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FOCUSED FRYMAN
Scrappers skipper concentrates on the sport that fills his life
By JOE SCALZO
NILES
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Travis Fryman, manager of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, talks baseball with reporters during the team’s media day Thursday at Eastwood Field in Niles.
Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2010
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The Mahoning Valley Scrappers kick off the 2010 season Friday. Manager Travis Fryman talks some baseball.
If you’re looking for someone with the inside scoop on LeBron James’ plans, Travis Fryman is not your man.
For that matter, he’s also not your man if you want to talk about World Cup soccer or the Cleveland Browns’ draft or what went wrong with the Penguins in the NHL playoffs.
“I don’t watch any other sport other than baseball,” said Fryman, a five-time All-Star with the Indians and Tigers who will start his third year as the Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ manager tonight in Jamestown. “I can’t even have an intelligent conversation on any other sport other than baseball.
“Every other sport was made for people who couldn’t play baseball.”
Fryman is a throwback. A devout Christian, he’s been married to the same woman, Kathleen, for 19 years despite being in a business with a fairly high divorce rate. He’s shunned moving up the Indians’ managerial ladder to spend more time with his family — you can often find one of his three sons in the dugout or the locker room at Eastwood Field — and likes the Scrappers’ short season schedule because it allows him to stay in the game without letting the game overtake his life.
“I very much enjoy this,” said Fryman, who also works as an instructor with the Indians’ extended spring training. “I’ll use the same phrase I’ve used the last two years, I’ve found a blend of baseball professionally balanced with my personal life at home.
“This is a good fit for me.”
After going 31-44 in his first season, Fryman led the Scrappers to a 49-27 record last spring — best in the New York-Penn League. They lost in the deciding game of the NYPL championship series.
But, this being Short Season Class A, he’ll start over tonight with any almost entirely different roster, one that’s much heavier on late draft picks and undrafted free agents than the past two years.
“[Winning] is just a reflection of your draft, the age of your players, the experience level of your players,” Fryman said. “It’s not a situation where you’re building from one year to the next.”
Fryman knows winning is a secondary goal behind development. He’s learned patience over the past two seasons, doing his best to forget the previous night’s mistakes (and losses) and focus on the next day.
“I’m a competitor, too, and winning’s a lot more enjoyable than losing,” he said. “So you’re constantly reminding yourself of what you’re here for, what you’re trying to accomplish.
“You have to define what success is for you personally. It’s not about winning or losing at this level, although I do believe that’s important to an extent. I want winning players on my team, I don’t care where I manage or work.”
The NYPL doesn’t usually have former major league All-Stars as managers, and Fryman believes he brings a blend of professionalism and perspective that’s unique at this level.
“This job gives me an opportunity to impact these guys both personally and professionally,” he said. “It’s all teaching at this level. With young player, it takes a little more patience. There’s going to be some good days and bad days.”
Thursday, of course, was a good day. The season hadn’t started yet, the Scrappers had a perfect record and everybody’s future looked bright.
“It’s a little bit like spring training,” Fryman said. “Everybody is rosy and smiling and laughing and having a good time.
“There’s a lot of scared faces and a lot of uncertainty because they don’t know what they’re getting into, but there’s a lot of optimism as well.”