Tag: mlb

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: New MLB Rules Yes or No?

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The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts (right) and the Tampa Bay Rays Willy Adames (left) hug at second base during game 3 on Fri Oct 23, 2020 in the second inning after Adames stole second base. Betts and many MLB players say that Adames is one of the most liked players in the game. (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

We have seen this unique 2020 baseball season with a 60 game regular schedule as the games have been played under a slew of new rules. Some are popular, others are still up-in-the-air. Here are the most talked about. Would baseball want to keep permanently? With a rating of YES, NO or 50-50.

YES. The double-header seven (7 innings each game) Each extra-inning begins with a runner on second base, at the top of the eighth (I call the runner”a free runner”). The batter or a substitute for the batter who leads off an inning shall continue to be the batter who would lead-off the inning. Commissioner Manfred is very much in favor of this, because it keeps the game more interesting and also saves a lot of time. These games in 2020 averaged 2 hours and 30 minutes each. The reason for this rule? In the interest of player health and safety MLB and the Players Association jointly announced that both games of doubleheaders will be seven innings.(It became effective August 1).

NO. Sixteen Teams going into the Playoff. The jury still out on this, but best bet is that this is a 50-50 proposition. There is a school of thought that it should be fourteen teams, instead of sixteen. This will eliminate the possibility that (with 16 teams) teams with under .500 records would advance deep into the postseason, maybe the World Series. This season the Houston Astros (29-31) who finished in second place to the Oakland Athletics, seven(7) games behind the A’s, came within one game of representing the American League in the World Series.

50-50.Universal Designated Hitter. This will eventually will be the norm someday, but maybe not in 2021. Reports indicate some owners of teams in the National League have strong opposition. Originally the American League adopted the DH rule in 1973, with pitchers continuing to hit in games played at National League parks. That was not the case this 2020, both leagues used the Designated Hitter to avoid over-working pitchers by having them hit.

Universal lost of revenue. All 30-teams reported revenue loses. A ten (10) billion dollar industry, reported earlier prior to Opening Day, were each team was projected to lose hundreds-of millions of dollars with no fans in the stands.

No Bueno: World Series ratings for Game One according to Nielsen attracted 9.1 million viewers according to Fox Sports. The least watched World Series game ever since Nielsen began tracking ratings in 1968. It could be accredited to the protagonist, although they are the best teams by record this year, LA Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays are not a well-known popular franchise for a national audience. There would have been a totally different audience if the New York Yankees would have met the LA Dodgers in the Fall Classic, two huge media markets with two storied franchises. The Houston Astros vs the LA Dodgers would have been a much more drama-driven series and most fun for all, for obvious reasons if you have followed baseball the last few years. However, television can pick schedules, but never will be able to determine who wins and who doesn’t. The integrity of the game still prevails.

NBA TV ratings for the final between the LA Lakers and the Miami Heat were also one of their lowest in their history. Many things can be attributed to this decline in TV audiences, the Pandemic, mixed with more politics that most people can tolerate infiltrating into the sport, which at the end is supposed to offer relief and escape from the daily events that cause anxiety in people.

Let’s face it, as much as we love sports, all this looks insignificant in the world we are living today.

Like the great Howard Cosell used to say: “Sports is the Toy Department of Human life”.

Stay well and stay tune.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for Oakland A’s radio on 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s asst gm Owens up for Angels gm job; Introducing the Curt Flood Award

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Oakland A’s assistant general manager Billy Owens is looking to join the Los Angeles Angels as their new general manager. Owens is waiting for an interview with the Angels and former A’s first baseman Scott Hatteburg said Owens is an encyclopedia of baseball knowledge (photo from San Francisco Chronicle)

#1 Oakland A’s executive Billy Owens who is being considered for the Los Angeles Angels general manager job. Owens is a known for his vast knowledge of talent in MLB.

#2 If Owens was to leave Oakland and so with A’s vice president Billy Beane who is considering joining the Boston Red Sox this would be the dismantling of some of the best baseball minds in the game for the A’s.

#3 A’s owner John Fisher said he has preserved 90% of the A’s personnel for next season but with no fans returning that would put into question the A’s budget to keep employees, it’s real wait and see until spring training.

#4 MLB will have a Curt Flood Award which will be presented to either a living or deceased player who exemplified selfless devotion to the MLB Players Association, and advancement for players rights.

#5 Jerry for this World Series your getting two of the best teams in the game with the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Join Jerry F each Thursday on the MLB podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Randy Arozarena – His Escape from Communist Cuba

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The Tampa Bay Rays Randy Arozarena gives thanks to the almighty after he hits a first inning two run home run against the Houston Astros in game 7 at Globelife Park in Arlington during the ALCS on Oct 17, 2020 (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Randy Arozarena plays left field for the 2020 American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays; he recently won the Most Valuable Player Award when his team eliminated the Houston Astros last week. Today, Arozarena is playing in the World Series. But his journey to this land of freedom was not easy, as you will find here.

He was born in Pinar del Río, the Westernmost province of Cuba, one of the six provinces of the largest island in the Caribbean. That region is famous for growing the best and most famous cigars in the world, across many decades since Cuba was a colony of Spain. Because of the current system of government, communism, with no free-trade or private ownership, the Cuban cigar enjoyed their best days in the past. Now the Dominican Republic can claim their cigars are just as good, if not better. So the Cuban cigar, barely survives by its reputation of days gone by.

Arozarena played fúbol (soccer) but he was a very good baseball player in Cuba. He played for the Vaqueros (Cowboys) team in Cuba. His journey to the United States began in 2015, as he was playing for the Vaqueros, but was cut from the team just before they left to Puerto Rico to represent his country in the Caribbean Series. Why? Because the Cuban authorities feared he was going to defect the island, like most Cuban players currently playing in MLB have done.

He was a very good player in Cuba with very good numbers; he was not cut because he wasn’t good. Note: To this day after 60 years of the Communist Revolution in Cuba, no Cuban citizen is allowed to leave the country freely, unless is a government official a diplomat or in many cases sports clubs representing the country in tournaments around the world. In the past entertainers/musicians were allowed to leave to other countries for concerts, but that has also changed. Cuba is basically a closed society.

It was then in 2015 after the team in Cuba cut him from going to Puerto Rico that Arozarena decided to defect. He left the island in a small raft and headed to the West, towards the Gulf of México, a very dangerous journey in shark infested waters, which took him 8 hours to arrive to Isla de Mujeres, a small island of the coast of the famous tourist beach resort of Cancún. There in México the Mexican government granted him political exile. His family lives now in Mérida, México, his brother plays fúbol/soccer for the Cafetaleros de Chiapa. He talks to them all the time on the phone, says he plans to join them there where he is planning to live.

In an interview he gave to the New York Times, the young Cuban Arozarena: “I will not represent Cuba until things there change” and “the only thing that ties me to Cuba is my family and friends and country” plus “The situation in Cuba is bad” and added he hopes the situation changes for the Cuban people and for the Cuban baseball players.

As dangerous journey as Randy Arozarena had to endure to arrive in the US, this is common to many Cuban-born players currently playing baseball in the Major Leagues and all over the world. However (like most baseball players anyplace) their dream is to play in MLB, the best professional baseball league in the world.

I never forgot what the great Orestes (Minnie) Miñoso once told me. “When I came to the Major Leagues from Cuba in the late 1940’s I could travel in and out of the island, I lived in Cuba, but played mostly for the White Sox in Chicago, but these Cuban kids arriving since after the revolution had to go through many difficult situations before they achieve their dream”.

Perhaps one of the most incredible stories of defection by a Cuban player is that of ex-major league player Kendrys Morales, after trying and failing to defect 12 times, three of which landed him on three-day stints in prison when he was caught, finally was able to take a small rowboat to a larger vessel which then took him to the United States. He told me that story while he was playing with the LA Angels and is well documented and reported by many news agencies.

Amnesty International a reputable non-profit organization that specializes in human rights violations reports that Cuba remained mostly closed to independent human rights monitors. The government of Cuba does not allow its citizens to freely express their views, especially if they are negative to the government. Finally: There have not been free elections in Cuba for over 60 years, since the current government took power. Cuba’s government condemns free-market capitalism, yet the founder of the revolution, Fidel Castro died with close to $1 billion dollar fortune according to Forbes Magazine, who specializes in money issues.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Rays Charlie Morton 36 still overachieving; Dodgers trying to make fourth time the charm

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Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Charlie Morton seen here throwing against the Oakland A’s Wed Oct 2, 2020 in the ALWCS at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 If you look at the Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Charlie Morton’s 2020 post season stats at age 36, 3-0 and 0.57 ERA he’s pitching lights out post season baseball and maybe one of the key pitchers that’s kept the Rays post season from ending.

#2 Morton’s achievements throughout the playoffs is incredible he’s won all the games he’s started three and has gone five plus innings just enough to get the bullpen to finish the job.

#3 It’s got to drive Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash crazy to win three in a row and to think it’s in the bag and the Houston Astros win the next three straight and force a game 7 and the Rays to get out of it by a two run win 4-2.

#4 Looking at the Los Angeles Dodgers the Atlanta Braves were no easy task either after losing game four 10-2 down 3-1 in the series backs to the wall the Dodgers came back to win the NLCS winning three straight games.

#5 How will the dislocated arm injury of Cody Bellinger impact the Dodgers going into the World Series against the Rays. Bellinger hit a key home run in game 7 celebrated a little too hard too early when Keke Hernandez forearm bashed Bellinger dislocating his right arm.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish radio announcer for Oakland A’s baseball on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 2020 World Series Dodgers in Six

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2020 World Series logo from amazon.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

This might be the best Los Angeles Dodgers team in their history. They won the NL pennant beating the Atlanta Braves in seven hard fought games; this will be the third time during the last four years that the Dodgers are in the World Series.

After dominating the NL West with eight consecutive Divisional titles. The Blue Boys from Los Angeles have not won a World Series since their big upset over the much talented Oakland Athletics in 1988, that was is 32 years ago.

The Dodgers and Rays ended with the best two records in MLB this season. Dodgers 43-17 a .717 winning percentage while the Tampa Bay Rays lead the American league with 40-20 and .667. The last time the two best teams-with the two best records met in a World Series was 2013 Boston Red Sox vs. St Louis Cardinals, which the Red Sox won in six games.

Two solid teams without many weaknesses will go toe-to-toe starting Tuesday October 20 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. The Dodgers have made Arlington their home for the last week, while the Rays were at Petco Park in San Diego. The Dodgers have the second biggest payroll in MLB while the Rays are towards the bottom in the payroll department.

Andrew Friedman is the President of Baseball Operations for the Dodgers; he previously served as the Tampa Bay Rays General Manager in 2008, when the Sporting News named him the Executive of the Year.

In 2009 the Rays went to their first World Series and lost in 5 games to the Philadelphia Phillies. Friedman is credited with building that 2008 Rays club who won the AL Pennant with a 97-65 record, prior to losing to the Philadelphia Phillies who won the NL with 92-70. That was the Manager Joe Maddon Rays team vs. Phillies Charlie Manuel.

Dodgers Hitting: As powerful and balanced line-up as there is in baseball. A better team than last year, as they signed Mookie Betts to a 12 years $385 million contract. NLCS MVP shortstop Corey Seager. Hottest hitter on the planet.

This club grinds every at bat and they just make pitchers work, do not seem to go after bad pitches. Dodgers Defense: Excellent in every position. we saw how many runs they saved with spectacular catches specially in the outfield with Bellinger and Betts.

Pitching: The best in the National League with veteran future Hall of Fame lefty Clayton Kershaw, followed by an array of great arms like Walker Buehler, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Julio Urías) who is ready to be their ace in the future) and a very strong bullpen, usually anchored in a conventional way, like veteran Kenley Jensen their all-time leader in saves with 312, probably a future Hall of Famer.

Jensen has been inconsistent at times, but recently looked like his old self. A supporting cast for the Hollywood guys coming out of the pen like: Pedro Báez, Blake Treinen and others

Rays Hitting: Their man so far this postseason is young and dynamic Cuban-born outfielder Randy Arozarena, they have a good offense, but have not been hitting to their potential so far. Rays Pitching: One of the best in baseball, with a system where 12 of their pitchers have worked in relief, one time or another and saved at least 1 game apiece.

Their rotation was the best in the American League, with their three-headed monster of Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Charlie Morton. Their bullpen has as many good strong arms and anybody in baseball (including this Dodgers team) guys like Ryan Thompson, Ryan Yarborough, Pete Fairbanks, José Alvarado, Nick Anderson and Diego Castillo. The Rays do not depend on one closer, like I stated before, their system allows Manager Kevin Cash to use everybody and anybody that is there for the task.

In Conclusion: If the Rays want to win their first World Series, they are going to need more offense than Randy Arozarena, who was named the MVP of the ALCS, A great young Cuban player who cut his teeth in the Mexican League.

Arozarena only played in 23 of the 60 games for the Rays hitting .281 with 7 home runs and 11 runs batted in and even better numbers in the postseason. The Rays best hitter Brandon Lowe has not found his swing yet, he was their best hitter during the season.

Both the Dodgers and Rays needed a day-off and they got it today after starting play from Monday through Sunday without a rest. This World Series (unlike the previous Divisional and Championship Series) will feature two days off. That could be a blessing for these managers, whose biggest job is to manage their pitching staffs.

Manager: Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In a big market team like Los Angeles with their great tradition since they arrived from Brooklyn in 1958 is an affable and well liked man. Roberts won the Manager of the Year with the Dodgers in 2016.

Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay Rays, a young franchise born in 1998, could be winning the AL Manager of the Year in 2020. He could make history and guide his club to their first World Series title.

World Series records: Los Angeles Dodgers franchise won: 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, and 1988. and Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955… Tampa Bay Rays never won a World Series.

Schedule: All games played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. From October 20 to (if necessary game seven)October 28, There will be two (2) days off the 22nd and 26th. FOX Television is the official World Series station. Check your local listings.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the play by play Spanish lead announcer for the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

World Series 2020 podcast with Michael Duca: Rays Arozarena has been key all post season long

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The Tampa Rays Randy Arozarena is part of the celebration after the game 7 victory against the Houston Astros at Petco Park in San Diego on Sat Oct 17, 2020 as the Rays move onto the 2020 World Series (photo from golf.com)

On the World Series podcast with Michael:

#1 The Tampa Bay Rays Randy Arozarena played so well in post season that he was key in the Rays victory in game 7 of the ALCS victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

#2 Rays manager Kevin Cash said Arozarena with a bat in his hands and a home run opportunity he settles a lot of people in the dugout.

#3 Arozarena said after Saturday’s game he wasn’t trying to win the MVP but was doing anything to help the team win.

#4 Cash said the last three games were agonizing with a one run loss in games 4 and 5 and a three run loss in game 6 that tied the series it was a relief to win game 7 and a two run 4-2 win.

#5 Turning to some San Francisco Giants news the team announced on Friday they would layoff 10% of their 500 full time employees which amounts to 50 full time employees. You know some of those full time employees personally how will this furlough impact the lives of some of these Giant employees.

Michael Duca does analysis for MLB and San Francisco Giants for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

World Series 2020 podcast with Larry Crino: Dodgers back in World Series Defeat Braves 4-3 in game 7

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The Los Angeles Dodgers Cody Bellinger (35) suffers the agony of victory after dislocating his right arm on this forearm bash with teammate Keke Hernandez (14) after hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sun Oct 18, 2020 in game 7 of the NLCS at Arlington Stadium in Arlington (yahoo.sports.com photo)

World Series podcast with Larry Crino:

#1 Larry what it got to mean for the Dodgers who are returning to the World Series for the third time in four years and getting a precious opportunity at the brass ring again?

#2 The Braves won three of the first four games in the NLCS how concerned was Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and the Dodgers being down 3-1 going into game 5?

#3 How much credit does Cody Bellinger get for getting that big home run for the Dodgers in game 7. Bellinger has been they key player all season long for LA.

#4 Coming back from being down 3-1 and winning three straight was that confidence or was that a matter of sheer focus and concentration of taking each inning, each pitch and each game at a time?

#5 Game 1 of the 2020 World Series Larry first game of the World Series is this Tue Oct 20th at Globelife Park in Arlington where all the World Series games will be played. There will only be one day off and that’s on Thu 22nd. Knowing the Dodgers have been there all post season how much of an advantage will that be for LA against the Rays?

Join Larry for the 2020 World Series podcasts right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Billy Beane brought winning teams but no World Series

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Oakland A’s vice president Billy Beane is waiting for the final touches on a deal that would send him to be a owner/partner with owner John Henry and the Boston Red Sox (file photo from windsorstar.com)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Hollywood made a movie titled “Moneyball”. The reign of Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics. Since Mr.Beane became the A’s General Manager in 1998, the team captured seven Western Division titles, including this season, always making money. Doing it with a small budget.

Billy Beane reminds me of the famous line in the movie “Godfather Two”, when Johnny Ola said: “Mr. Hyman Roth always makes money for his partners”. Mr.Beane is leaving the A’s (or so it has been reported) to join Red Sox owner John Henry business endeavors. Many are in the soccer arena, as Mr. Henry owns the famous Liverpool club among other businesses. Liverpool Football Club is a professional football club in Liverpool, England, that competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. The club has won 19 League titles.

Nothing wrong with making money, at least not in a free enterprise capitalistic system as ours. Nobody goes into business to lose money. However he will be remembered by his philosophy for over 20 years with the A’s as he brought a lot of wins to the delight of Oakland Athletics fans, but like a good and fervent fan of the A’s who has followed the club since the late 60’s, recently told me (quote) “Yes, he has been good for the A’s, but he never won a World Series for us”. Those fans, which will remain nameless, also spend a lot of money through the years buying season tickets. He told me that he is not resentful, he will always be an A’s fan.

That reflects the feelings of a lot of A’s fans if Mr.Beane exits Oakland on his way to Boston. In the past Mr. Billy Bean has said “My job is to get us to the playoffs”. He is quoted on Michael Lewis book (Moneyball) quote: “My s**t doesn’t work in the playoffs”. So, Mr.Beane has been transparent on his style of management.

The Tampa Bay Rays, one win away from moving to the World Series as of today, are in very similar to the current Oakland A’s. A small budget team with relatively very good success on the field, a team that won the AL East over the New York Yankees with their typical huge payroll, and ironically, the Rays are a team with very similar problems to the Athletics, i.e. both franchises want to build a new ballpark

Stay well and stay tuned.

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Former 49ers great Fred Dean passes at 68 from Corona; Altulve and Astros save themselves with game 4 win; plus more

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Former San Francisco 49ers defensive end Fred Dean shown here during his hey days with the 49ers. He played for the 49ers between 1981 to 1985 and won two Superbowls (file photo from 49erswezbone.com)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica:

#1 The Coronavirus spares no one and former San Francisco 49er defensive end Fred Dean was no exception. Dean passed away on Wednesday at age 68. Dean played for the San Diego Chargers from 1975-81, with the 49ers from 1981 to 1985. In 2008 Dean was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame. Dean played a huge part of the 49ers Super Bowls winning two rings.

#2 The Houston Astros avoided elimination with a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night with the Rays leading the series by two games 3-1. The Astros Jose Altuve who committed multiple errors in game 3 made amends with a home run in the first inning and an RBI double in the third inning.

#3 The Miami Dolphins (2-3) came into Levis Stadium to battle the San Francisco 49ers (2-3). The Dolphins and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick dominated in the first half with a 30-7 lead and eventually buried the 49ers 43-17 with the Los Angeles Rams (4-1) coming to Santa Clara to face the 49ers on Sunday Night Football.

#4 The Las Vegas Raiders (3-2) shocked the NFL world with a any given Sunday 40-32 win over the Kansas City Chiefs (4-1) at Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders quarterback Derek Carr came in with a solid game plan throwing for 347 yards and three touchdowns.

#5 The Los Angeles Dodgers quickly got behind the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS losing the first two games of the series but the Dodgers a team who never gives up and they’ve showed that all season who lost by just a run on Tuesday night 8-7. Braves have the series lead and the Dodgers came right back on Wednesday in game 3 for a 15-3. Braves lead the series 2-1. Dodgers ace pitcher Klay Kershaw is slated to start tonight in game 4.

Join Jessica every other Thursday for the Headlines podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: If Red Sox can’t be publicly traded will that keep Beane in Oakland?

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Oakland A’s vice president Billy Beane is exploring leaving the A’s for the Boston Red Sox which would give him a large partnership up to 25% with owner John Henry (file photo from (truthfinder.com)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry taking in account that Oakland A’s vice president Billy Beane is seriously considering leaving the A’s how much would the A’s miss his talents, his ability to put together competitive teams and frankly was the best part was his ability to find talent at low under market baseball prices?

#2 Jerry, the Boston Red Sox owner John Henry is merging the Red Sox with Fenway Sports Group and RedBall Acquisition Corp but MLB rules do state against public ownership and Henry does plan to trade the company publicly could that be the one sticking point that would keep Beane in Oakland if baseball clearly tells the Red Sox and their merging companies can not be publicly traded which would impact any investment Beane would be involved in?

#3 The investment number at 25% is what reportedly Beane would invest in the merged group at the Red Sox there is very little doubt that this is profit driven and that Beane to avoid a conflict of interest would sell his 1% ownership of the A’s to join the Red Sox.

#4 Looking at the success of Beane 11 post seasons out of the 21 years that he’s been with the A’s. With a Beane departure and keeping the payroll down and having a post season caliber club how much will that culture change without Beane?

#5 The A’s seem to think without Billy Beane at the top the A’s general manager David Forst has got this, that Forst has been at this quite awhile and can manage without Beane and still make the team a success on a low budget?

Join Jerry F each week for Headline Sports podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com