I have written more than once how easy it is to discount what those in the front office do when you are sitting in the seats.  Writers and Call-in sports talk hosts hear from fans all the time about trades that should be made, and deals that should get done.  Unfortunately, often, the person giving the idea hasn’t looked at the idea from all sides. 

The Winter Meetings are coming, and one of the big games that happens during those few days, is a great game of fishing.  One scout is sent by his GM to go talk to another scout about a minor leaguer- “what do you guys think about player X?”  That scout might get back a “we love him, or he’s AA material” kind of answer.  Then the scout returns to his GM and reports, giving some idea how valuable that player might be to a team they might start talks with.  Its one way within the business that the GM can look at a trade from another point of view.

Well, Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle has challenged his readers this week.  He has given them the basic parameters by which the current GM is looking to rebuild for 2010, and  set them free to build their own team.    Payroll is a hard number.  Salary obligations to players are known, and may make them untradeable.  The empty holes are what they are, and need to be filled by someone.  Now the fans need to make the decisions.

Its kind of a fun game.  I thought I might try it on the messageboard here- but the question might be what teams should we do it for?  The Tigers? The White Sox?  The Mets?  If you think this might be a good idea, leave a comment below naming the team.  I will start a thread on the messageboard tomorrow giving you the parameters- then we can see who can come up with the best ideas.  Oh, and we can do more than one team- so name whoever you want.  (Know if its left up to me, it will be the Reds!)