Reese Kaplan -- The Press Conference Statements We're Waiting to Hear

Yesterday Mickey Callaway held his first press conference of the Spring.  While it contained a great many of the usual platitudes about taking it one day at a time, working hard to get into shape, staying healthy will help win ballgames, etc., I can’t help but wonder what statements we had hoped to hear from the presser.

“It will truly be an open competition for starting and bench assignments.  May the best man win.”

We know that a RECENT track record of success should count for a lot should the person in question have a poor Spring.  However, banking on someone who was last successful back when Bruce Jenner was a man isn’t fair to those folks who are doing more productive things lately.

“Salary and draft position will not dictate opportunities and assignments.”

THERE’S a pipe dream if ever there was one.  Who can forget the numerous opportunities given to guys like Jason Bay, Michael Cuddyer and others when it was clear to everyone they simply weren’t getting it done.  Now the draft pick thing is a little different after the 7 years of burying the kids by Callaway’s predecessor.  Neither Brandon Nimmo nor Gavin Cecchini have gotten many opportunities (and Dom Smith is already ticketed to the minors). 

“We’re going to take defense and taking the extra base as seriously as we do the long ball.”

Given the porous state of the team’s defense and their over reliance on swinging for the fences, it’s easy to forget things like hitting behind the runner, stealing bases, deking outfielders and flashing the leather.

“The best 25 players are coming north with us without regard to available options or bragging rights for having found potential lightning in a bottle.”

There will come a time when non-deserving players get the ticket to Queens while better players are banished to Las Vegas for reasons that are economic or ego-driven in nature.  How will Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman feel when Rafael Montero gets the nod simply because he is out of options?  How will Dom Smith feel if he hits .300 while a sore-backed guy turning 36 in May gets tabbed to start?

“We will use players however we think they will best help us win games.”

Now that one, to be fair, has already been stated with respect to the closer by committee.  However, it could extend to shifting someone who has been a starting pitcher to the bullpen, someone who typically plays one position to another or shaking up the traditional spots in the batting order.  These decisions more often succumb to players’ egos, threats from agents and the MLBPA, or mandates from the front office.

"Rookies and young ballplayers will be given the chance to succeed (and to fail).  It's part of learning how to win."

Wow, wouldn't that be refreshing to see that a player who goes 6-6 won't be benched the next day or one who goes 0-6 won't lose his starting job when the crusty veteran alongside him knows his name will remain in the lineup?

"I will ask the front office to get us the right players necessary to win regardless of cost."

Now no one is expecting any club to say they'll sign every Arrieta, Lynn, Cobb, Martinez, Lucroy and Gonzalez that is available, but bottom feeding for scraps is not a way to build a championship club.

“We are setting the goal to win the World Series.”

Too often the accepted performance level is being competitive or “meaningful games in September” when the goal should always be to win the crown as the best team in the game. 

What statements would you like to hear made (and executed) this season?