Did he think I was just going to take over?
Do everything myself?
Probably.
But I won’t.
I can’t do this entirely by myself.
He’s a kid just out of city college, not the usual Ivy League graduate that gets an opportunity at baseball operations for a major league club. He grew up just a few blocks from where we stand right now. This is his dream as much as its mine. Plus, he’s phenomenal at his job. He loves the game and he knows his stuff.
“Really,” I reassure him, and he lets out a heavy sigh, but doesn’t make a move to leave. “Now, what’s on your mind?”
“There are some rumblings,” he starts, but I don’t need to hear more.
“Out of Richard and Harry’s office?”
Gregory’s silence is enough of an answer.
Richard Dobbins and Harry Turner, assistant general managers just like me: one for major league scouting, the other for player development. Both have been with the Eagles longer than I have, both kept on from the previous administration before Stew moved from the dugout to the front office.
Both probably think they should have gotten the nod in Stew’s absence.
“If it means anything, I think you’re the right person for the job.”
“I appreciate that.”
“And Stew wouldn’t just give it to you because . . .”
“Because I’m a woman?”
He blinks at me and then says, “I was gonna say because he likes you better, but, yeah, that might be why they’re extra pissed now that I think about it.”
“Yeah,” I say, grinning at the young man who is so kind he’d never assume someone was being sexist. “Do me a favor before you go, and get me Dan Wilson on the phone and hang out for a minute. I have an offer for him he’s going to want to hear.”
I loathe agents like Dan Wilson. I can respect an agent whogoes hard for his clients, who does everything they can to get the highest bid for the most number of years. What I don’t respect is the shady strategies he uses, sending “anonymous” tips to reporters, inventing phantom interest in his clients to stir up enthusiasm around the league and overvaluing his players to such an extent that many of them end up missing out on weeks or even months of a season while they wait for offers that aren’t coming. He built his reputation more than a decade ago on deals that taught teams to be wary of his clients. Dan makes it abouthim, not about his players or about the game.
My desk phone rings. It’s Gregory.
“I have Dan Wilson on the line.”
I sit up at my desk, straightening my shoulders and lifting my chin, as if the man will be right across from me. Okay. I’ve got this.
“Thanks, Greg,” I say and he disconnects and then transfers the call.
“Dan Wilson here. What can I do for you, Miss Sullivan?”
“Just calling to introduce myself. It hasn’t hit the papers yet, but with Stew out on medical leave, I’ll be serving as interim and I have full organizational authority to handle negotiations.”
“I was sorry to hear about Stew. How’s the prognosis?”
“I’ll leave it to Stew to decide how much he wants out there, but when I saw him, he looked good.”
“Glad to hear that.”
“I thought you would be. Well, just wanted to touch base. You have a good one, Dan. Hope to talk to you soon. I’ll have my assistant get you my cell number in case you want to talk anything through.”
I disconnect the call and wait a second and then another until I’m sure he’s not on the other end.
