A. Jim Machmiller

Q………. How old are you?

A………. 32

A. In a suburb of Tampa, FL (Brandon, FL)

A. Yes, I'm happily married and have a 3 year old beautiful little girl.

A. I'm currently employed by a very large Heavy Equipment Dealership selling Physical Damage insurance to prospective customers.

A. Actually found out about smallball through a message board dedicated to another outstanding baseball game High Heat Baseball. Checked it out and became hooked immediately.

A. I came into it about 4 seasons ago. I actually signed up a couple of weeks earlier before starting to train...but was still heavily involved in High Heat.

A. The first thing I look at now is people I've talked to on the message board. Second, I like to look at the honor rating that corresponds to their star rating. I like challenges....so I look for close matchups. Close games help keep your little men happy.

A. This is very difficult to explain. Ball players in general are tobacco chewin' snuff dippin kinda' guys. I just decided to go with a REAL southern flavor. Funny thing is...I don't even own boots or anything that resembles that culture.

A. The Pro League is very interesting. I believe it's a different game to the Public games in the Big League. It seems harder for some reason and my bats get shut down more. I probably will have to spend one more season in the fourth league but I plan on it being my last. I would love to make it to the top league but will take some luck and a ton of training.

A. I love it....I spend a lot of time training. And I like the challenge. I would like to see a few other teams at the 9 star level though and I believe there are at least 3-5 teams that could be there if they concetrated on developing the other areas of the game.

A. I consider my best player to be several....I don't have any dominant guy. You could argue that Catfish is the best, but his arm always has to be worked on. Defensively I believe I'm solid. My best arms....Steelhead at Short and Fire Boy at 3rd and the real cannon is Cleatis in Center. Cleatis will hose guys stretching to third or second quite often. But offensively I get guys on and constantly get clutch 2 or 3 run homers. No one stands out....and I like it that way.

A. This is one part of my team that is still a concern. I started out with Billy Bo and did well, but decided he wasn't the guy. That was a huge decision because I found out that he not only has the best HR/game statistic, but he's also that fastest guy on the team and he often sets the tone of the game. But currently John Boy is my guy and I've got two others that I'm working on. Ideally, I don't have to have a guy striking a ton of guys out....what I want is a guy that can consistently keep the ball in the park and let my defense make plays.

A. Obviously to win right now you have to have the bats working. So it gets worked on everyday. But defense, speed and pitching also is very big and I hope in the future plays a more vital role in the outcome of the game.

A. I have no problems with the Commish. Creating a game such as this and perfecting it is a very large task. He always seems to be around the boards collecting all of the imput. And that's all you can ask. And he genuinely wants to make the game better and give us all an opportunity to enjoy the game.

A. I think you have given us a special opportunity to get to know the teams that you interview. I'm a people kind of person and I like to know the people that enjoy this game like I do. And for someone like yourself that gives his own personal time to give us these interviews has to be applauded.

A. This forum is like most on the internet. You get a large mix of people and personalities. And as a rule...You only get out of it what you put into it. And I use it as a tool to enhance the game. I don't let anything get personal and ignore the posts that don't interest me. Most people on our forum are interesting and insightfull and sometimes funny. And I frequent the board several times a day.

A. Yes...it informs me the direction the game is going, it introduces me to the people I challenge or get challenged, stirs up rivalries, personalizes the game and keeps the game from getting stale.

A. No...the reason is that I don't let typed words bother me. It's very difficult to read emotions or motives behind words. So I ignore posts that don't interest me.

A. Smallball is better than it was a month ago and is improving, but I believe it has a ways to go for people to embrace this game more than just a passing fancy that they might get bored with after a season or two. They have to make defense and speed a more integral part of the game. Anyone can manage a lineup that produces 10-15 homers a game...but can they manage their men properly when you get a more normal 3-5 homers a game. The old cliche' "Defense and pitching wins championships" gets thrown out the window with this game at this point.

A. LOL...Heavenly Hash.

Q. What more do you want out of Small Ball other than game improvements?

A. I want the ability to form leagues outside of the Pro Leagues. And of course the Deluxe Trainer that should have been out before now.

A. I'm a homer....and so I've embraced the T.B. DRays. Hopefully Baseball doesn't take away our team.

A. Outside of my team....I really enjoy playing the Fighting McCurtis'. That teams been through alot and the owner keeps those little guys focused.

A. I have only been to a few...yours, 12 Angry Men's and Team Owners Club. As a team page I like yours and as for a multi functioning web site I like Team Owner's Club.

Q. Was this interview fun for you?

A. Yeah...anyone you ask should do it. It makes our game that much better.

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