Mark Shapiro
Mark Shapiro
abruptly created farm good instead letting naturally players run traded
We were at the tail-end of a championship run. Instead of letting that run naturally just play out and transpire, we abruptly traded good players and artificially created an upper-level in our farm system.
calls guys tough
I called to tell him he was going back to Double-A after he'd been in Triple-A. That was one of my first tough calls to a player. I didn't necessarily make those decisions, but I was the one who had to give guys the news.
beating both chicago deep division easy lots major minnesota nights tough
It's a very tough division. There aren't going to be many easy nights at all when you play in the division this year. There's going to be lots of beating up on each other. Chicago and Minnesota both have exceptional pitching. Detroit's lineup is as deep as any in the major leagues, if they are all healthy.
games last surprised team tough white wins
This is a very tough division. I'll be surprised if any team wins as many games as the White Sox did last year.
impact level mental standard starting toughness
From a level of mental toughness and competitiveness, he has kind of reframed the standard for all of us in this organization. He made a big impact on our young starting pitchers.
clearer deal easier heading might next value year
It might be an easier deal to do next year because we'll have a clearer sense what the value is heading into the first year of arbitration.
validation
I want it for us , ... not as any validation for me.
breakout help hopefully last terms year
Last year was a breakout year for him in terms of command. Hopefully he can help us during the year at some point.
eighth moved ninth offense player responsibility rough sixth year
Our offense got going after he moved to third. We moved him from ninth to eighth to sixth to third, which is a rough responsibility for a player in his first year in the big leagues, and he hasn't blinked.
fit good style
He's a good fit for us as a person and a player. His style is different from everyone else in our rotation.
blink confidence drove handled mentally move
He didn't blink and how he handled that move mentally drove our confidence in making this offer.
basically expected hoped
He was basically everything we had hoped and expected to see.
ability bigger help options situation team
His options situation is not going to be an overriding factor. His long-term ability to help the team will be a bigger factor.
character fits job three versatile
He's done the job before, he's versatile and he can play all three positions. His make-up fits the character of our team.