Billy congratulations on the second time you've been named baseball's executive of the year. Is it most meaningful because of all the negative expectations that outsiders had of the -- going -- to 2012. Yeah -- you listen. Mean -- -- young vigorous probably strong I think you know. The perception go on is is that we're we're going and what we're going to be a few years away. But yeah I think there's a lot of you know satisfaction internally get this you know this club was a lot better and I think people -- credit towards the end of the year. And I think listen you'll be gets you really appreciate. Any winning season we have had won a few years and I think there's a lot of his record not just for the players on the field but. What everybody in the front office and David force my assistant Jim forehands -- -- -- Dan Feinstein. And that's why look at this award is not really an individual award growing up front office a warden and listen and have a manager like Bob Melvin who I hope. Is the manager of the year here very soon. Go ahead and GM's aren't necessarily in the business of singling guys out but after sending away GO Gonzales Trevor Cahill Andrew Bailey last winter. Is there one acquisition that you were most proud of in the last twelve months. If no listen yeah I mean your -- you don't like to single one out I mean there there's certainly. You know go when you see guys like -- Brandon Moss who'd been through a few organizations come over and and get the opportunity that you know there's a lot of and here we are happy for the kid. And those are fun but I the I think all the trades all the guys who brought over Josh Redick and you know Tommy Malone Derek Norris and on and on I think for obviously were pleased with the all given the result. And it in any mention three guys we gave up by -- I don't think we're ever under the illusion that we weren't. Trading good players but we're in a position where we need of a lot of good players and three just wasn't gonna do it so. But there are some individual stories Lisa Brennan's a gray one where you know he comes up and does what he does after spending a lot of times the mileage plus times mileage. You also had a great story out in left field this year what would you say is that next level for a guy like you want assessments. Manny I've got the point with you minus three is still putting your limitations on and he's really an incredible talent and fact this'll probably over the before your time -- but and a player that. People always ask me who Louis reminds you of them I was a kid grown up there's a great player Newsome and Cesar Cedeno. And that's the guy that he reminds me of a registered gray -- town and you know. He's got a chance to -- in -- they're doing and you want Stuart and what was amazing was to see is improvement from at bat to a bat. Here we start to be in the year just to see you worry ended up was really amazing. -- your team cracks 500 by the all star break they got into a playoff position with a remarkable July survived a tough September schedule. Won the last in game 162 but at what point did you actually believe that taking the division was. Even a possibility. We know the division always seem a long way off number one. It's not that I don't think the club was good enough is that we had -- texas' in my opinion was. Through pretty much was the it was a best team in America league. So I don't really you know the division where we got that last homestand we realize -- it was somewhat within striking distance but. I think realistic we just thought that was -- difficult club overcome I think obviously going in the last three games -- we had three to play with them. I think that's what really hit us that we could go we could win the division but. You know I and I can go on back even in the summer I think the huge series for us I think -- are coming out party. Was when we swept the Yankees and home four game series and they're all one run games but when you beat the Yankees in four games. You know I think our guys at that point but that they had a chance to do something special. It's a what do you heard about the production of money ball park tube because a lot of people including myself say that. 2012 was -- a better story than 2002 can you agree with that. A half. Well to listen there was a lot of us -- this -- a lot of fun because we did come in with no expectations and and though you know 2002 club and still even though we lost a lot of players in 2001 there's still a lot of known. Players there and we we still of the court the club cover and back. This club I don't think anybody -- I think we have a 1011 rookies -- most the season so. So yeah I thought it was a great story I certainly think I enjoyed this one. Or the twenty game win streak back and owed to him and you know you're so young and intense you don't even really enjoy it and I think belliard the Angels won like seventeen out of twenty so it seemed like we needed to win those but. This one was really a lot of fun for everybody wants game on back to the expectations coming in. Billy with a fifteen walk off wins the celebratory pies the burning lean your team was a lot of fun this past year. As a general manager is that something that you can architect from the beginning or -- that chemistry just have to happen on its own. You know -- first all with Bobby Bobby Melvin who reduced to a great job real bombs are really just where it was it was such a gift to have a guy like that available ushered them earlier. And you know he really creates -- clubhouse happens during Bob's great because he has his respect from the players -- the also like him. So it starts with him. And then the next thing is when you start winning games guys have a lot of fun when they're winning when you lose and it's not a lot of fun so why you take you take those two elements and and I think that's why we. Had what we had that clubhouse. -- the most hard hitting questions for all the -- second half success in the crazy you know the fan base went crazy with the Bernie. Did you ever try the Bernie Wayne maybe even in the privacy of your own home. You know it's tough out -- I can tell you I know I'm zero chance and got no rhythm and and I've now turned fifty. So I really wanted to public chiropractors table afterwards solid guys like Coco Crisp and judge -- most of the younger guys do that but title -- complete -- bigger. -- -- recently -- shortstop Cliff Pennington for outfielder Chris Young realistically. You know for guys that can all play that senator -- position for you next year how do you keep a wall both happy. And affected us. Well look you know the one thing we're gonna certainly rotate through the DH slot you know it's nice having DH -- -- positions sometimes you're locked in -- -- ties up the manager's hands. Yeah I think you remember to the season so long. And we lost Coco. I think they're between Coco what's the status -- they -- -- him his 75 games between them. It's nice to build a park again the DH slot if they needed day off from the outfield so. You know it's a good problem to have and it's something you know. Bob and myself and the rest of -- don't have to answer but we we certainly will be rotated him through if you know that -- started tomorrow and would you wanna give guys rest and once again injuries pop up to you wanna be prepared. Wanna get to the signing of Bartolo Cologne a one year deal reported three million dollars base -- some incentives. It's actually raise from last year's contract and a season where he battled some injuries and was also certain that fifty game drug suspension. Why was this a good move for your team. Well I look at -- did he is a you know people forgot about it in the -- revel in the division when he was really. Huge part of our success the first -- of the year. And we want you we got a very young staff and even though they did had a great beer away -- batting pitching depth -- all the reasons we got through last years because we had injuries real replace guys. And once again similar Chris Young acquisition you just can't count on having. You know five starters all year or nothing goes wrong so what and then Bartolo was a great guy and the club us. And he was a great example for young players in terms of the way he went about his business on the mound he fires strikes. And I think the cost of pitching is only gonna go up and that we felt was an opportunity to bring back somebody we knew and somebody who had success here. -- two more things the first being this. You got so much shot of the Brendon Moss is the Ryan cooks -- Jarrett parkers on and on and on last year we can name all the names. 94 wins in 2012 -- was a lot is that still realistic benchmark for your team into when he thirteen. Well listen in most has cost. Went back you know. As we say the new year than in of them we'd like to make some additions so I'd certainly the goal and I think you look at our division with Texas and Anaheim I think Seattle's a team on the rise here is probably a starting point. Houston coming in division pictures -- but you always like to do better the next year than you did did your reform and the fact that we got a young player that has a -- -- -- young team that has chance to improve -- I mean I've I term but we're certainly looking to improve upon that that's for sure. So no I don't this is unrealistic and I appreciate that lastly this is probably the reason that you're an executive of the year Oakland had 74 wins in 2011. 94 and 2012 so how if at all these two off seasons different in terms of your personal approach. And tact with other general managers may -- acquisitions. Well you know the good thing about what we did last year was that so we we acquired so many young players that we don't have a lot of positions to fill as you mentioned shortstop is. Probably the one area we're focusing on right now but there is going back most this -- back and that's a good thing it's very few years we've got a lot of stability here. And we knew even before the season was over that so we weren't gonna have to duel at tinkering and and hopefully the additions we make improve upon last years team so some it is a much different winner in. And a little less hectic than I was last year. -- we appreciate all your time congratulations once again on the award and continued success. We hope you can keep this momentum. Thanks very.