Get to Know a Nephew - Run All Night

Welcome to the NoJR's inaugural installment of the "Get to Know a Nephew" series!

Our very first Nephew is Run All Night. Throughout the years, his team has gone by many names, most of them related to Liam Neeson blockbusters:

• 2011: Falmouth Falcons
• 2012: The Night's Watch
• 2013: SilverLiningsPlybk
• 2014: Non-Stop
• 2015: Run All Night

While the team names may have changed throughout the seasons, his winning percentage has consistently been among the top teams of NoJR, including a league record of .633 in 2013.

Without further ado, my interview with RAN...

Commissioner: Thanks for taking the time to talk baseball and all things NoJR! Let's start with the real game: who's your favorite team, and how do you like their play so far this year?

Run All Night: Mets. They have been playing better than expected. It helps to have the Dark Knight and Thor pitching for them, but I suppose crime fighting and world salvation takes a back seat during baseball season.

C: Who's your favorite current player, and why?

RAN: Not sure I have a favorite current Met. If I have to choose one, I’ll go with Lucas Duda who has emerged as the Mets best field player. He’s their best hitter, has improved his hitting against lefties this year, and is arguably their second best defensive player after Lagares.

C: How about your favorite all-time player, and why?

RAN: All-time favorite Mets would have to be Mookie Wilson and Howard Johnson. Both switch hitters, Mookie had that impressive speed on the bases, not only going 1^st to 3^rd but from 2^nd to home on infield grounders. Loved HoJo’s multi-positional and 30-30 playing ability. 

Howard Johnson - more than just a hotel chain.

C: What's your favorite baseball memory? It can be based on MLB or even something like playing in Little League.

RAN: Game six of the ’86 World Series.

C: As a Sox fan, I'm willing to stomach that answer only because the curse is over! 

You boldly predicted the Mets to make the playoffs, and they are currently leading the NL East while I'm about to eat crow (note: at the time of interview, this was true). What additional piece(s), if any, do you think they'll need to be a leading contender for the World Series?

RAN: A few things – it sounds like David Wright may be out a long time. If so, and if Murphy will stay at 3^rd, then they need another infielder to play 2^nd (or 3^rd if Murph stays at 2^nd). Their overall team defense is mediocre. Except for Lagares, a gold glove centerfielder, and Duda at 1^st, the rest are all average or below. They need a better lefty in the bullpen as Torres has struggled. Maybe when Blevins comes back from his injury he’ll be able to become that primary lefty. They need a stronger lefty starter as Niese has struggled. Perhaps he improves as the season goes along or maybe they bring up Matz from the minors if they continue to stay in the pennant race. Whatever they do, I hope they DO NOT trade any of their young arms for help to plug in holes.

C: From an outsider's perspective, I can see how defensive players could make a solid difference going forward - the team is definitely sacrificing defense for pop at some positions (especially SS).

Turning to our virtual game... you've finished in the top 3 every single season of NoJR in terms of winning percentage. Without giving away any proprietary information, what do you think has been the key to your sustained success?

RAN: Luck? Liam Neeson? Max Scherzer? I had to look back at my rosters. If there was any common theme it was having a couple of dominant SPs. MadBum and Wainwright for a couple of years, and now Mad Max and Sale, though the latter has been struggling some this year. Maybe it was the late start. Hopefully he turns it around.

C: Now about a month into the 2015 season, how do you like your team's play so far?

RAN: So far so good. The team could use a power OF/UT bat that can provide some HRs. Hoping that Jose Fernandez will be able to contribute, but with the Marlins free falling, may be little incentive to bring him back.

C: It will be interesting to see what Miami does - I expected more improvement from them this year, but with their GM now as their manager, I'm not holding out hope for that.

Who has been the most pleasant surprise on your roster? The most frustrating disappointment?

RAN: Pleasant Surprise:

Pitcher – Dallas Keuchel (and the entire Astros team). Glad to see them doing well (wish they were still in the NL) and they may soon have Carlos Correa, one of the top prospects in all of baseball, joining them.

Hitter – Brandon Crawford. A waiver wire pickup helping not only RAN but the Giants in breaking out of their Odd Year funk.

Frustrating Disappointment:

Pitcher – Phil Hughes. Expected better and the Twins are contending, a much bigger surprise than the Mets. The Twins are my favorite AL team and their best pitcher so far has been Mike Pelfrey, an ex-Met and 5^th starter at best. Hopefully Hughes turns it around and the Twins keep in contention and they bring Buxton up.

Hitter – Betts & Polanco. Have high hopes for both young players, hopefully they both improve as the season progresses. Whereas the Sox seem content to let Betts play, the Pirates seem to sit Polanco now and then, especially against lefties. Rather they just let him play through things. 

As an impartial observer, I see good things ahead for Mookie.

C: You and Hughes Drubbers have, in my opinion, the biggest rivalry in NoJR, consistently fighting for the top spot in the NL. Do you guys know each other outside of fantasy baseball?

RAN: Friends since High School.

C: Very cool, I had a feeling there was a connection there. 

I remember last year you mentioned Byron Buxton was one of your favorite prospects, and you've got him in your farm system this year. Who do you think represents his floor and his ceiling among past and current players?  (For example, for Kris Bryant I would say his floor is Mark Reynolds and his ceiling is maybe Mike Schmidt, assuming his defense improves.)

RAN: That’s a tough one. I suppose his ceiling could be a Trout or McCutchen or this year’s Bryce Harper. Floor would be maybe Dexter Fowler, in a good way. I have Dexter on my team and I like him because he does everything above average but nothing exceptionally well. Falling through the floor, maybe Colby Rasmus or Jason Heyward, a hyped prospect with high hopes that is serviceable but never really pans out or reaches those heights once expected. 

In keeping with a Twins reference, let’s take Torii Hunter. Would the Twins sign up for 19 years of Byron Buxton resembling Torii Hunter? Over 19 years, Hunter has put up some strong numbers and played, until recently, a Gold Glove caliber centerfield. 1200 Runs, 2400 Hits, 300 HRs, 1300 RBIs, 200 SBs, .280/.335/.465. Not too shabby.

C: I've got to think that if he has a career like Torii Hunter's that the Twins would have to be pretty pleased, Torii's been a model of remarkably consistent productivity. RAN, thanks again for your time! 

Catch you next time for another edition of "Get to Know a Nephew."