Brink Hangs it up in Tampa Bay
Jun 22, 2022 22:45:15 GMT -5
AstrosGM_Shane, Rich - Former GM, and 2 more like this
Post by Arizona_PBL on Jun 22, 2022 22:45:15 GMT -5
After 24 seasons of being the GM of the Tampa Bay Rays, I am saying goodbye to the team that has given me three stomach ulcers and the loss of all my hair. As one of my last acts as GM I have fired the good for nothing manager. I leave Tampa with a record of 2135-1755. I brought Tampa to the playoffs in 14 of the 24 years, making it to the World Series three times and coming away with one win. I want to thank Shane, Danny and Jeremiah (who always found a way to beat me) for an incredible division that made the PBL incredibly interesting every year. As the old adage goes...steel sharpens steel (my blade got a few nicks though).
Looking back on my teams I actually had three different teams during my tenure here in Tampa.
The 2040 – 2048 team, which went to the Big Show twice, was a solid team lead by Terrance Henderson, Pedro Valentin, Randolph Cashmann (an injury unfortunately derailed his career), Ronald Simpson, and Joe Small. Shout out also to Jason Wilson that was at the tail end of his career. They were a great group of guys that consistently performed. You know what you got with them. I vividly remember my first year in Tampa as we went from 64 wins the previous season to 104 wins my first year with the team. The guys gave it there all and I am sorry for them that I could not get them their ring that they deserved.
The 2049 – 2054 team was essentially a placeholder while we worked on brining up the next round of talent to the team. Although we didn’t make the playoffs in any of those years, we fielded a competitive team and the guys competed for me. I was lucky to work with Jim Chesney, John Miller, Harry Lawson, and Harry Willis during those years. John had the talent to be excellent and although we had several trade offers for him, he didn’t want to leave Tampa, the place he called home. John and Jim hold special places in my heart. True Rays.
The final team that took me from 2055 – 2063 drove me fricken crazy, LOTS of talent just incredibly inconsistent. We went to the playoffs in 8 of the 9 years finally winning it all in 2061. Memorable players on this squad include Yusuke Tanaka, Bruce Ford, The Gutierrez “brothers” Eduardo and Fernando, Trevor Burt and Colton Smith. This team still has a lot of years left in it and they will compete for years to come.
Some of the youngsters I will sorely miss include Trevor Burt, Yang-cheng Hsueh, Akihito Yamamoto and Jorge Baca. A LOT of talent in these young men and I foresee incredible futures in the years to come.
Now you are probably asking why are you leaving the PBL, and the answer is…I am not. I am starting the next chapter of my PBL career by taking on the extremely difficult challenge that is the Toronto Blue Jays. Wish me luck…I have a feeling I am going to need it.
Looking back on my teams I actually had three different teams during my tenure here in Tampa.
The 2040 – 2048 team, which went to the Big Show twice, was a solid team lead by Terrance Henderson, Pedro Valentin, Randolph Cashmann (an injury unfortunately derailed his career), Ronald Simpson, and Joe Small. Shout out also to Jason Wilson that was at the tail end of his career. They were a great group of guys that consistently performed. You know what you got with them. I vividly remember my first year in Tampa as we went from 64 wins the previous season to 104 wins my first year with the team. The guys gave it there all and I am sorry for them that I could not get them their ring that they deserved.
The 2049 – 2054 team was essentially a placeholder while we worked on brining up the next round of talent to the team. Although we didn’t make the playoffs in any of those years, we fielded a competitive team and the guys competed for me. I was lucky to work with Jim Chesney, John Miller, Harry Lawson, and Harry Willis during those years. John had the talent to be excellent and although we had several trade offers for him, he didn’t want to leave Tampa, the place he called home. John and Jim hold special places in my heart. True Rays.
The final team that took me from 2055 – 2063 drove me fricken crazy, LOTS of talent just incredibly inconsistent. We went to the playoffs in 8 of the 9 years finally winning it all in 2061. Memorable players on this squad include Yusuke Tanaka, Bruce Ford, The Gutierrez “brothers” Eduardo and Fernando, Trevor Burt and Colton Smith. This team still has a lot of years left in it and they will compete for years to come.
Some of the youngsters I will sorely miss include Trevor Burt, Yang-cheng Hsueh, Akihito Yamamoto and Jorge Baca. A LOT of talent in these young men and I foresee incredible futures in the years to come.
Now you are probably asking why are you leaving the PBL, and the answer is…I am not. I am starting the next chapter of my PBL career by taking on the extremely difficult challenge that is the Toronto Blue Jays. Wish me luck…I have a feeling I am going to need it.