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9 Strong Innings
With Las Vegas GM Howe Dogg
By Lich Feisen / EHSPN
Tony Budweiser – Welcome back to PTD. We are pleased to have Rakeville Rocket’s General Manager and all around statheaded geek, Jack Reed. Jack, how have you been?
Lich Feisen: Hi everyone and thanks for joining EHSPN's 9 Strong Innings, a time where we take a bit to examine the thoughts and mindsets of certain individuals within the EHCC, may it be players, GM's, coaches, fans, mascots, or even bat boys. This time around we have the GM of the defending champion Las Vegas Doggs, Mr. Howe Dogg. How are you today Howe?
Howe Dogg: I'm doing alright for myself, I'm a bit stressed with the team, but all in all I'm doing alright.
LF: That's good to hear. Now, I assume you know how this works. I've got 9 questions; you've got 3 minutes to answer each one (9 innings, 3 outs, pretty simple).
HD: Ya, thanks for clearing that up Lich. I don't manage a championship quality fantasy baseball team for nothing you know. No wonder no one likes you.
LF: Ok, ok. Let's get on track here. First question: Have you decided not to trade Carlos Beltran?
HD: Well, we've decided not to shop our star center fielder at the moment. We've sent out some offers and they just haven't worked out for what we felt we needed or deserved in return for Carlos. We never wanted to trade him. He's our offensive captain. He's a 5-tool player. We just thought we needed something in other areas that were more problematic at the moment that we needed to fix.
LF: What might those holes be?
HD: Our starting pitching has been struggling as of late, especially with injury bugs going around to start pitchers like Prior and Schilling, and now Perez's incident. I've really gotta do something with that kid. Perhaps we need to child proof the dugout and clubhouse.
LF: Speaking of starting pitching, what's up with the wave of young prospects you've got coming in? With McCarthy, Lowry, Prior, Perez, and now Gonzalez, Brazoban, and Olsen being added to your squad, do you really feel you can compete this year against teams with a starting rotation currently in their primes?
HD: Granted, these guys are young, but they're the future of this club. McCarthy has been getting solid innings at the major league level, and Lowry's been here for over a year now. I don't have to explain about Prior I hope. Perez has been disappointing, sure, but his strikeout rate is phenomenal. Olsen is a risk for this year, but I feel he'll add enough down the line to make his roster spot worth using this year. Gonzo and Brazo are the future of our bullpen. Brazo already has a closing roll for the rest of the year and we hope to keep him in that spot for years to come. Now, another thing...
LF: I'm sorry Howe, I'm going to have to stop you there. Your 3 minutes for that question is up.
HD: God damn you Lich. I've got a question for you.
LF: That's not exactly how this works, but ok, go ahead.
HD: Is that stupid smile attached to your face or are you able to adjust it at all?
LF: EHSPN put it in my contract that I have to smile at all times, or I get fired. Next question: What team in the EHCC scares you the most?
HD: At this point, they all do. We can't seem to stay consistent enough to beat anyone, nevermind the teams at the top of the EHCC. If I had to pick just one, I'd have to say Rakeville is the scariest team in the league. They've been building their pitching and ignoring all insults throughout the past 3 years and now their offense is just about as good as their pitching staff. Though, I wouldn't put it past Jack [Reed] to pull the trigger on one more big move in order to solidify his team as the favorite for this year.
LF: That's all the time we have for today...
HD: What? That was only 4 questions. Not 9. I still better be getting paid in full for this.
LF: Call it a rain out. And I'll see about your payment.
HD: I'll tell you what I call it, I call it...
LF: Thanks for joining us. Hope you enjoyed yourself. Thanks to Howe Dogg for joining us.
Lich Feisen is the host of EHSPN9's "9 Strong Innings" and is a silent partner of the famous Las Vegas strip club Crazy Horse Too.
