We Got Wood - 40.22 - Wilson Talks "Master Plan"
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2019 10:57 am
While things are starting to look a little promising in Portland of late (a 7-8 record in May will do that to you), Lumberjacks General Manager Chris Wilson talked today about how the organization isn't about to do anything crazy or drastic to alter the course the franchise is on. The conversation started about prospect Jorge Lopez who's been tearing it up in Triple-A this season.
"I understand there has been a lot of conversation among the fans and within the organization about the need to bring up Jorge" stated Wilson. "It isn't happening this year. Yes, I understand Jorge is having a great start to the season, but at the age of 19 we just don't want to expose him to the pressures of BBA life and play just yet. We fully intend to bring him up next season."
Lopez is currently hitting .344/.428/.592 with a 2.4 WAR over 44 games played this season. Many think he should be starting in the Lumberjacks outfield right now, not suffering in Quincy in Triple-A. Wilson disagrees.
"Can he play here? Probably. But we have other options right now. Jayden Harsnett is our starting leftfielder right now. Sadaharu Oh is in right, and Steve Dempsey is our DH. Say what you want about those guys, but they're all getting paid right now and they're all going to play. We don't have a spot for Lopez at the moment. Next year, we probably will. In years past, I'd probably be all over calling up Lopez and shipping someone else off. But right now, this is all a part of our Master Plan in Portland."
Wilson then went into detail about how the club isn't too focused on what happens in 2040. While staying competitve and winning games is still a priority, keeping the financial situation in check and the success of the club in the future in tact is the goal. Wilson explained the organization wasn't in any hurry to start Lopez's clock or begin paying him right now when the club has other options. While some criticized Wilson over taking some larger contracts in the expansion draft, Wilson indicated that those are only on the books for another year or two. Guys like Dempsey are gone after 2040. Several times though, Wilson talked about the "master plan" which finally prompted a reporter to ask him how his plan differed from that of former Nashville and now Charlotte General Manager Brett Golden's "Plan"
"What do you mean" asked Wilson? "Brett has had a plan for quite a while now. I'm not sure it ever worked. Clearly what I'm doing here is nothing like what Brett started and failed to finish in Nashville and now moved to Charlotte. His was just a 'plan' Clearly what I'm doing here, with my 'Master Plan' is better and nothing at all like what he's been working on."
So there we have it. While Charlotte has a plan. Portland has a "Master Plan". League offices failed to respond on whether this "Master Plan" violates the league's new Trademark violations protocol.
"I understand there has been a lot of conversation among the fans and within the organization about the need to bring up Jorge" stated Wilson. "It isn't happening this year. Yes, I understand Jorge is having a great start to the season, but at the age of 19 we just don't want to expose him to the pressures of BBA life and play just yet. We fully intend to bring him up next season."
Lopez is currently hitting .344/.428/.592 with a 2.4 WAR over 44 games played this season. Many think he should be starting in the Lumberjacks outfield right now, not suffering in Quincy in Triple-A. Wilson disagrees.
"Can he play here? Probably. But we have other options right now. Jayden Harsnett is our starting leftfielder right now. Sadaharu Oh is in right, and Steve Dempsey is our DH. Say what you want about those guys, but they're all getting paid right now and they're all going to play. We don't have a spot for Lopez at the moment. Next year, we probably will. In years past, I'd probably be all over calling up Lopez and shipping someone else off. But right now, this is all a part of our Master Plan in Portland."
Wilson then went into detail about how the club isn't too focused on what happens in 2040. While staying competitve and winning games is still a priority, keeping the financial situation in check and the success of the club in the future in tact is the goal. Wilson explained the organization wasn't in any hurry to start Lopez's clock or begin paying him right now when the club has other options. While some criticized Wilson over taking some larger contracts in the expansion draft, Wilson indicated that those are only on the books for another year or two. Guys like Dempsey are gone after 2040. Several times though, Wilson talked about the "master plan" which finally prompted a reporter to ask him how his plan differed from that of former Nashville and now Charlotte General Manager Brett Golden's "Plan"
"What do you mean" asked Wilson? "Brett has had a plan for quite a while now. I'm not sure it ever worked. Clearly what I'm doing here is nothing like what Brett started and failed to finish in Nashville and now moved to Charlotte. His was just a 'plan' Clearly what I'm doing here, with my 'Master Plan' is better and nothing at all like what he's been working on."
So there we have it. While Charlotte has a plan. Portland has a "Master Plan". League offices failed to respond on whether this "Master Plan" violates the league's new Trademark violations protocol.