John McMillan

Name:  John McMillan
I-75 League team name: Margaritaville Volcanoes
Birthdate: July 29, 1962
Currently resident of: Desoto, Mo.
Birthplace: Detroit, Mich.
Family: Jack the Border Collie
Occupation: Economist/Consultant
Employer: self
Job title: Big Kahuna
In plain English, what do you do:  Push numbers around spreadsheets
Real-life MLB team you are a fan of: Chicago Cubs/Detroit Tigers.  My loyalties would be tested if the two ever met in a World Series, but as Jimmy Buffett might say, “I’ll burn that bridge when I come to it.”
Year joined the I-75 League: 2001
First began playing Strat: 1980
How you first were introduced to Strat: Phil Roselli tricked me into his basement to “play a fun baseball game.”
How you became part of the I-75 League:  Phil Roselli tricked me into joining “a fun Strat-o-Matic League.”
Origin of your team name:  Homage to Jimmy Buffett, and his song  Volcano.
Any Strat involvement outside the I-75 League? none
Fondest  I-75 League memory (related to Strat competition):  Volcanoes came 1-out away from winning the World Series title in 2007.  Takashi Saito needed to retire Vernon Wells, but could not and the SGP Warriors took games 6 and 7 to win the 2007 Series.  Margaritaville fans hold Wells in the same place in their hearts that Red Sox hold Bucky “F-ing” Dent.
Fondest I-75 League convention moment: Phil Roselli and I arrived early at one convention.  After talking trades but making none, we decided to leave for Taco Bell.  While at Taco Bell, Mike Wilson and Jamie Turner completed a blockbuster deal involving Jason Schmidt.  Phil vowed never again to value a Burrito Supreme ahead of an ace pitcher.
Favorite I-75 League tradition: Every convention we rent a condo with a heated pool/hot tub.  Every convention, after arriving at the condos, we discover an unheated pool/hot tub.  Every convention, the management companies have an inventive reason for the lack of pool/hot tub heat.  Most inventive excuse so far is, “Florida law prohibits hot tubs above 90 degrees, since chlorine gas would vaporize and cause serious injury.”
Trade or draft pick you made that you wish you could have back:  John Baker will have a good catcher card in this year’s set of scarce catchers.  Steve Hart got a good value for him with a 6^th round draft pick.   In the first retention draft, I won the roll-off for A-Rod.  Then traded him a month later for Nomar Garciaparra and Mark Prior.
Trade or draft pick you made in which you think you hit a homer: Jay Bruce.  His September stats after his wrist injury lends promise that he will be a great value at #3 overall in the 2009 draft.   In the re-entry drafts I have picked up:  Brad Lidge, Matt Garza, Jered Weaver and Brandon Webb.  Hopefully Webb can bounce back and continue the Volcano tradition of knitting silk purses out of sow’s ears.
One thing you would do to improve the league:  Need to attend more Astros spring training games when they’re giving away free caps.
How to follow you:  Facebook page.  Most league managers are already friends.  Hope all will follow.
Your chance to self-promote:  Adam Jones is going to be a great center-fielder.  Athletic, young, great defense and nice power.  Should be a great investment for the right team, though I imagine his current value is more than a third round draft pick.
How you can be reached: DrGridlock@aol.com