Baseball General Manager's using video games? Interesting thought. But you're thinking what is he talking about. A lot of people play video games these days, whether its Madden 2006 or MVP Baseball 2005. You name it, millions of people are playing it. As an avid sports gamer I often find myself getting serious about the game. I often enter into the option for a franchise and it allows me to run my own team. I get to scout players and update my stadium with luxuries in the off-season, have my own draft, have spring training or mini-camps and then I get to go through the season with my team.

For me, I thoroughly enjoy playing the new MVP Baseball 2005 game from EA Sports. It's one of the more realistic baseball games out there and I like to keep everything as real as possible. I keep all the rules on, play a game like it should be played. I warm up the relief pitchers in the 7th and bring them in in the 8th and 9th, I like to pretend like I am a real coach. Here's where my kink comes in. I'm a die hard Red Sox fan. I know everything about them inside and out. I die with them and I live with them. So when I am playing my MVP Baseball I like to keep my team update. When a player get's traded in real life, I like to update my team as well, kind of a way to see how the new team will work out.

So this off-season, I have taken it on myself to update the new look Red Sox. I have acquired Josh Becket, Mike Lowell, Guillermo Mota, Mark Loretta but I have also created players like Dustin Pedroia. I have also made trades the way I feel the Red Sox should be doing them. I didn't resign Johnny Damon. I traded Matt Clement to the Mariners for Center Fielder Jeremy Reed. Now, I am working on some other small trades, possibly to fill the first base slot. I have played a few games with the new look team and I like the blend of speed, power and defense. I still have the Manny Ramirez and shortstop situation though. I am looking to sign Alex Gonzalez, shortstop from Florida, and keep Manny. I realized that no one wants Manny Ramirez and all I'd get back is another star player with too much money. It's not worth it, I will keep him on my team. Why would you get rid o####uy that puts up 140 RBI's, 40+ Homeruns and an incredible OBS every year?

Here's my proposition to current MLB G.M.'s. Try using the MVP Baseball game to figure out your new team. Hey, I know it's a curveball technique, but it can work. You get to look at their ratings and see how they fit into your organization. Throw them in different places in the lineup and see where they fit well and can contribute the best without impeding on your actuall win-loss record. It's an interesting spin on what G.M.'s could be doing with their time, rather than pretending to make moves to make their fans happy. Let me know what you all think about this. I know this would never happen, it's too childish. But does anyone do what I do? Or does anyone agree that this technique could help give G.M.'s a simpler look at what they are getting? Just give me your thoughts.