A friend of a general manager accepted an invitation to watch a game from the GM's private box this season, thinking how much fun it would be. The experience turned out to be far different from what the friend expected.
"He's nuts during the games," the friend said. "He's a completely different person. His personality changes, and he goes through all kinds of emotions pitch to pitch. And what's sad is he sees everything. He'll be sitting there going, 'Why did that guy throw that pitch? Why did he throw a curveball, instead of his fastball? Why was the shortstop playing in the hole, instead of straight up?' He'll question
everything.
"It was just overpowering, the intensity. I'll never watch a game with him again."
From what I've heard, about half of the general managers in the majors are like this: completely psychotic competitors. Some of them might wear suits, some of them might wear ties and some of them might wear flowered golf shirts, but the wardrobe doesn't matter -- you don't reach a position at the top of a Major League Baseball organization without being fueled by a raging competitiveness somewhere along the way. Most of the GMs crave victory like other people value air and water, which is why, when necessary, they will step in and confront players about the way they play or the way they conduct themselves.
Which also is why it makes sense for GMs to wage baseball war in every possible way, including on the waiver wire.
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Buster Olney
