The MANager Behind the Team 1.
Spotlight: How do the RedHawks look this year? Simi: I was pleasantly pleased with the way our exhibition season went. It was a lot of the guys’ first taste of independent baseball and was perfectly played. The regular season is off to a good start.
2.
Spotlight: You play 100 regular season games. How do you keep everyone healthy and happy with such a grueling schedule? Simi: It’s over three and a half months so you’re always on the go. There’s a lot of baseball being played. Guys wear down so our job is to know when to push the buttons and to know when to back off so we don’t burn them out.
3. Spotlight: What’s your favorite aspect of baseball?
Simi: I’ve done it for 37 years so evidently there’s something I like about baseball. It’s a daily game… It’s not a very emotional game like football or hockey where you only play once or twice a week. With baseball you need
to be even-keeled. You have to try to be as steady and competitive about it as you can.
4.
Spotlight: What does Fargo mean to you and what do you think the RedHawks means to Fargo? Simi: I’ve made this my second home. I come May 1 and I don’t leave until September so my summer months are spent here. We have great fan support. We have a nice stadium. There’s something for everyone. Kids can get close to the players. The concessions are good. You can get whatever you want at the ball game. Plus, with the nice stadium seating, the RedHawks are right there at the top of the league with a great atmosphere.
5.
Spotlight: What’s some of your favorite things to do around town? Simi: There’s always something to do around here. We’re in and out of here so much you barely have time to unpack your bags. I like the Street Fair, Airshow and Ribfest. Those are three things that are fun to be around but the key is that you need to be in town for them. Our schedule sometimes doesn’t allow it.