable.
Q: In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
A: I play with a low player salary, just because it interests me more. Therefore I am usually heavy into scouting. With the lower player dollars I am able to place more than average dollars in most categories.
Q: How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
A: Arbitration is on a player-by-player basis. I don't mind paying for producers and want no part of underachievers. I am not a big player in free agency, other than filling a spot, here and there, with someone who I think I can develop.
Q: What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
A: I rehire everyone I can. There are certain coaching spots that I won't overpay for, and I really haven't noticed any difference in my team's performances. I think if you have solid players, you win, regardless of the coaching. Although I don't despise coach hiring as much as most owners, it would be nice to sign them for 2-3 year contracts. Everything in this game is so realistic, I don't know why they haven't added that, yet.
Q: How do you finalize rosters at each level?
What role does spring training play in your decision making?
A: I usually use spring training to determine my 24th or 25th roster spot. However, it seems that a sizzling spring training usually translates into a lousy first month of the regular season. As for minor-league promotions I make sure my major-league prospects keep on track, and moving up, based on performance.
Q: What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
A: Nothing high tech, my best players play. I do value good defense up the middle and will sacrifice a little offense for it. As for pitching, I had several years of agonizing bullpens. I made a focus of fixing that, and I finally have a group I like.
Q: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
A: Splits for hitters and pitchers. Control for pitchers, since there is enough offense in the game, I don't need to help by walking alot of people. I like starting pitchers with three good pitches.
Q: How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
A: I take the draft very seriously. I usually spend a few days reorganizing my draft list, and have gotten some really good 3rd-7th round picks, as a result. I enjoy trying to find the diamond in the rough. I've recently cut back on the international prospects, even though there are superstars to be had, there. . . I just don't like the huge price tags. I'll keep an eye on the waiver wire when I feel like I need to add someone at a specific postion.
Q: Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
A: I always laugh at this question. I'm waiting for the first person to say "Yeah, I shut down my entire minor-league system to try to win this year." I like having a competitive team, but haven't quite gotten over the hump, yet.
Q: Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
A: Wesley Jordan has been my catcher since year 1 and just produces every year. I had to let Bobby Joe Monroe go, this year, which was tough. He is my franchise's all time wins leader. I also like any player who exceeds his ratings. I root for them even if they never make it out of Low A ball.
Q: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
A: I check in every cycle and spend 10-30 minutes "managing." As for how much time is necessary to be competitive, I would defer to the guys who have won titles, on that one.
Q: Who are the users you respect the most?
A: Kbrick is great and has always runs a great league, even back to the AAA sim leagues. I also respect all of the owners who have won titles. It is so difficult to do and I try to analyze their strategies.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
A: Just managing "my team." It is such a great stress reliever to log on and disappear into the fake world that is HBD.
Q: What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
A: I don't hate anything about the site, I really like that they are constantly tweaking the game, making it better. Three things I would like added, or changed are the multi-year coaching contracts. I wish there was some benefit to keeping the older vets on your roster; like a coaching or mentoring rating that would mirror their value in real life. And I wish 100 health rating players wouldn't get injured.
Q: If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
A: Definitely HBD. I would be a first baseman, good glove, no speed, good eye, doubles power, and good makeup. A Mike Lowell type player.
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