Rick Forney

2. FOLDERS: “This is the reason why I need a palm pilot,” laughs Forney. His folders hold blank player contracts and lists of players who have been released from their contracts, along with their phone numbers and player classification (in case he needs to sign someone while on the road). “I guess it’s easier to put online,” he says, “but that’s not as much fun.” Forney also has work permits and passport copies for all the players in case they forget theirs when they cross the border. “Players get a two year permit because they have one year contracts with an option.” �

3. PITCHING CHART: Forney’s new pitching coach, Rich Hyde, didn’t arrive in Winnipeg in time for spring training—he’s a school teacher in Illinois—so Forney filled in. He uses this chart to keep track of pitches. “It’s good documentation,” he says. In his blue binder he also keeps the names of all his pitchers. In the pre-season he had 13-14, and by the regular season will have trimmed that to 11.

4. PHOTOS: Forney and his wife have four children, ages 21 months to 10 years. He arrives in April, with his family following in early June. “It’s not very much fun being apart,” he says. By the end
of July the family is headed back home to get ready for football practice and school, while Forney stays until September, when hopefully the Goldeyes are in the playoffs.

5. BASEBALL AMERICA REGISTER: Lists of players by league, from the major to minor leagues. Great if you have to find players in a pinch and don’t have access to a laptop.

6. DUFFEL BAG: “What we take on the road. We’re only here yesterday and today before going back on the road and I knew I wasn’t going to wear it, I was just being lazy I guess. We’re on the road half the season, we have 48 games and about six travel days. We bus and fly, tomorrow we’re going to Fargo so it’s a short trip.”

7. STOP WATCHES: Forney uses stop watches to time a pitch, and measure how long a runner has to steal bases. If a pitch is 1.4 seconds or slower he is a guy who is good to steal bases against, says Forney. The average throw of the catcher is two seconds, which adds up to 3.4 seconds. That gives a runner about 3.4 seconds to steal a base. We’re talking three tenths of a second here, says Forney. “Baseball is a game of inches, but it’s also a game of seconds,” he says. “And some people think baseball is boring!”

8. WORK PERMIT: An American, Forney requires a work permit when he comes to Winnipeg each season. Originally from Walkersville, Maryland, Forney returns to his hometown in the off-season, but his life is still all about the Goldeyes, as it’s a full time job putting a team together. “Ten years ago there weren’t as many leagues out there,” he says. “Today all those teams are trying to recruit the same players. As a result, to get 27 to 28 players, you’re talking to their agents and wives to convince them to come to Winnipeg.” Forney himself had heard of Winnipeg before he was first hired as a pitcher in 1997, and although says he is not a hockey fan, he did used to play with the Winnipeg Jets on ’94 Sega Hockey. �