** Quick aside – This will be addressed in more detail in a later post, but Matt’s involvement is a microcosm of the CFCL. In the first few years of existence the Co-Founders did most all of the heavy lifting in trying to mold and tweak the league to be what we needed it to be. Then we would try to pull teeth to get owner feedback or votes to pass a new rule. In the years since we have had many proactive contributions from the DoorMatts, Ruffins, Six Packs, Bald Eagles, Revenge, Clowns, etc. that have further shaped the CFCL.
Matt’s Mode of Operandi usually follows this pattern. He will leave me a voicemail about a number of baseball topics (leading off with the incompetence of Pat Hughes and then moving on to solving other Cub related problems) but at times he will bring up something about the CFCL. He’ll plant the seed and see what my reaction is.
** Quick aside #2 – Matt and I leave each other almost daily voicemails, sometimes numbering seven at a time. Some of these are pure gold (and some suck rocks) but I am convinced there is an audience out there for our banter. If anyone reading this has any sway with ANY radio station looking to fill air time, have them contact me. I’m telling you this could be HUGE!
So Matt commented on the old 4X4 categories and mentioned that we were undervaluing a lot of players by not having Runs, OBP and Holds being incorporated in the scoring. When he has an idea like that he will explain why and what we may be missing out on and then he’ll sit back and let me think or comment on it. We’ll go back and forth and more often than not he’ll convince me it’s worth mentioning to the league. He’s an Idea Man.
I am certain that each of you reading this blog read in great detail the link to the Constitution. When (not if) you did, you read about Winter Waivers. During the off-season we waive players and claim other teams castoffs. It’s a way to do something baseball related when there’s six inches of snow on the ground. The original rule stated that when a player was claimed his salary was .10 or his previous salary, whichever is higher. After a few years Matt asked “Why? Why change the salary at all? If a team wants to waive a guy whose salary is .01 and someone else wants to grab him, why can’t the salary stay at .01?” Turns out there really wasn’t any great reason not to allow the salary to remain the same. It increased activity because now some players that are waived are much more valuable with their lower salaries. It all started with Matt thinking. He’s an Idea Man.
He has left me many, many messages about our in-season trading. Something about a team drafting a player for .48 and then when the season doesn’t work out, trading that player for cheaper players or prospects. The logic being that when a National League team signs a player or players to a big salary during the off-season, they aren’t able to trade those players without some sort of consequence (unless you’re the Miami Marlins). I don’t always “get” the idea. He’s an Idea Man.
Sometimes he’s the Creative Genius. Coming up you will read about K-Wood Day and The Natural Day. The extreme general idea was mine, but I threw it out to Matt and he formulated the specifics that we now celebrate. Tune in Monday, May 6th to learn about K-Wood Day.
Matt also has introduced the CFCL to two of its current owners and is feverishly working on two potential future owners.
This can be said of many current owners, but Matt is one of the unsung heroes of the CFCL. Always in the background (for proof just look at the annual League Photo) but always moving. Always thinking and trying to make sure the CFCL is as realistic and great as it can be.
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