Kevin kerekes-baseball

Kevin Michael Kerekes is a New Jersey based former minor league baseball player and investment manager.

Kevin Kerekes, Florham Park, NJ

KEVIN KEREKESOctober 2014

Kevin played for both Rutgers

University and the Pittsburgh Pirates in

the minor league system.

The 10 Commandments of a Successful Baseball FranchiseDO YOU WANT TO SUCCEED?

You don't have to have a championship team to have a successful baseball franchise. It just has to be competitive, and the fans have to know that you're trying to put the best team on the field without breaking the bank. Here are ten commandments for running a successful baseball franchise.

1. Treat the fans well. Fans are your source of profit. Profit equals success. Sponsor events that reach out to the community, such as police and firefighter nights. Offer a discount to members of the military. Have plenty of special days for kids. Don't overcharge for snacks. Keep the seat prices low.

KEVIN’S LESSONS FOR FRANCHISE MANAGERS! PAGE2

Kevin Kerekes, Florham Park, NJ

“Build a solid farm system. It's better to bring players up through a farm system than to pay too much for free agents.”

-KEVIN MICHAEL KEREKES

2. Treat your players well. A bitter player or a pampered player won't play hard. Deal with them fairly, and pay them what they're worth. Don't show favoritism. Trust your manager to do his job. As an owner, you shouldn't have to meddle.

3. Get a good manager. A respected manager instills confidence in the team. He can be a famous ex-player or a famous specialized coach, like a batting coach, but he has to have the respect of his players so that they'll hustle for him.

4. Don't spend too much on aging free agents. Players frequently have banner years during the final year of their contracts. Don't fall into the trap of giving a 30- to 34-year-old outfielder a contract for six years. His skills will diminish as he ages, and he'll be more prone to injuries.

5. Build a solid farm system. It's better to bring players up through a farm system than to pay too much for free agents. Scout younger players, and sign them early. Watch them improve, and promote them when the time is right. Waiver wires are good for finding players who might be signed for a low cost.

6. Sign the best pitchers possible. Good pitching is imperative. Your starting rotation should be staffed with stars. Your middle relievers need to be journeyman workhorses. Your closers must be proven.

7. Don't force players to play when they're injured. Let them recuperate, or they might worsen their injury and be out of commission longer.

8. Get rid of locker room distractions. Players with bad attitudes or those who attract excessive media attention will distract your team and give you never-ending headaches.

9. Encourage heads-up, aggressive play. Players should run out every hit. They should be on the lookout for errors by the other team and be ready to take advantage of them.

10. Steal bases at every opportunity. Base stealing creates havoc on a defense. The pitcher wastes throws to first base and risks the chance of a wild pick-off play. It's harder for a team to focus if they're constantly worried that your runners have the green light to steal. Infielders have to shift to guard against theft, which leaves nice, big holes in the infield for easy hits.