My Night At The MLB Winter Meetings

By Todd "The True Guru" Farino

I had the privilege of going to the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings this year in Las Vegas, Nevada. Since there wasn't allot I was going to gain by being there during the day, I went in the evening (I'd rather watch ESPN for the updates). I went both Tuesday and Wednesday nights and I have to say it was one of the greatest professional experiences of my life. First and foremost I'm a fan. I've been watching baseball since 1982 (I was 8 years old), so this was an eye opening experience for both my professional perspective, but also my fan perspective. Both nights I was there for one main reason, to meet up with my friend Cory Schwartz of MLB.com. You all know Cory Schwartz from the MLB.com Fantasy 411 podcast and his numerous appearances on the Fantasy Baseball Gurus Show on Blog Talk Radio. Cory was an amazing host both nights and in my opinion the nicest guy in fantasy baseball and a man with an amazing career and an unlimited future ahead of him. As we hung out at the Bellagio we were able to schmooze and talk with some of the heavyweights in baseball, both real and fantasy. If you kept your ear to the ground you could overhear Joe Maddon discussing his need for more relief pitching, whether or not David Price will be in the starting rotation this coming season, what holes the Cubs need to fill in order to win this season, and other great baseball talk. Just trying to get drinks at the bar was a battle and I went head-to-head with Steve Phillips (Baseball Tonight) and I have to say I lost badly. I just can't compete with Phillips when it comes to the bartender, but I chatted it up with him while waiting. There were so many great people in the lounge like a childhood favorites Eric Davis and Mike Pagliarulo (though at first glance I thought it was Kent Hrbek. Must have been the beer goggles).

As Cory led me through the lounge introducing me to some of the biggest names in fantasy baseball I felt like Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire when they walked through the draft convention. What a feeling it was as Cory introduced me to industry heavyweights like Will Carroll, Kevin Goldstein, Joe Sheehan, Casey Stern, Mike Siano, and so many more. They were are so gracious and you will be seeing more of them in my blogs and podcast as they all offered to do interviews and give their valuable time to our show and site. Besides that and having tremendous fun with Cory, I got a crash course lesson on how the industry worked and how to best position myself to bring my listners and readers better interviews. This kind of information was invaluable to me because I always strive to bring my readers the best expert information from the sources, and that is one area I've been lagging in. So in 2009 you will see many more Q & A interviews with big name fantasy baseball experts.

I'd have to say the highlights of the evening (there were so many of them), start with my amazing and funny conversations with Cory Schwartz and Joe Sheehan. Not only is Joe one of the top experts and writers in the industry, but he is also a very funny guy. He was on his game all night and seriously was a joy to meet and hang out with. Just listening to Joe and Cory talk was like listening to General Patton and General Eisenhower talk war strategy. Flys were all over the walls. Just amazing information on the Winter Meetings, the industry, and their lives. Joe told me that evening that a key to success in the industry is, "don't be afraid to go with your perspective. If you've done the research, got the data, publish it. You have to go with what you feel and know is right. No matter the opposition." That might not be verbatim since I wasn't writing things down, but I think I got it right. Another highlight was getting to meet Sig Mejdal, who is the Senior Quantitative Analyst for the St. Louis Cardinals. Listening to his conversations showed not only his super intelligence, but even better was his amazing sense of humor. What a great man and it was a privilege to meet him. He also was wearing his 2006 World Series ring, and both Cory and I were grateful to get to checkout it out and put in on. Other highlights were meeting Omar Minaya who was so nice with his time to talk with me. I'll tell you this, the man likes Joe Sheehan allot and I know exactly why. Joe is absolutely amazing at what he does and even Omar Minaya uses it. Other highlights included getting to watch Cory tape one of his segments for MLB.com with Mike Siano, meeting and listening to stories from Matthew Leach and Ken Mandel (both MLB.com beat writers), playing craps with Lee Mazilli, and watching some of the top guys in the baseball industry fill up a blackjack table and run it.

The evening was just awesome. I can't say it any better than that. It was an adrenalin filled evening that I will never forget and that I will always be indebted to Cory Schwartz for. The things you can learn at the Winter Meetings are amazing and I recommend that if they come to your town, go check it out Stop by to meet people, and just listen to whatever you can hear. You won't forget it and you will get to meet people that you never thought you would. I took away from the experience a greater respect for the industry and not only how big it truly is, but how everyone is so close and friendly. It has opened my eyes and changed my perspective on what is important in reporting the best fantasy baseball analysis and information. Again, I want to thank Cory Schwartz for everything he did for me that night, and thank my new buds Joe Sheehan, Matthew Leach, Ken Mandel, and Sig Mejdal.