Past Interviews:

So Cal Slyme
Plattsburgh Champs
Chicago Black Sox
New Milford Blazers
Queensboro Kings

January 27, 2000
by "Biggest Daddy"

Hot Stove Talk: The Minneapolis Haymakers

Biggest Daddy puts the Haymakers under the microscope:

Something tells me E. Zigmund isn't finished trading. This guy probably drives to the local Burger King on Wednesday nights to trade Pokemon cards with 3rd graders. I've seen him there since Wednesday is also two for one night for Whoppers.

Batsmen: The former Delafield Ogres have been transformed from a lumber happy bunch into a more balanced team. Bell and Palmer absolutely crush lefties. Craig Paquette will crush many fastballs into the alleys in the 8th and 9th innings. Big left-handed bats in the form of McGriff, Burnitz and Greer will wreak havoc on righties. Too bad they'll all have to face Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown, Bret Saberhagen, Kevin Millwood, and Mike Mussina many times during Butler Division games.

Moundmen: Jon Liber earned his 4.05 ERA in the friendly confines of Wrigley so he is better than he looks. Unfortunately, he gets shelled by lefties. Moyer, Byrd and Olivares fill the other rotation spots. If the middle relievers can get the games to Venafro and Benitez late in the game, the Haymakers can compete.

Outlook: Haymakers construct Lamar Hoyt shrine and pray for better pitching. At the All Star break they bring Cecil Fielder out of retirement to be the first hitting instructor/pinch runner in history.

For more info, check out Commish Glander's season preview

An Interview with Haymakers GM Eric Zigmund

Biggest Daddy: Biggest Daddy in the house. Here are some questions:

Eric Zigmund: My 15 minutes of fame... Excellent!

BD: How does one make hay? Or, is it the punch in boxing you're referring to?

EZ: Well Big Daddy, it is a combination of things. One doesn't make it unless the sun is shining, and then a little seed, a little sun, and a lot of TLC.   Sure, its a boxing thing, yes that is true, but it is also a Midwestern thing. And in this case, its a baseball thing.

BD: Did you grow up a Twins fan?

EZ: No -- I grew up in northern New York. St. Louis was my club (please Biggest D, no, not the Browns). As I grew older, I had to pick -- the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox -- and the BOSOX came out on top. Have you ever been to the Metrodome? Ouch.

BD: What will the Haymakers lineup look like this year?

EZ: In a word, awesome. We will be tough from spots 1 - 8. The Crime Dog has made some promises that if he can live up to will carry us a long way in '00. And I'm hoping that we have a few guys in wings going forward.

BD: What about your rotation and pen?

EZ: I hate to boast, but again, awesome. I think that we are deep in both categories. Not real good, but pretty deep. Benitez rules, and he has just the edge that the team needed. I think we played too much paddy cake last year, and we have decided to take the gloves off for this campaign. With that said, you can see why we went out and acquired Armando.

BD: Do you ever lay in bed at night dreaming of BDBL domination?

EZ: Sure, I think about it... Alot... I'm only human.

BD: If Biggest Daddy ever came to Minneapolis, what restaraunt(s) would you recommend? (You can't say TGI Friday's)

EZ: Chez Zigmund (Eric, not Tim). I will treat like the prince that you are -- steak and taters, and all the fixings. Although I'm surprised and a little disappointed that you'd ask about eating when you are here -- I thought that you were on a diet.

BD: Who are the teams to beat this year in the BDBL?

EZ: Besides the Haymakers? I haven't taken the time to check out the competition yet (call it arrogance if you must). I think that Madison's, Plattsburgh's, and Hudson's offenses will be tough, and some teams in the Eck League really were really going to improve with last year's performances -- but again, I haven't looked since the draft. Los Altos also looked good coming in, and Salem picked up some guys that I wanted. We will have to wait and see -- I don't want a prediction ending up on another team's locker room bulletin board.

BD: Ginger or Mary Anne?

EZ: Ginger, hands down.

BD: Did you think that little kid in Jerry McGuire was cute or a pain in the $%*?

EZ: Pain... Big pain. Of course, I thought Jerry was kind of a pain himself.

BD: Got Milk?

EZ: Yes -- in spades. In the words of the Haymakers' conditioning coach, Dr. Evil, "do you want a suck of my zipple?"

BD: Do you like your potatoes baked or mashed?

EZ: Mashed... with a hint of garlic.