Tricia Takanawa, Takanawa Times

10/13/2013: Seoul, South Korea – Today, I will sit down with Mark Kierstead, owner of the Seoul Crushers.  We will look over what went down in what could be the worst season in Seoul’s history.  We will look at what went wrong and what can be improved, how the team can rise up from the gutters of the BBG.  Another subject we will touch on is trades: good trades, bad trades, and the kind of trades that make fans say, “Huh?”  We’ll also discuss what Kierstead thinks of his current roster and what changes he foresees next season.

Takanawa: Good morning, Mr. Kierstead.  How are you?

Kierstead: I am good, Tricia.  How are things at the paper?

Takanawa: It’s good, thank you.  You had a bad season this year.  Seoul is currently last again in the BBG and will likely finish with the second-worst record in the league.  Are things looking up?

Kierstead: I would not say we had a bad season, but maybe a losing season.  We had a few huge contracts we had to get rid of and a $16,000,000 million mistake.  Now we have tons of payroll room.  We will have just over $6,000,000 in payroll next year, a massive difference from what we had at the start of this season.  We do have a bad record but, thankfully, it’s not the worst.  Sure, being bad means you get a nice draft pick, but when you can’t pay for him, why draft at all?  But it also hurts; your fans do not show up.  You have media contracts that seem to become non-existent.  It’s tough and runs a course on you.  Things are going to look up.  I have been in major talks for shaping the next five years of this team, who we will be and what kind of ball we will play.

Takanawa: Your season kind of went well at the start until pitching collapsed and never recovered.  It was not even on life support; it just failed completely.

Kierstead: Yes, pitching is a problem.  I love most of my pitchers.  My belief is, “Pitching wins.”  You can have the best hitters in the world, but if you do not have the pitching staff then it’s a moot point.

Takanawa: Word has it you have a five-year plan?  Five years is a very long time.  You never can be too certain of the future.

Kierstead: I will say yes, I am working on a plan but will not comment on it at this time.

Takanawa: You had a mini-scandal this year.  MR Naofumi Ishii was thought to have tipped pitches.  What is your thought on this?

Kierstead: The reason we did not come forward with a public statement is because it was handled in house.  The truth is Ishii in fact did tip pitches.  We investigated the video and concluded Ishii was upset with his contract and wanted LRS money.  He thought he was worth a lot more then league minimum.  The fact is I suspended him the day he got hurt.  I chose not to fine him and instead will demote him when he recovers.

Takanawa: You like to trade, and trade a whole lot when you do.  You make some good trades and what many consider “high as a kite” type of trades.

Kierstead: Yes, I like to trade when I see something I like.  I can see how other owners and people outside my inner circle see my trades.  If I see something I want, I try to get it.  It’s like signing free agents; sometimes you overpay and sometimes you get a deal.  But I am firm in that the players I trade for, I have a reason for it.  I may trade for a player I do not need but another team who has an asset that I want does.  It’s tough sometimes.  A trade was made back a year or two ago and the player that the owner traded away had a career-ender soon after.  You feel horrible, but that’s the risk you take.

Takanawa: What are your plans for this off-season?  Any major holes you will try to fill?

Kierstead: I think the Winter Meetings will go well.  We have an offer on the table I am approving as we speak.  I am looking maybe to add 1-2 pitchers to the team.  It’s what we badly lack.  I will not look for 5-6 year deals, just
short-term.  We have a lot of young guns up and coming.

Takanawa: Well, this is where we will stop for now.  I thank you, Mr. Kierstead, for your time, and I look forward to talking more.  I hope you have a good flight this evening.  Enjoy your time over there.

Kierstead: Thank you.  Yeah, the flight is a little over six hours.  I have a lot to present and talk over.  I will see you later this week.

Takanawa: Well, that is all we have for now.  Later this week, we will have part 2 of this interview, with part 3 to follow.  Not sure where Mr. Kierstead is headed, but it is important.

I am Tricia Takanawa and this is the Takanawa Times.