The Sports Info Business

About a week ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox rocked the sports world with a nine player trade that involved star players, prospects and a lot of cash.  Much has been written about it already and there are many others who work in the business that can provide better insight on the length of contracts and money involved.

Since the trade went down last weekend, I wanted to compare the 2012 opening day roster with the team it put on the field after the trade was completed.  As you can see by the graphic below, there has been a lot of change since the season began.  That made me think, How Important IS team chemistry when significantly changing the dynamics in the heat of a pennant race?

Click on the image to see a more detailed view of the players and moves

As a team owner, general manager or Dodger fan, the Dodgers makeover is impressive.  Not many would question acquiring players such as Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford to help your team.

However, at what price can you pay when altering team chemistry?

Let’s look at the changes, which do not include Crawford since he is injured and not on the active 25 man roster.

– The team’s roster has changed 36% since opening day (9 players).

– Five new pitchers have joined the roster since opening day (42% change).

– Half of the team’s infielders have changed since the start of the 2012 season.

Going into tonight’t game, the Dodgers have played a total of six games since the trade and are just 2-4 and have scored two runs or less in three of the six games.  Concerned?  Dodger skipper Don Mattingly called for a 15 minute team meeting to address the players.  As of this writing, the Dodgers trail the San Francisco Giants by 4.5 games in the NL West with 30 games left.  Yes, they are only 1.5 games  behind the Braves and Cardinals for the Wild Car spot.

Time will tell if the players mesh, deliver and send the team to the playoffs.  Great move or missed opportunity?  Best trade in decades for the Dodgers or a big bust?  Stay tuned.

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Blog update:  I have stopped posting open sports management job openings here as there is an issue with content, jobs and overall page rank.  If you like sportsinfo101.com on Facebook, you can see job openings I find posted there. 

A View of Chase Field from my seats

On this Memorial Day weekend, I had the opportunity to give the gift of baseball to my father.  Celebrating his 70th birthday, I was able to secure a few tickets to the Friday night game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Milwaukee Brewers.  There is nothing better than enjoying a baseball game with family and friends and I was fortunate to be sitting in the lower bowl, about 28 rows behind the visitors dugout.

The ballgame itself was not very memorable for two sub- .500 teams, playing in late May.  The Diamondbacks came into the series 20-25 while Milwaukee sported a 18-26 record.

It was also a bit special for me as it was the first time I was visiting this ballpark.  During my days working for the Dodgers, I routinely traveled with the club on the road, visiting every national league baseball town.  Since the DBacks did not enter the league until 1998, I was already pursuing new interests outside of baseball and did not have the opportunity to experience a game here.

But, here I was, enjoying my first baseball game of the season.  Naturally, my mind immediately wandered down the list of players, coaches and executives of the Diamondbacks and the Brewers, wondering how I was connected to both teams.  First there was Arizona — The President and CEO Derek Hall was the man who replaced me when I left the Dodgers in 1994.  Josh Rawitch was next, the Diamondbacks Senior Vice President, who helped arrange the outing for me.  Both, class individuals who were raised and learned the game the Dodgers way.  The coaches included Kirk Gibson (the DBacks manager who had a stellar baseball career and often linked to his historic 1988 world series home run for the Dodgers, three years before I arrived on the scene), and DBacks first base coach Eric Young, who played for the Dodgers in 1992, my second with the team.

On the other side of the field was my good buddy and current Milwaukee Manager Ron Roenicke, currently in his second year as skipper for the Brew Crew.  Ron was a coach during my entire Dodger tenure and we spent a lot of time together talking baseball and life, between pitches, on planes and over meals.  We texted each each other on game day, but unfortunately, I was not able to chat with him as game time neared.

As a baseball fan, here are a few thoughts regarding my experience of visiting Chase Field.

* The ballpark is located on 401 East Jefferson Street in Phoenix, a block or two from where the Phoenix Suns play and next to the Phoenix Visitors and Convention Center.  After parking, walking up to the ballpark felt like a downtown experience, but once I got to the entrence, it was a strange feeling to be entering a domed stadium.

* The inside of the facility was well air conditioned throguhout.  In Phoenix, this is the only was to beat the heat.  From the moment I entered the building, I thought the roof was already open.  The building was designed to let a god amount of natural light through and the outfield was dotted with sun rays.  it was only when I could look up at that I noticed the roof was closed.

* The building is spacious and the plaza allowed fans the depth to walk between sections easily.

* The section devoted to the fan experience was vast, from the kids Sandlot area on the upper level, to the pool in the right center field area to the TGIF restaurant that overlooked left field.

* I was amzed by the number of TV’s placed through the lower section of the stadium.  If a fan was not looking directly at the playing field, it was hard to miss a pitch no matter where you were standing — unless you were in the men’s room of course.

* The main scoreboard had a very detailed approach tot he game, providing what seemed like unlimited fan information, including a translation for the announcer’s words on the screen.  I can only imagine this was for the hearing impaired, another nice touch.

* It was 90 degrees-plus at game time, yet the team opened the roof for the game.  The air conditioning continued to blow on fans throughout the night (would hate to see that monthly bill) and I felt very comfortable the entire evening.  Loved watching the roof open.

 * About the only thing I could not find, from an information perspective, was the pitcher’s pitch count and the speed of individual pitches.

What can I say about Gary Carter, that has not been covered since the Hall Fame baseball Player passed away.  First, let’s look at the obvious things that most people will mention when it came to his baseball career.

Born in 1954, Carter was drafted by the Montreal Expos and played 17 of his 19 big league season with the them as well as the New York Mets, including the 1986 World Championship season.  He was  inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

I always admired Gary as a baseball player, but I got to know him as a person during the one season he played under Tommy Lasorda with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

At the age of 37, Carter joined the Dodgers in 1991.  It was his first year with the club and it was mine as well.  Carter did not have his greatest year as a pro that year.  I often say it was the best team in baseball never to go to the World Series.  That year, Gary hit .246 with six home runs and 26 RBI in 101 games and honestly, I do not remember many of the highlights from that year.

What I do remember, very well, was the time I spent with Gary.  It was mostly during road trips, away frm Dodger Stadium.  During my road trips with the team Gary and I often shared a row of seats and what came between us was a very competitive game of cribbage.  This was one area I could compete with the future Hall of Famer, but truth be told, he beat me more than I beat him.

He loved it when he could steal points from me and I certainly reminded him when I won a cribbage game.

There is a story that will always stick with me when I think of Gary Carter.  We were in New York one road trip to play the Mets and we were staying at the Grand Hyatt on 42nd and Lexington.  Gary talked me into skipping the team bus and taking the train from grand central station out to Flushing for the game.  The trainw as either the 4 or the 7 but I am sure someone in New York can remind me the correct number.

Gary and I boarded the train and I naturally waited for someone to recognize him.  It didn’t take very long before he was being chatted up by the fans and he loved it.  Gary loved to talk baseball, and did it all the way to the Stadium. He did send one fan my way.  The fan, a long time Dodger fan, was still upset the Dodgers left Brooklyn and showed me a ticket stub from the team’s last game at Ebbets Field.  Gary sat and listened and just winked at me as the man pleaded his case.

Another time, Gary found me in the Dodgers locker room before a game.  He had passed someone on the all-time catcher’s list and wanted me to know for research and media purposes.  I didn’t miss many records when I when I was with the team, but this one got by me and Gary reminded me.  He was certainly competitive.

We missed the playoffs by one game that year and though Gary retired after the 1992 season, we still spoke or wrote now and then.  The last time I saw him was at the Major League Baseball All Star game in 2010 in Anaheim.  He looked over, saw me and came over to give me a hug.  He was that kind of guy.

After Gary was diagnosed with cancer, I immediately fired off an email of support to him.  Now, as we mourn his loss, I just finished sending an email of support to his family.  Gary’s passion was his family, his religion and baseball.  I know in the brief time he was in my life, I am a better person for it.  I’ll miss you Gary.

Video has become one of the most popular ways for sharing content over the Internet.  Its no wonder that YouTube has become the second largest search engine on the planet.

Here are a few select videos that show a few different stories.  They are all worth a few moments of your time.

The first story involves two boys attending a baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Milwaukee Brewers.  They jostle for a foul ball and one boy walks away with a souvenir while the second one is left empty handed.  Then, the unthinkable happens.  The one boy hands the prize over to the other.

In the end, they are both rewarded.  Watch it here.

Telling good stories never gets old and Showtime has done a tremendous job with its docu-series on the 2011 World Series champion San Francisco.  It’s called The Franchise:  A Season with the San Francisco Giants.  An entire one hour special was recently uploaded you YouTube.  Here is how it is described on the site:  “Episode one follows the team’s biggest players Buster Posey, Matt Cain, Brian Wilson, Freddy Sanchez, Tim Lincecum, and Pablo Sandoval through the early days of the season.

The piece is really well done in telling the team’s story through first half of the 2011 Major League Baseball season.

I leave you with this, um interesting pre-race prayer, provider by pastor Joe Nelms over the weekend, where he paid tribute, among other things, to “his smoking hot wife.”

The unusual tribute before the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Nashville was also good for corporate sponsors including Toyota, Dodge, Ford, GM Performance Technology, Goodyear Tires. 

Priceless.

I like a good contest as much as the next person.  This one though involves sex, sports and babies.  If you are already born however, you are going to have a tough time winning this one.

The good folks folks at Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area have developed a promotion to celebrate last year’s World Series victory over the Texas Rangers.

The cable company  is betting a lot of happy Giants fans had sex.  Now, they want to reward a baby.

The first baby that is.

The search for the World Championship baby is on.  You can enter to win at CSNBAYAREA.COM

Some facts you should keep in mind.

The Giants officially became world series champions at 7:54 p.m. west coast time on November 1, 2010 when they defeated the Texas Rangers in game five with a 3-1 victory.

If you are selected as the winner, you’ll receive:

An announcement in the newspaper –

A secured brick at AT&T Park with your World Champion baby’s name –

A gift card for $2,010, and an official certificate signed by the Giants –

All you need to do is to register by July 31st for your chance to win.

Who’s eligible?  According to the official rules:  The promotion is open only to legal residents of the continental United States and the District of Columbia, 18 years of age and older as of the date of entry.  In order to be eligible to win the prize, you must be the parent or legal guardian of the child born closest to 7:54 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (“PST”) on Monday, August 1, 2011 and be able to show official documentation proving that you are the parent or legal guardian and setting forth the date and time of the child’s birth. The promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.

Last summer, I was worked the major League Baseball All Star Game in Anaheim.  This year, the mid summer classic is being played at Chase Field in Arizona on Tuesday, July 12th.

While I will not be at the game this time around, here is a preview of things to do and hot links.  I will take you from game time backwards through the weekend.

The 82nd Major League Baseball All Star Game will take place on Tuesday, July 12, beginning at 5 p.m. west coast time, that 8 p.m. for you on the East Coast.  You can also tune in on Fox.

Monday, July 11th

The home run derby  takes place at Chase Field starting at 5:00 p.m.  Eight players participate again this year.

For those with tickets, there is an all star workout at 2:00 p.m.

The Pitch Hit and Run Finals will begin at 12:15 p.m.

Fanfest, which MLB bills as “the world’s largest interactive baseball event” is a fun experience for any baseball fan. It is open from 9 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and located at the Phoenix Convention Center.  I attended last year and trust me, there is something there for everyone.  I even posted this video from MLB that will give you a look at what goes on inside Fanfest.

Sunday, July 10

Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.  According to MLB, the following folks are scheduled to participate:  Ex Arizona Diamondbacks Luis Gonzalez and Mark Grace; baseball Hall of Famers Ricky Henderson, Ozzie Smith, Ernie Banks; Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald; former Arizona softball player Jennie Finch. Celebrities who have committed include Nick Jonas, Jordin Sparks, Kate Upton and James Denton.

Fanfest of course is open from  9 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 9

Fanfest 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Friday, July 8

Fanfest 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

All Star Challenger Champions, a game for children with physical and mental challenges, will take place at Chase Field.  Game time is 3:30 p.m.

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If you want to look ahead, The 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held on July 10, 2012, and played in Kansas City, home of the Royals.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting in today’s newspaper that Los Angeles Clippers rookie of the year Blake Griffin and Kia Motors have agreed to a multi-year business deal.  Griffin, if you remember, was seen dunking over a Kia car during the NBA All Star game in Los Angeles last year and the video has been replayed countless times on TV and the internet.  The automaker even made a commercial of from the dunk. I previously blogged about Griffin’s dunking abilities and showed one of him showing off his talent in this AT&T commercial.
The multi-year deal, according to the newspaper, makes Griffin “a global spokeman for the automaker.”  He will make appearances on behalf of Kia and appear in advertising material.

Interesting though that when I ventured over to the Kia Motors website, it did not have an official announcement in its press release section.

Kia, an official auto partner of the NBA, has a co-branded micro website dedicated to the professional basketball League and had this Griffin picture among others on the site.  Kia also sponsors 13 NBA teams.

On Top: If I asked you which U.S. City has captured the most titles in major sports since the 2001 season, who would come out on top? Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Detroit, Boston, Chicago or San Antonio? According to SportsCenter, it’s Boston with seven on top, then Los Angeles with six. Detroit, Pittsburgh and San Antonio each have three.

Wrigley Field = Summer Sale?: There is a sale going on and if you are American Airlines, that means associating it with something to do with Wrigley Field.  The airlines is promoting special fares via an email marketing program and among its messages this week is a shot from the historic national League park proclaiming “U.S. Summer Sale”  With the Chicago Cubs some 14 games under .500 as we head into the final week of June, I am sure there are more sellers than buyers these days.

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San Diego Padres Sports Management Executive Andrea Smith

We have a new 10 question Q&A feature today and I am sticking with featuring women in sport.  You may remember last week the senior vice president for Major League Baseball, Katy Feeney, was featured. Today, we return to the west coast and have zero’d in on Southern California and San Diego to visit with San Diego padres executive Andrea Smith.

1. Tell us about your company, your position and your responsibilities

I work for the San Diego Padres as the Manager of PETCO Park Suites.  I am the main contact for all Leased Suite Holders and multi-game suite packages. One of my main responsibilities is developing value-added programs for servicing our premium seating customers at the highest level. In addition, I work closely with the Corporate Partnerships Department to capitalize on business opportunities and contribute to the marketing and advertising plan to increase suite sales. I also coordinate all of our premium seating client roads trips and special events.

2. Tell us what your average week is like, both in season and the off-season

I don’t like to reference “in season vs. off-season.” It’s more of a never-ending cycle of sales and renewals. My philosophy is that it even though it is an eight-month season it is still a 12-month relationship! While this actual “season” in play might be 2011 for the team, my focus has already shifted heavily to the 2012 season. While games are being played there is a lot of preparation going into each homestand and special event. When games are not being played it is still important for me to remain in touch with each customer so that when the Padres are out of sight they are never out of mind!

3. Can you talk about your career path, starting from your first job in sports until you arrived to your current position with the Padres today?

I’ll try to keep this short and sweet. I interned for the San Diego Chargers in public relations the summer before my senior year in college. After graduation, I moved to Los Angeles for another internship with the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour in marketing, sponsorship activation, and player relations. After that I landed my first full time job in the Sports Industry as the Community Relations Coordinator with the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA. After two years I was promoted to Manager of Client Relations. In the summer of 2007, the opportunity to work for AEG, Staples Center and L.A. LIVE presented itself and I became an Account Manager in the Premium Seating Services Department. I spent three seasons at AEG before the next step in my career path was revealed. I headed down the 5 Freeway in January of 2010 to become the Manager of PETCO Park Suites for the San Diego Padres. I am now part of a new regime of likeminded individuals that have the same overall goal: To make the Padres the best organization in sports.
4. What is the Best Advice you have ever received?

“Character Is Who We Are When No One Is Watching” I was introduced to this quote as an athlete in college, still use it today as a business professional, and also apply it to my everyday life.

5. What are your top sports memories you are most fond of telling others.

There are too many to list. But, if I had to narrow it down to just three then I would say…

It’s 1993 and I’m at Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. It was another Super Bowl for the Buffalo Bills, my hometown team. We were in the crowd and not only was my TV “crush” Kirk Cameron (from Growing Pains) sitting next to us, but Michael Jackson was the halftime show! Despite our loss in the game that day I will never forget that amazing halftime performance. Hearing “Heal the World” still gives me goosebumps to this day! That was when I fell in love with L.A.

Los Angeles Lakers NBA Championship Parade 2009

AVP Manhattan Beach Open – Karch and Lambo 2004

6. I hear many young professionals getting discouraged because they are not where they want to be after finishing their sports management degree and internships. What does it take for young people to be successful in this business?

Network and get involved with as many events as possible. Volunteer, show up, stand out. Be persistent and confident but yet open to new things (and that includes moving for a job). The sports industry is very small. Don’t burn any bridges. Just get after it!

7. What are some challenges you face in your current position?

We are still forming the Premium Seating and Suites Department so the main challenges come with staffing. Once we move into the 2012 season, some new positions to help with the volume of suite customers will be in place. This is to assure that each customer is still receiving the highest level of hospitality.

8. Name three mentors (at least) and why they’ve had an impact.

1)  Parents – Hard working, loyal, loving, real

2) Lisa Leslie -The ultimate role model. Beauty, Brains, Grace, Faith, and Competiveness

3) Gabrielle Reece -Someone I have looked up to since 9^th grade when I started playing volleyball

9. If you were not working in sports today, what would you be doing?

I would be playing on the beach volleyball circuit and working as a fitness coach.

10. Executives talk about being passionate in your job. What are you passionate about and why?

I am passionate about taking care of my suite holders and making sure they are getting the most return on their investment there is possible. We value their commitment to us as suite holder and in turn they should receive benefits and experiences that money can’t buy. I am passionate about these things because I truly believe in following through and keeping promises. Once a deal is done my job is to make sure they receive everything we agreed on in negotiations and more! The “and more” what’s fun, imaginative, and to be determined. The “and more” is what I am most passionate about…

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It is time to debate baseball on the big screen boys and girls.

If I had to ask you what is your favorite baseball movie, what is the first one that comes to mind?

Would it be Major League, which starred (WINNING!) Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Rene Russo?

How about the 1984 hit, “The Natural“: starring Robert Redford and Robert Duvall or the 1992 classic “A League of their own.”

Did you think of “Field of Dreams” with Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones and Ray Liotta?

If it is not a dedicated movie about baseball, it somehow is referenced in many movie scripts.   Hollywood writers somehow weave baseball into so many movies I find that I must point this put to my family, particularly to one member who hates the game, just to prove my point.  Baseball is embedded in our culture.  Baseball is America.

My favorite baseball movies have always been The Natural and a Field of Dreams.  The Natural is a Classic and I wound up reading the book Field of Dreams during my 1987 cross country trek where I visited 23 baseball stadiums in six weeks.  The movie, which came out later, reminded me of that great summer odyssey.

Now a new movie is coming out.  I hope it can live up to the book.  A few years ago I read the book Moneyball, and now, Brad Pitt stars as Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane in the movie.  Here is the new Moneyball trailer, which was posted yesterday.

Anyone who has worked in or around Major League Baseball for the last 70 years knows the Feeney family name.  Charles “Chub” Feeney served baseball for 40 years, including 17 as president of the National League and the family legacy continues with Katy Feeney, his daughter.  Katy has enjoyed an extremely successful career in baseball.  Katy joined the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs in 1977 and has served in a variety of positions from Assistant Director of Public Relations, to her current duties as Senior Vice President, Club Relations and Scheduling for Major League Baseball. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and was the winner of the prestigious Robert O. Fishel Award in 1994.  Katy is based out of MLB’s New York office and is also the focus of this week’s Q&A.

1. Tell us about your position and your responsibilities with Major League Baseball

My title is Senior Vice President, Scheduling and Club Relations and my responsibilities include: the schedules for all 30 Major League Baseball teams, regular season and spring training, and rescheduling any postponed games; working with the National League All-Star team, from the balloting through the team leaving after the game; working with the National League teams during all levels of the post-season;  overseeing National League Player of the Week, Month, Pitcher of the Month and Rookie of the Month voting and awards; various other club-related responsibilities.

2. You have a great family history and personal connection with Baseball.  Can you share with us a few early memories of the Feeney family and baseball?

I remember the excitement of moving from New York to San Francisco.  My brothers and I were young enough that we did not realize the Giants were breaking peoples’ hearts by moving.  We just thought we were on an adventure.

3. Tell us what your average week is like, both in season and the off-season

There is no such thing as an average week.  During the season my week can depend on the weather, how close we are to the All-star Game or the end of the season.  We work on the schedules approximately a year and a half prior to Opening Day.

4. Talk about your career path, starting from your first job until you arrived to your current position with MLB today

I am the last person in my family anyone, including myself, thought would be working in baseball.  I was between jobs when the National League office, which was in San Francisco, needed a temporary Public Relations Secretary prior to relocating to New York.  I ended up being asked to move to New York for a year to help with the transition….it has been a long year!  I worked for the National League until the Leagues were consolidated and Major League Baseball graciously created my job, which includes some of the responsibilities I had working for the National League with American League teams added to some of those responsibilities.

5. What is the best advice you have ever received?

Best advice I ever received is to take a deep breath before responding to anything in anger.

6. What are the your top sports memories you are most fond of telling others?

There are so many exciting games I have attended as going to baseball games is what we did for enjoyment as children and part of my job now, and I find it difficult to isolate memories.

7. What do you tell people you meet who want a career working in the sports management business?

I find it difficult to give advice because so many think of the sports industry as a “glamour”  business and it actually entails a lot of hard work and time for most positions.  I tell people to be prepared to accept most any position, minor league or major league, if they are seriously interested in working in baseball.  If it is sports in general that interests them, I say there are so many avenues, not just teams and leagues.  Sports management companies, sports division of major companies have grown greatly since I started working for baseball.

8. Name three mentors (at least) and why they’ve had an impact.

I guess I would have to mention three mentors:  my father, Bart Giamatti and Bill White.  All three guided me in the business and at the same time trusted me to make my own decisions and learn from my mistakes.

9.  If you were not working in sports today, what would you be doing?

10. Executives talk about being passionate in your job.  What are you passionate about and why?

I am passionate about the game – it is always enjoyable and intriguing; each game is different and often surprises with something new.  Also, the people in the game are some of the finest, most interesting and hardest working people I know.