Carver Harris writing for the Tempe Frontiersman
Monday, Nov. 5th, 2013

Tempe, AZ – Just when you thought one of the most storied franchises in the business couldn’t surprise you anymore, the Tempe Knights pulled a new trick out of their hat when they announced their new General Manager at a small impromptu news conference held in the team’s clubhouse yesterday evening.

Much has been written in past weeks and months about the events that led to Chris Van Hauter purchasing a majority stake in ownership of the franchise he had built from worst to first in a few years from Judge Banner, then resigning from his post as GM.  At least as much has been written in speculation over whom Van Hauter would designate as his successor.

All the bigger was the surprise when the dozen or so reporters were presented with Sascha Tesch as the new GM.  Sascha who? The press handouts offered little info on whom we were seeing on the podium next to Mr. Van Hauter.  A 37-year-old native of Germany, Tesch seems to have spent the last few years managing the affairs of the Elmshorn Alligators in Northern Germany and the Vienna Wanderers in Austria.  Suffice it to say that none of us was impressed.  Was this a joke?

Apparently not.  Van Hauter explained that this hadn’t been an easy decision.  “We forced ourselves consciously out of our comfort zone”, he explained.  “Difficult decisions are ahead of the franchise, and we wanted a fresh mind, unencumbered by history, taking a new look at how we do things around here.”

Tesch didn’t seem intimidated of what lies ahead.  “Mr. Van Hauter offered me a great opportunity but also a great challenge.”  He was referring, of course, to the financial situation in Tempe.  During the 2013 season, the club lost $32,233,313 – incidentally, almost exactly the sum of the salaries of the team’s highest earners: SS Miguel Soto ($11,762,000), P Conan McCullough ($11,240,000) and P Luis Peña ($10,500,000).  All three players are eligible for free agency.  Would the Knights try to re-sign them?  “We’re still evaluating our options, but given our financial situation it appears unlikely”, Tesch said.

Analysts expect that with some of the major stars leaving, a farm system that holds few big prospects and depleted coffers, the focus for the next seasons will be rebuilding.

Said Tesch, “Mr. Van Hauter has achieved incredible things in the past years, and I hope to be similarly successful.  However, we’re still a team in a small market.  We need to build our team solidly from the ground up; we can’t always hope to have the cash reserves we’d like to have.  I don’t believe in burning a house to build it up fresh from the ground.  I believe in renovating, keeping what has worked and replacing what hasn’t.”

So with a German GM, would the uniforms be changed to Lederhosen, and chewing gum and tobacco replaced with sauerkraut?  “No,” laughed Tesch, “but how about offering German beer and bratwursts at the ballpark?”  At least on that point, he’s likely to find consensus.