Question and Answer with Jeff Parker

[Chris]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/DJAXXFAN/jeffparker.jpg

 

Jeff Parker, General Manager for the 2005 Southern League First Half Champion West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, has graciously agreed to answer questions from posters on NSBB! If you would like to send a comment to Jeff, or if you would like to ask Jeff a question, feel free to post it here. I will allow the questions/comments to be posted until July 29th at noon. Once Jeff has had an opportunity to answer them, the responses will be posted.

 

From the Jaxx website:

Jeff Parker is begining his second season as the General Manager of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. Jeff has previously served as the GM with the Altoona Curve, the Pittsburgh Pirates AA affiliate in the Eastern League. Prior to his move to Altoona, Jeff spent ten seasons in the Scouting and Player Development office with the Anaheim Angels, including the prestigious job of Director of Player Development. Jeff is a 1988 graduate of Villa Park HS and attended California State University in Fullerton, California. He is also a graduate of Major League Baseball's Scout School. Jeff, his wife Mindy, and two daughters, Paige Elizabeth and Elena Grace reside in Jackson.

This session will be coordinated as in accordance with The NSBB Q & A Guidelines

 

Thank you to Jeff for taking the time to interact with us on such an up close and personal level! I encourage everyone to visit the official website of the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx. In addition, thank you to all of you for making NSBB such a wonderful community!

Edited August 15, 2005 by Chris

[WrigleyField 22]

What exactly is the job of a minor league GM? Ultimately doesn't the Major League GM have control over how everyone is placed and moved from AAA to AA to A? Do you have any control over any player moves? Please explain.

 

Thanks for answering our questions!

[TruffleShuffle]

I am living in State College, PA now and have attended a number of Altoona Curve games. Were you involved in the great ideas for promotions that the Curve always seemed to come up with? I read somewhere that they received an award for best promotions in the minor leagues. My favorite was Awful Night, personally. :D

 

Also, is there much job stability in the position of minor league GM? Can you expect to be with the Diamond Jaxx for a while now? Is there much traveling during the season that keeps you away from your family?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Jeff,

 

The attendance problems the Jaxx have had are common knowledge, and there are many rumors about the team moving. Do you think the team, being a Cubs farm team, would do better in an area that wasn't so pro-Cardinals?

[NCCubFan]

Are you employed directly by the Diamond Jaxx, or by the Cubs? In other words, if the Cubs were to move their AA team elsewhere and somebody else's AA team relocated to West Tenn, would you still be in West Tenn or the new location of the Cubs' AA team?

[treebird]

How many people work for the Diamond Jaxx in total, besides the players?

[rawaction]

Thanks for giving us your valuable time, Mr. Parker.

 

First, could you tell us about the position of Director of Player Development? What were your basic job duties? And how closely do you work with Oneri Fleita who has that capacity with the Cubs?

 

Second, do you need an assistant? :D

[Holy Cow]

What kind of say do you have in deciding weather a player like Pie is ready to move on? While numbers are imortant, it seems to me like you would need someone who really sees him on a day-today basis to decide if he is ready, or if there is anything left for him to learn in AA.

[Cubway]

Thanks for you time.

 

Do all Southern League teams use the same standards in counting the attendance at each game? Is it true that some teams add the season ticket holders to the turnstile count and other do not? What do you do?

[Chris]

Greetings everyone. I'll be going to the park earlier than expected tomorrow. Since I would like to have the questions/comments edited before I leave, I'm going to have to make the deadline for turning in questions/comments tonight at midnight. Thank you for your understanding!

[texascub]

Thanks for answering our questions Jeff.

 

My question is what did you study in college to get where you are today, and how did you get into MLB's Scout School?

[Chris]

Greetings all. Enclosed are Jeff's responses to your questions and comments! Thank you to Jeff not only for being a part of a Q & A, but for doing a great job with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx organization!

 

Jeff's answers are in bolded text.

 

 

Jeff Parker Q & A

 

WrigleyField 22

 

What exactly is the job of a minor league GM? Ultimately doesn't the Major League GM have control over how everyone is placed and moved from AAA to AA to A? Do you have any control over any player moves? Please explain.

 

Thanks for answering our questions!

 

 

YES, YOU ARE CORRECT. THE MINOR LEAGUE GM HAS LITTLE OR NOTHING TO DO WITH MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER MOVES OR TRANSACTIONS, OTHER THAN MAKING SURE THE PLAYER GETS PICKED UP OR DROPPED OFF AT THE AIRPORT. THE MINOR GM RUNS AND OVERSEES ALL OF THE BUSINESS OPERATIONS AS THEY RELATE TO THE MINOR LEAGUE AFFILIATE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM. A LOT OF PR, SALES AND MARKETING AND OPERATIONS STUFF.

 

THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION.

 

JEFF

 

_________________

 

 

TruffleShuffle

 

I am living in State College, PA now and have attended a number of Altoona Curve games. Were you involved in the great ideas for promotions that the Curve always seemed to come up with? I read somewhere that they received an award for best promotions in the minor leagues. My favorite was Awful Night, personally.

 

Also, is there much job stability in the position of minor league GM? Can you expect to be with the Diamond Jaxx for a while now? Is there much traveling during the season that keeps you away from your family?

 

 

STATE COLLEGE IS A GREAT TOWN AND IT IS EXCITING TO HEAR YOU'RE GETTING YOUR OWN MINOR LEAGUE TEAM. I REMEMBER MEETING WITH THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND THE HEAD BASEBALL COACH WHEN THAT PROJECT WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO THE TABLE. I WAS THE GM FOR THE CURVE FROM NOVEMBER OF 1999 THROUGH THE SPRING OF 2003. WE SET THEM UP PRETTY GOOD FOR THE 2003 SEASON, BUT THEY HAVE CARRIED THE BALL PRETTY WELL FROM THEIR. A LOT OF OUR ORIGINAL STAFF STAYED BEHIND AFTER THE ORIGINAL OWNERSHIP DEPARTED AND CHUCK GREENBERG AND PARNEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE IN ALTOONA. I MISS EVERYTHING BUT THE ICE STORMS.

 

THERE IS MORE JOB STABILITY HERE IN THE MINOR LEAGUES THAN THERE IS AT THE BIG LEAGUE LEVEL, WHICH IS WHY I GAVE UP A JOB WITH THE ANGELS AS THEIR PLAYER DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. IT ALSO REQUIRES MUCH LESS TRAVEL. I HAVE THE OPTION TO REMAIN CLOSE TO MY FAMILY. IT IS NECESSARY TO TRAVEL ON OCCASION, BUT NOT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

 

THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.

 

JEFF

 

_________________

 

 

vance_the_cubs_fan

Location: Monroe, LA

 

Jeff,

 

The attendance problems the Jaxx have had are common knowledge, and there are many rumors about the team moving. Do you think the team, being a Cubs farm team, would do better in an area that wasn't so pro-Cardinals?

 

 

MONROE, LA, THE HOME OF ANGEL GREAT CHUCK FINLEY!

 

WHAT ATTENDANCE PROBLEMS? WE HAD 1,200 PEOPLE HERE FOR A NOMAR GARCIAPARRA REHAB ASSIGNMENT, SHOULD WE HAVE HAD MORE? YOU'RE DARN RIGHT WE SHOULD HAVE! THERE ARE CUB FANS EVERYWHERE, BUT WE HAVE QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT JACKSON IS A BASEBALL TOWN, PERIOD. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK HERE, BUT AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, 1,200 FANS FOR NOMAR WAS NOT A VERY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.

 

THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.

 

JEFF

 

_________________

 

 

NCCubbieFan

Location: near Raleigh, North Carolina

 

Are you employed directly by the Diamond Jaxx, or by the Cubs? In other words, if the Cubs were to move their AA team elsewhere and somebody else's AA team relocated to West Tenn, would you still be in West Tenn or the new location of the Cubs' AA team?

 

 

EMPLOYED BY THE DIAMOND JAXX. IF THIS TEAM MOVES, I GO WITH IT.

 

JEFF

 

_________________

 

 

Treebeard

Location: Avon, IL

 

How many people work for the Diamond Jaxx in total, besides the players?

 

 

FRONT OFFICE STAFF, ROUGHLY 10 TO 12 ON AN AVERAGE. WE HAVE NUMEROUS GAME DAY AND OPERATIONS STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE PART TIME.

 

THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION.

 

JEFF

 

_________________

 

 

rawaction

 

Thanks for giving us your valuable time, Mr. Parker.

 

First, could you tell us about the position of Director of Player Development? What were your basic job duties? And how closely do you work with Oneri Fleita who has that capacity with the Cubs?

 

Second, do you need an assistant?

 

 

THE POSITION OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST JOBS IN ALL OF BASEBALL. YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY PLAYER AND INSTRUCTOR IN YOUR SYSTEM FROM ROOKIE BALL ALL THE WAY TO TRIPLE A. YOUR JOB IS TO GET THEM TO THE SHOW, MOVE THEM AT THE RIGHT TIME, HIRE THE RIGHT INSTRUCTORS AND AFFILIATE WITH THE BEST ORGANIZATIONS IN MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE PHONE FILLING HOLES IN THE SYSTEM, DEALING WITH AGENTS AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE MAJOR LEAGUE STAFF. YOU ALSO OVERSEE AND OPERATE THE COMPLEX IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE SPRING TRAINING COMPLEX. GREAT FUN AND GREAT SATISFACTION, WHEN YOU SEE A YOUNG DRAFTED PLAYER BLOSSUM INTO A PREMIER MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYER.

 

WE COMMUNICATE WITH ONERI ON A REGULAR BASIS AS IT RELATES TO MAKING SURE HIS PLAYERS AND STAFF GET WHAT THEY NEED TO GET THEIR WORK DONE. THE CUBS ARE A FIRST CLASS ORGANIZATION AND WE HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR HOW THEY OPERATE AND TREAT THEIR AFFILIATES.

 

AS FAR AS THE ASSISTANT, I DON'T THINK WE COULD AFFORD ONE, UNTIL WE START DRAWING BETTER. THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST. IF YOU ARE SERIOUS, GO AHEAD AND SEND IN YOUR RESUME. YOU NEVER KNOW.

 

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

 

JEFF

 

________________

 

 

Holy Cow

 

What kind of say do you have in deciding weather a player like Pie is ready to move on? While numbers are imortant, it seems to me like you would need someone who really sees him on a day-today basis to decide if he is ready, or if there is anything left for him to learn in AA.

 

 

THE MINOR LEAGUE GM HAS NO SAY AT ALL. THE MANAGER AND HIS INSTRUCTORS THAT ARE WITH HIM EVERY DAY HAVE A LARGE IMPACT ON HIS PROGRESS. THEY DO NEED TO REMEMBER TO REMAIN OBJECTIVE, WHICH IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE WITH THEM EVERY DAY. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE SOME SCOUTS SEE HIM FROM TIME TO TIME. SCOUTS THAT ARE NOT EMOTIONALLY ATTAHCED OR DETACHED FROM THE PLAYER.

 

HE IS ON THE DL NOW. SO HE STILL NEEDS SOME AT BATS AT THIS LEVEL.

 

JEFF

 

_________________

 

 

Cubway

Location: DJaxx country

 

Thanks for you time.

 

Do all Southern League teams use the same standards in counting the attendance at each game? Is it true that some teams add the season ticket holders to the turnstile count and other do not? What do you do?

 

 

I THINK SOME LIE AND I THINK SOME TELL THE TRUTH. I GUESS IT HELPS SELL ADVERTISING OR SOMETHING. WITH US WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET. SEASON TICKET HOLDERS ARE COUNTED AS PAID TICKETS, BUT ACTUAL ATTENDANCE IS ALSO RECORDED. WE OFFICIALY REPORT "PAID ATTENDANCE."

 

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

 

JEFF

 

_________________

 

 

texascub

Location: West Texas

 

Thanks for answering our questions Jeff.

 

My question is what did you study in college to get where you are today, and how did you get into MLB's Scout School?

 

 

WEST TEXAS! I SPENT MANY A NIGHT IN THE BALLPARK OF THE MIDLAND ANGELS. I WAS SORRY WE COULD NEVER GET MILES OR THE FANS A WINNER WITH SUCH GREAT PLAYERS! I WAS A SPEECH COMMUNICATIONS MAJOR. (NO MATH) I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE AN EMPLOYER (THE ANGELS) WHO SENT ME THERE AS A REQUIREMENT. BOB FONTAINE, JR. AND BILL BAVASI MADE SURE THAT I WENT AND PASSED. IT WAS A GREAT HELP FOR ME WHEN I WAS ON THAT SIDE OF THE BUSINESS.

 

THANKS,

 

JEFF