WEBVTT
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Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another episode of the Earn Fun Average podcast.
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I'm your host, Eric Prophet, coming to you from Wichita, Kansas, and with me as always I have...
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johnny Bolin from the Bayou Broadcast Center in beautiful Calhoun City, Mississippi.
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Well, Johnny, we have a pair of guests with us today.
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We have Alex Bernson and Jim Timmons with us.
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How are both of you?
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We're doing wonderful.
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How about yourself?
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Good, good.
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How are you?
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I'm glad we, uh, have you on tonight.
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So, uh, you guys work in summer collegiate ball.
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Alex, would you mind sharing with everybody who the team is and what you guys do with the team?
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Uh, yes.
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So this is our first year starting here in Florida, and we are part of the Palm Coast Big Buoys.
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And I am the general manager.
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I'm the head coach.
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I love it.
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Well, appreciate both of you joining us here.
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So, uh, kind of one of the first segments we do is talk about a favorite hat.
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So I don't know if the Big Buoys have, uh, team hats yet or if you guys have, like, a favorite Major League team.
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Alex, do you have a favorite hat you wouldn't mind sharing with everybody?
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I mean, we both grew up in New Jersey, so I would say Yankees,'cause- Yeah that's what we always grew up watching.
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Um, we have not yet received our hats.
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Um, everything's kinda coming in day by day right before our season starts I love it.
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And so would that be the same for you, Jim, a Yankees hat?
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Or do you have any others that you prefer?
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I, I like the Expos.
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Okay.
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Montreal Expos.
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Oh, good.
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those old-school uniforms and those old hats, so I would say that one too.
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I love it.
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Yep, that's a great one there.
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Uh, Mr.
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Bolin, what hat do you have today please, sir?
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I, I wanna make one quick observ- observation here tonight.
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What a strong w- relationship these two have, Eric Prophet.
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I mean, the general manager and the coach That's right.
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I mean, he can't come home and complain about his boss.
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He can't, he can't come home- He can, but it won't end well.
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He c- he can't come home and complain about,"You know, you should've sent that guy in the fifth inning from third." This could end up be- this could end up being a setup by the time the season's over.
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I...
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This has potential for a great sitcom.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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It, it does.
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It really...
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You know, that's, that's a strong relationship right there.
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Uh, not only working together, but in the dynamics of general manager and, and head coach.
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That, that's, that's gonna be, that's gonna be fun this summer, for you guys.
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tonight I'm wearing...
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Uh, this came in, uh, k- I guess a couple weeks ago.
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Uh, there's a store that I follow, uh, on Facebook called Louisiana Hot Stuff, and no, that was not my nickname when we lived there, Eric, okay?
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At all.
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And so they had a sale.
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This was dangerous.
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They took pictures of some of their inventory of hats and said,"Hey, today only,$15." And so I grabbed this one.
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This is from those Ragin' Cajuns from the University of Louisiana- Nice I should say Lafayette, but they go by Louisiana.
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I was watching them just a few days ago, uh, in the Sun Belt Tournament, pulling for them, to win the Sun Belt, and then of course they got crushed in the championship game by Southern Miss.
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But they did make the tournament.
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In fact, they'll be an hour away in beautiful Starkville this weekend at the time of this recording.
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So a little 47 dad hat Ragin' Cajuns tonight.
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Nice.
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And you're talking about the regional that you're pretty close to, uh, close by to.
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I'm sure it's probably a very hard and expensive ticket to get.
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so being from, uh, Wichita, about two hours south of Lawrence, they are host, KU's hosting their first ever regional this year as a 15 seed.
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typically their ballpark only seats about 2,500.
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Uh, they've expanded and done some outfield, standing and seating areas, so they expanded to about 4,000.
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But even then, they have Arkansas coming in from the SEC.
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Oh.
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So, you know, they're used to a big ballpark and- Oh uh, so it's gonna be pretty rowdy, but this is the first time, last year and this year is the first time that they've really made any noise in baseball.
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So I can only imagine how difficult of a ticket that is to get one in the Lawrence Regional, let alone the Starkville Regional.
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Yeah, I, I, I told Melinda, of course I didn't research it'cause we're not gonna be here this week, uh, this weekend, but I thought, you know, I, if I can't get a ticket for Louisiana and Cincinnati, you might for that game, right?
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You might could...
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I don't know what it would cost, but I don't know how well Cincinnati would travel.
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I might be surprised, right?
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In, in Louisiana, you know, how well they would travel.
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that would be a pretty healthy drive from Lafayette, but still, you know, it's just one state over.
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I, you know, I might, there might be a lot Bearcats and Cajuns there.
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I, I don't know, but at least you would have some glimmer of possible some hope.
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to, uh, to see them.
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I, I saw Cincinnati.
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Well, of course, they were in the same league with UAB for 100 years, you know, the great- uh, they were in the Great Midwest early'90s, and then of course Conference USA.
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So I saw them when I was in college, and yes, they still...
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we, we did use batting helmets back then.
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I know that was so, so long ago that they, Uh, but yeah, they, uh, they came to Birmingham, you know, several times because you had league affiliation for so long.
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And so, I can't be here.
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I can't go, so I kinda didn't, and didn't research it.
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But in my mind, I think that would be a possibility, at least that game.
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Rest of it, forget about it.
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For sure.
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Well, so my hat, so just over a week ago, I was down in Tampa and met up with some friends, and we went to some games in the area.
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And we went to the Tampa Tarpons, and they gave away, uh, it was kind of for the military appreciation game, and so it's kind of hard to see, but it's an all black hat.
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It has kind of the T for the- Okay Tarpons logo on a US flag.
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It's a snapback hat, but it was a giveaway they did.
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so we got to see the Tarpons at Steinbrenner Field.
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Uh, went to see the Bradenton Marauders, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Clearwater Threshers, and then the USF Bulls.
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So spent last weekend, week and a half ago, uh, in Tampa to see a little baseball, and that was kind of my first trip.
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But yep, got the Tarpons hat today.
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Very nice nice.
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So Jim, I wanted to ask a little bit, so obviously you're the coach now of the Big Buoy, so kind of what's a little bit about your background?
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Have you been coaching, or kind of how'd you get into this?
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Um, I started with Little League, and then, um, I did some coaching with travel ball and stuff like that.
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And, uh, basically we just kind of branched off this season, and I opened up my own, uh, travel team, the Palm Coast Reds.
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Okay.
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And that's, and that stands for red fish.
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There you go.
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And, and, uh, I was like, hey, the, a college league is something we needed around here.
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I've had Where, where I grew up, there was always a college league, and for some reason it was just never here.
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And I'm, we moved here two years ago, and within these two years I, I brought an indoor facility to this area, and now I'm bringing a college league to this area.
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So everything that we're doing here is, is, geared towards the community and, and creating a baseball community, because there's a lot of young athletes here, but the, in the, in the past they, they kind of traveled to different areas, and the goal was to kind of bring them back to this area.
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Okay.
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And, and, you know, show the, show the county and show the area that, you know, Palm Coast has some real players.
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I love it.
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Well, I appreciate you sharing that.
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And then Alex, for yourself, obviously you had mentioned kind of before we got going that you have four kids, and so obviously you've been big within the baseball.
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So, uh, what kind of led you into being the GM then of the team?
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Uh, Jim actually,'cause he found out the information on becoming the coach and signed on to be the coach, and when he did that, they were like,"Hey, do you know anyone that would be interested in being the GM?" And he was like,"Well, my wife, she's runned all my businesses for the past 10 years or so, and she's pretty good with these types of things.
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What do you guys think about bringing her on?" And they were like,"Yeah, we, we love the idea of, you know, it being the two of you together." And so I mean, unlike Jim, I didn't grow up in baseball.
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it was more of a football family.
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But pa- the past two years having both of our sons be involved in Little League and travel ball, and being able to watch him coach, has brought my love of the game, and I'm still slowly learning and understanding the game.
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Sometimes I ask some questions that make him roll his eyes.
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Well, I appreciate you sharing a little bit about that.
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So I was just curious, so is it the league the Big Buoys are gonna be in, is it the Orange, is it the Orange State League?
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Yes.
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Okay.
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We are the Orange State League, and then, we are an extension of the- Carolina Carolina League.
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Oh, okay.
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Yeah.
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Awesome.
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Yes.
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so obviously being, new in here with the league and everything, Jim, just tell us a little bit so far what you've learned and what you're kind of excited for being in this new league.
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a lot of the kids that we have are coming from this area, and their parents are just, they're ecstatic that they get to actually come and they can watch their kids play baseball again,'cause everyone goes to college, and then they come back home and, and, you know, they don't, the parents don't really get to see them and, and watch a baseball game and watch their kid play anymore.
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So, I guess that feeling w- is, is pretty awesome to, to be able to give to the community and the parents.
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but then, you know, there's a, there's a lot of kids instead of going to Daytona to j- to a Tortugas game, they'd rather just go to down the road to Indian Trails and, and watch a semi It, it's a semi-pro atmosphere.
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It's a minor league atmosphere, some of these kids are, are looking to get drafted.
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So this isn't, uh, a league just to have fun really.
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This is You know, there's gonna be scouts at these games.
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These kids are gonna have opportunities, it's their job and, and my job to make sure that they take advantage of it For sure.
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Well, obviously you'd mentioned that you've, coached some travel ball, but so far, is there anything specific that you've learned that, you know, it's gonna have to take adjustment to being able to coach these college kids?
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Maybe something you, obviously now in the day and age of, like, NIL and everything, so I'm sure there's probably lots that you're learning now doing the college kids.
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Yeah, there's tons.
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I don't have to remind them to pay attention to the game and stop pick- picking, uh, daisies out of the grass, that's for sure.
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Yeah, for sure.
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So that's, that's a, that's a relief on the brain for a little, for a little bit.
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You know, the base running stuff, you know, the kids that I work with are 11, 10, 12.
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Okay.
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Those, that age category, the kids are just, they're just starting to figure out baseball and learning all these rules and, and it's gonna be a, a relief, you know, for me to be able to watch kids I'll be able to tell if they're, they're well-coached, if they were well-coached or not from the colleges that they go to.
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For sure.
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And, uh, it's definitely gonna be a, it's a stepping stone to the, in the right direction.
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I just think that it's a, a necessary thing for, for the neighborhood.
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Well, Alex, I did wanna ask, so for any fans or any, you know, family that are gonna get to come out to, uh, see the team play, do you guys have anything that you're gonna do this year, any little promotions or firework nights, anything like that?
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What can fans expect if they come out to the games?
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We are gonna be having theme nights throughout our season.
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Um, our first home game is June 17th, so that is gonna be Faith and Family Night.
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So I'm trying to work with local churches and schools to get them involved.
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there's gonna be Military Appreciation Night.
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We have a Local Heroes Night, which I'm already started to meet quite a few different businesses in the community that do things.
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There's a place, it's Vincent's Clubhouse, that works with the, with children and adults with autism and other learning disabilities, and, the woman who started that and her son I've gotten to know quite a bit over the past couple months, and my kids absolutely adore Vincent.
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you know, and then we're gonna be having, there's First Responders Night, so everything's to just try to get the community involved as much as possible.
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We're gonna have Little League Night.
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There is Kids Run the Bases.
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And so my biggest thing is just getting the community involved and getting the community excited.
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Um, there's going to be, like, on-field games in the middle of innings for the kids and, you know, we're having that if there's a foul ball, they get to keep the ball.
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And so I think that that will help bring the excitement and just make it more entertaining for them and, you know, bring everybody together.
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Yes, that's wonderful.
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Um, and then where, where's the team playing this year?
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What ballpark?
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We will be at Indian Trail Sports Complex.
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Okay.
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Very cool.
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So that's where the Little League is, and that's the main area where majority of our baseball fields are here.
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Okay.
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So if anybody's obviously in the area, they'd be pretty familiar with where the team's gonna be playing, then?
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Yes.
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Okay.
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Love it.
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My first question, and you guys said you've only been in Florida for two years, when I saw the logo- Was it inspired by those dearly departed Brevard County Manatees, a departed beloved minor league logo?
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Did that influence this logo at all?
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No.
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The, the, the logo was kind of picked, we, we had nothing to do with any of the design or anything like that.
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But if you You know, I like to think it could be something like that.
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Yeah,'cause that was my first thought.
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Okay, cool, because I've never, you know, I've never encountered, you know, four years of doing this podcast and Twitter, X, whatever, that was one of those logos that was just universally loved, and of course they have been, been gone for a while now, uh, of people, you know, going on eBay and trying to find merch for the Manatees.
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And, and so I thought,"Well, that's clever for this new team to maybe indirectly tie in to, you know, to the Manatees name and into that, into that branding." Yeah.
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Uh, second question: what would, uh, what's the origin of the nickname?
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Who, who came up with that?
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That's, that's all the league.
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That's all the league.
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Yeah, the team name and all that was determined by them is this league connected to the Volunteer State League and- Yes the Cowboy Collegiate?
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connected?
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Yeah, they're all, and, um, so they're all, yes, they're all connected.
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you know, I've noticed a lot of the artwork's the same for branding logos.
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The league logos you can tell was probably the same creative team or person, you know, did those logos- Mm-hmm the similarities, between the three.
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Uh, who do you guys anticipate being the biggest rivals that will bring people out and get them excited to come to a ballgame?
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Who's gonna be the biggest rival team or who- Yeah what's gonna be the biggest hurdle?
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No, the biggest rival team for us.
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Biggest rival.
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The biggest.
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Out of- I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say, uh, St.
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Augustine probably will be,'cause that's our closest, that's the closest one to us, and, you know, we, compete with those travel teams a lot, and I could see that being, being our biggest rival this year.
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Big Buoys and Sardines, I'm, I'm up for it.
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Let's go.
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Yeah.
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Let's go.
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Let's see what we got.
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I'm curious myself.
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want, wanted to ask, uh, this question of you guys, I guess particularly Alex, as general manager.
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This is my, one of my go-to questions, Alex.
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I say this repeatedly, I believe in recycling.
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Okay.
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Love the answers we have gotten over I don't know how many years I've asked this question, out of the four plus.
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If money was no and they said,"Alex, here is a blank check," what is your dream one-night promotion for the Big Buoys?
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Ooh, that's a tough one, cause it, I mean, we already s- to me, have so many great theme nights.
00:15:32.586 --> 00:15:33.995
Oh my God, what are you talking about?
00:15:34.005 --> 00:15:36.846
We can invite the Major League, every Major League player to the field, honey.
00:15:37.025 --> 00:15:38.086
Oh, that would be true.
00:15:38.285 --> 00:15:38.495
That's true.
00:15:38.505 --> 00:15:47.942
There's no money and there's no amount, so I would say that definitely we would fill the fields with Major League players, and, have them be able to watch them hit a home run derby.
00:15:48.311 --> 00:15:49.331
Oh, that would be amazing.
00:15:49.431 --> 00:15:50.331
That would be awesome.
00:15:50.590 --> 00:15:52.960
A dream bobblehead, along those lines.
00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:54.120
That, that's a new question.
00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:55.721
I, I, I, Mm-hmm collector, Mr.
00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:58.732
Proffitt is, of some of bobbleheads.
00:15:58.822 --> 00:15:59.682
I love bobbleheads.
00:15:59.722 --> 00:16:04.177
What would be the dream, year one dream bobblehead giveaway as a promotion?
00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:06.900
I would say a manatee bobblehead.
00:16:07.076 --> 00:16:07.777
Oh, yeah.
00:16:07.787 --> 00:16:08.197
Oh, yeah.
00:16:08.592 --> 00:16:09.623
I think that would be cool.
00:16:09.633 --> 00:16:10.873
I was gonna pick my favorite baseball player.
00:16:10.932 --> 00:16:12.432
I don't know if that's gonna make sense here though.
00:16:12.552 --> 00:16:16.418
I was gonna say you,'cause I think all, all of your, uh, players would enjoy that.
00:16:16.479 --> 00:16:17.839
Oh, yeah, the coaches bobblehead.
00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.399
That'll be great.
00:16:18.418 --> 00:16:19.418
The coaches bobblehead.
00:16:19.734 --> 00:16:23.106
But if I had to pick a player, I would have David Cone bobble, bobblehead night.
00:16:23.446 --> 00:16:26.764
You know, i- in this era of NIL, I guess that's permissible, right?
00:16:26.905 --> 00:16:29.445
If you had a, a- an active player, current player.
00:16:29.903 --> 00:16:30.503
Absolutely.
00:16:30.706 --> 00:16:40.216
so that's a What a gr- You know, toward the end, I guess maybe middle the, of the season, a particular player that's currently playing on the team, that would be something new.
00:16:40.697 --> 00:16:40.836
Yeah.
00:16:40.917 --> 00:16:41.836
Yeah, that's true.
00:16:42.256 --> 00:16:43.596
That would be a good thing too.
00:16:43.677 --> 00:16:43.897
Yeah.
00:16:44.206 --> 00:16:46.605
That's a, that's a absolutely great idea.
00:16:46.688 --> 00:16:49.649
yeah, we've got some great answers with that question.
00:16:49.831 --> 00:16:53.221
Some things just totally unexpected, with that question.
00:16:53.621 --> 00:17:04.041
But like I said, that's kind of my go-to general manager, team question that, that, that I, that I like to ask Well, Jim, so you had mentioned, so favorite player, David Cone.
00:17:04.261 --> 00:17:07.882
Uh, Alex, did you have a favorite Yankee or, or any favorite player you enjoyed?
00:17:08.366 --> 00:17:14.747
I would ha- always have to say Babe Ruth, and that's just because No, it's, it's our oldest son's favorite player.
00:17:14.826 --> 00:17:23.807
He- You never saw him play, though I know, but he's- That's the- Our oldest son, Colton, has always, that's his number one favorite- No, he loves Shohei Ohtani He loves Sh- Well, now.
00:17:23.916 --> 00:17:23.926
Mm.
00:17:23.926 --> 00:17:28.267
But I would, when he first started to get into baseball- I wanted to hear, like, Bernie Baseball.
00:17:28.287 --> 00:17:29.797
Bernie Baseball Bernie Williams or something.
00:17:29.926 --> 00:17:32.286
Well, my nickname from Jim is Bernie, so.
00:17:32.957 --> 00:17:33.615
So Bernie Williams.
00:17:33.646 --> 00:17:35.207
He calls me Bernie Baseball now.
00:17:35.646 --> 00:17:36.307
There we go.
00:17:36.686 --> 00:17:37.067
I love it.
00:17:37.490 --> 00:17:42.750
one of the segments we do, it's called the profit and the loss, and the profit's some- uh, it's something you've gained or earned.
00:17:42.810 --> 00:17:51.231
So Alex, that could be, your time kinda learning now, the GM role and everything with the Big Buys or, uh, maybe any favorite moment.
00:17:51.372 --> 00:17:53.731
Obviously you said you're a football family as well.
00:17:54.152 --> 00:17:55.531
Uh, any profit or gain, Alex?
00:17:56.053 --> 00:18:11.459
I would say the profit is to continue to be able to work with Jim and to be able to have my kids involved in this, and to be giving the younger kids in our area the hope of being able to play when they get to high school.
00:18:11.798 --> 00:18:33.038
'Cause we've already had kids that he's coaches, and they're like,"Well, you know, we're 12, but when we get to that age, are you still gonna be the coach?" And he's like,"Well, obviously, I hope so." But, you know, I think that it's giving them something to look forward to as they get older, and it's not like, oh, I go to college, and if I play in college, if I go far away, my parents aren't gonna be able to watch me.
00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:39.439
You know, I can come home and play, and my parents can, can see me and can still see competitive baseball.
00:18:39.846 --> 00:18:40.405
For sure, yeah.
00:18:40.526 --> 00:18:41.145
Love that answer.
00:18:41.205 --> 00:18:41.965
How about you, Jim?
00:18:42.006 --> 00:18:52.808
Any specific profit or gain, whether that's any specific moment with the Yankees or, getting to coach and bringing in the, uh, everything that you've done in Florida the last couple years, any profit or gain you can think of?
00:18:53.333 --> 00:19:06.484
I mean, I, I feel like this is a, uh, as far as a profit, it's, it's a, a learning, for me, it's more of a learning curve to get used to, you know, the environment of not having to be in control of every aspect of the game.
00:19:06.704 --> 00:19:07.005
Mm-hmm.
00:19:07.205 --> 00:19:10.680
being able, b- having that relief, can make you really a better coach.
00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:12.940
So I think that's what I'm, what I'm gonna gain.
00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.079
That would be the profit.
00:19:14.348 --> 00:19:16.617
the loss would be, uh- Let me think.
00:19:17.922 --> 00:19:21.761
I mean, all, the only thing it would be is, is, you know, this is a, a big commitment.
00:19:22.241 --> 00:19:22.481
Yeah.
00:19:22.602 --> 00:19:26.942
So it's, it's not just like, hey, you're going to play a game once a, once a week in the field.
00:19:27.223 --> 00:19:33.914
three, four nights a week we're driving, in some places an hour, some places 45, some places an hour and a half, two hours.
00:19:34.454 --> 00:19:34.775
For sure.
00:19:34.796 --> 00:19:39.286
So it's just like being in the minor leagues, driving a school bus full of kids.
00:19:39.726 --> 00:19:44.854
And, it's a, it's, it's gonna be a learning lesson for me, but I can see stuff like that being fun.
00:19:45.355 --> 00:19:46.193
For sure, definitely.
00:19:46.473 --> 00:19:47.354
Alex, what about you?
00:19:47.394 --> 00:19:49.233
Any, uh, specific loss you can think of?
00:19:49.693 --> 00:20:00.412
I think I would have to agree on just, you know, the travel, but, you know, we're fortunate enough that with our away games, I can still have all four of our kids with us.
00:20:00.672 --> 00:20:03.132
I don't have to have my GM hat on that night.
00:20:03.451 --> 00:20:03.811
For sure.
00:20:03.852 --> 00:20:16.173
So I can sit and enjoy watching our players play and watching Jim being able to coach and kind of be where I think he, he belongs and so I am excited for and...
00:20:16.182 --> 00:20:24.016
But yeah, the tra- I think the travel might be difficult, but especially when we have our first month is- Mm-hmm all pretty much away games.
00:20:24.155 --> 00:20:24.476
Oh, wow.
00:20:25.016 --> 00:20:27.236
So we're playing up to five nights a week.
00:20:27.601 --> 00:20:33.368
So it, it, it could be taxing, but I think that the outcome of it will be worth it.
00:20:33.542 --> 00:20:34.282
Definitely, for sure.
00:20:34.343 --> 00:20:40.923
Well, uh, Alex, Jim, I really appreciate both of you joining us today, getting to talk a little bit about you guys and talk about the Big Buoys.
00:20:40.982 --> 00:20:49.982
So Alex, if anybody wanted to go online to, uh, check out what you have going on the website, do you have that website, the web address that you can share with everybody?
00:20:50.063 --> 00:20:50.262
Yes.
00:20:50.343 --> 00:20:53.242
It's palmcoastbigbuoys.com.
00:20:53.722 --> 00:20:54.103
Perfect.
00:20:54.143 --> 00:20:55.823
And are you guys on social media at all?
00:20:56.157 --> 00:20:56.657
Uh, yes.
00:20:56.718 --> 00:21:03.597
We have Facebook, and I believe they did an Instagram also, and again, uh, it's, just the Palm Coast Big Buoys.
00:21:03.756 --> 00:21:04.096
I love it.
00:21:04.135 --> 00:21:07.855
Well, make sure everybody goes out there and follow the Big Buoys on, uh, social media.
00:21:07.915 --> 00:21:13.185
Check out the website, and if you get a chance to get down there, uh, check out a game, and then make sure you guys follow us as well.
00:21:13.236 --> 00:21:14.256
We're Earn Fun Average.
00:21:14.375 --> 00:21:15.296
Average is A-V-G.
00:21:15.655 --> 00:21:17.655
We're on Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, and Threads.
00:21:17.695 --> 00:21:18.816
And one more time, thank you both.
00:21:18.875 --> 00:21:20.215
Really do appreciate your time today.
00:21:20.510 --> 00:21:22.020
Thank you both for having us tonight.
00:21:22.191 --> 00:21:23.171
Thank you for having us.
00:21:23.442 --> 00:21:25.423
America, lower your standards.
00:21:25.923 --> 00:21:27.803
Average is what these guys do best.
00:21:28.096 --> 00:21:28.196
Yes.
00:21:28.237 --> 00:21:31.182
Eric, is that the first couple that's done the sig- I- are we...
00:21:31.261 --> 00:21:32.842
Has history been made tonight?
00:21:33.082 --> 00:21:36.481
Well, my wife- Oh, we're making history my wife and I have done this, but yes.
00:21:36.582 --> 00:21:37.162
Okay.
00:21:37.182 --> 00:21:38.602
We're breaking barriers.
00:00:17.807 --> 00:00:20.967
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another episode of the Earn Fun Average podcast.
00:00:21.007 --> 00:00:24.908
I'm your host, Eric Prophet, coming to you from Wichita, Kansas, and with me as always I have...
00:00:25.143 --> 00:00:30.768
johnny Bolin from the Bayou Broadcast Center in beautiful Calhoun City, Mississippi.
00:00:31.158 --> 00:00:33.357
Well, Johnny, we have a pair of guests with us today.
00:00:33.378 --> 00:00:35.817
We have Alex Bernson and Jim Timmons with us.
00:00:35.857 --> 00:00:36.557
How are both of you?
00:00:36.932 --> 00:00:37.811
We're doing wonderful.
00:00:37.851 --> 00:00:38.512
How about yourself?
00:00:38.692 --> 00:00:39.112
Good, good.
00:00:39.152 --> 00:00:39.512
How are you?
00:00:39.771 --> 00:00:41.472
I'm glad we, uh, have you on tonight.
00:00:41.631 --> 00:00:44.271
So, uh, you guys work in summer collegiate ball.
00:00:44.491 --> 00:00:48.051
Alex, would you mind sharing with everybody who the team is and what you guys do with the team?
00:00:48.570 --> 00:00:49.231
Uh, yes.
00:00:49.290 --> 00:00:55.610
So this is our first year starting here in Florida, and we are part of the Palm Coast Big Buoys.
00:00:56.106 --> 00:00:58.557
And I am the general manager.
00:00:58.994 --> 00:00:59.835
I'm the head coach.
00:01:00.484 --> 00:01:00.904
I love it.
00:01:00.944 --> 00:01:02.896
Well, appreciate both of you joining us here.
00:01:03.017 --> 00:01:06.837
So, uh, kind of one of the first segments we do is talk about a favorite hat.
00:01:06.936 --> 00:01:12.537
So I don't know if the Big Buoys have, uh, team hats yet or if you guys have, like, a favorite Major League team.
00:01:12.917 --> 00:01:15.397
Alex, do you have a favorite hat you wouldn't mind sharing with everybody?
00:01:15.819 --> 00:01:21.498
I mean, we both grew up in New Jersey, so I would say Yankees,'cause- Yeah that's what we always grew up watching.
00:01:21.835 --> 00:01:24.135
Um, we have not yet received our hats.
00:01:24.256 --> 00:01:28.962
Um, everything's kinda coming in day by day right before our season starts I love it.
00:01:29.072 --> 00:01:31.421
And so would that be the same for you, Jim, a Yankees hat?
00:01:31.481 --> 00:01:33.081
Or do you have any others that you prefer?
00:01:33.590 --> 00:01:34.790
I, I like the Expos.
00:01:35.189 --> 00:01:35.299
Okay.
00:01:35.329 --> 00:01:36.090
Montreal Expos.
00:01:36.170 --> 00:01:36.840
Oh, good.
00:01:36.902 --> 00:01:40.621
those old-school uniforms and those old hats, so I would say that one too.
00:01:41.081 --> 00:01:41.441
I love it.
00:01:41.481 --> 00:01:42.742
Yep, that's a great one there.
00:01:43.141 --> 00:01:43.322
Uh, Mr.
00:01:43.542 --> 00:01:45.121
Bolin, what hat do you have today please, sir?
00:01:45.572 --> 00:01:48.402
I, I wanna make one quick observ- observation here tonight.
00:01:48.542 --> 00:01:51.641
What a strong w- relationship these two have, Eric Prophet.
00:01:52.063 --> 00:01:54.837
I mean, the general manager and the coach That's right.
00:01:55.290 --> 00:01:57.671
I mean, he can't come home and complain about his boss.
00:02:01.251 --> 00:02:02.950
He can't, he can't come home- He can, but it won't end well.
00:02:03.891 --> 00:02:14.350
He c- he can't come home and complain about,"You know, you should've sent that guy in the fifth inning from third." This could end up be- this could end up being a setup by the time the season's over.
00:02:14.870 --> 00:02:14.911
I...
00:02:15.110 --> 00:02:17.991
This has potential for a great sitcom.
00:02:18.711 --> 00:02:18.971
Yeah.
00:02:19.431 --> 00:02:19.491
Yeah.
00:02:19.531 --> 00:02:20.330
It, it does.
00:02:20.811 --> 00:02:21.450
It really...
00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:24.099
You know, that's, that's a strong relationship right there.
00:02:24.411 --> 00:02:30.110
Uh, not only working together, but in the dynamics of general manager and, and head coach.
00:02:30.170 --> 00:02:34.020
That, that's, that's gonna be, that's gonna be fun this summer, for you guys.
00:02:34.243 --> 00:02:35.963
tonight I'm wearing...
00:02:36.024 --> 00:02:38.804
Uh, this came in, uh, k- I guess a couple weeks ago.
00:02:39.180 --> 00:02:47.383
Uh, there's a store that I follow, uh, on Facebook called Louisiana Hot Stuff, and no, that was not my nickname when we lived there, Eric, okay?
00:02:48.331 --> 00:02:48.663
At all.
00:02:48.733 --> 00:02:51.103
And so they had a sale.
00:02:51.323 --> 00:02:52.203
This was dangerous.
00:02:52.242 --> 00:02:59.455
They took pictures of some of their inventory of hats and said,"Hey, today only,$15." And so I grabbed this one.
00:02:59.514 --> 00:03:09.121
This is from those Ragin' Cajuns from the University of Louisiana- Nice I should say Lafayette, but they go by Louisiana.
00:03:09.200 --> 00:03:20.258
I was watching them just a few days ago, uh, in the Sun Belt Tournament, pulling for them, to win the Sun Belt, and then of course they got crushed in the championship game by Southern Miss.
00:03:20.337 --> 00:03:21.818
But they did make the tournament.
00:03:21.897 --> 00:03:27.864
In fact, they'll be an hour away in beautiful Starkville this weekend at the time of this recording.
00:03:27.924 --> 00:03:32.009
So a little 47 dad hat Ragin' Cajuns tonight.
00:03:32.401 --> 00:03:32.661
Nice.
00:03:32.854 --> 00:03:37.253
And you're talking about the regional that you're pretty close to, uh, close by to.
00:03:37.334 --> 00:03:41.074
I'm sure it's probably a very hard and expensive ticket to get.
00:03:41.676 --> 00:03:51.757
so being from, uh, Wichita, about two hours south of Lawrence, they are host, KU's hosting their first ever regional this year as a 15 seed.
00:03:52.016 --> 00:03:55.296
typically their ballpark only seats about 2,500.
00:03:55.437 --> 00:04:01.782
Uh, they've expanded and done some outfield, standing and seating areas, so they expanded to about 4,000.
00:04:01.831 --> 00:04:05.271
But even then, they have Arkansas coming in from the SEC.
00:04:05.431 --> 00:04:05.442
Oh.
00:04:05.442 --> 00:04:15.551
So, you know, they're used to a big ballpark and- Oh uh, so it's gonna be pretty rowdy, but this is the first time, last year and this year is the first time that they've really made any noise in baseball.
00:04:15.592 --> 00:04:21.951
So I can only imagine how difficult of a ticket that is to get one in the Lawrence Regional, let alone the Starkville Regional.
00:04:22.372 --> 00:04:34.514
Yeah, I, I, I told Melinda, of course I didn't research it'cause we're not gonna be here this week, uh, this weekend, but I thought, you know, I, if I can't get a ticket for Louisiana and Cincinnati, you might for that game, right?
00:04:34.574 --> 00:04:35.533
You might could...
00:04:35.713 --> 00:04:40.583
I don't know what it would cost, but I don't know how well Cincinnati would travel.
00:04:40.663 --> 00:04:42.223
I might be surprised, right?
00:04:42.322 --> 00:04:45.223
In, in Louisiana, you know, how well they would travel.
00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:51.744
that would be a pretty healthy drive from Lafayette, but still, you know, it's just one state over.
00:04:51.944 --> 00:04:56.209
I, you know, I might, there might be a lot Bearcats and Cajuns there.
00:04:56.288 --> 00:05:00.629
I, I don't know, but at least you would have some glimmer of possible some hope.
00:05:00.954 --> 00:05:02.254
to, uh, to see them.
00:05:02.435 --> 00:05:04.036
I, I saw Cincinnati.
00:05:04.182 --> 00:05:12.613
Well, of course, they were in the same league with UAB for 100 years, you know, the great- uh, they were in the Great Midwest early'90s, and then of course Conference USA.
00:05:12.956 --> 00:05:16.016
So I saw them when I was in college, and yes, they still...
00:05:16.358 --> 00:05:18.158
we, we did use batting helmets back then.
00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:26.610
I know that was so, so long ago that they, Uh, but yeah, they, uh, they came to Birmingham, you know, several times because you had league affiliation for so long.
00:05:26.632 --> 00:05:28.357
And so, I can't be here.
00:05:28.437 --> 00:05:31.716
I can't go, so I kinda didn't, and didn't research it.
00:05:31.737 --> 00:05:36.336
But in my mind, I think that would be a possibility, at least that game.
00:05:36.576 --> 00:05:38.096
Rest of it, forget about it.
00:05:38.357 --> 00:05:38.776
For sure.
00:05:38.817 --> 00:05:46.091
Well, so my hat, so just over a week ago, I was down in Tampa and met up with some friends, and we went to some games in the area.
00:05:46.524 --> 00:05:57.125
And we went to the Tampa Tarpons, and they gave away, uh, it was kind of for the military appreciation game, and so it's kind of hard to see, but it's an all black hat.
00:05:57.524 --> 00:06:00.785
It has kind of the T for the- Okay Tarpons logo on a US flag.
00:06:00.824 --> 00:06:03.345
It's a snapback hat, but it was a giveaway they did.
00:06:03.576 --> 00:06:06.997
so we got to see the Tarpons at Steinbrenner Field.
00:06:07.119 --> 00:06:13.259
Uh, went to see the Bradenton Marauders, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Clearwater Threshers, and then the USF Bulls.
00:06:13.298 --> 00:06:19.896
So spent last weekend, week and a half ago, uh, in Tampa to see a little baseball, and that was kind of my first trip.
00:06:19.937 --> 00:06:21.497
But yep, got the Tarpons hat today.
00:06:21.774 --> 00:06:22.535
Very nice nice.
00:06:22.766 --> 00:06:29.045
So Jim, I wanted to ask a little bit, so obviously you're the coach now of the Big Buoy, so kind of what's a little bit about your background?
00:06:29.105 --> 00:06:31.485
Have you been coaching, or kind of how'd you get into this?
00:06:31.997 --> 00:06:37.317
Um, I started with Little League, and then, um, I did some coaching with travel ball and stuff like that.
00:06:37.673 --> 00:06:45.339
And, uh, basically we just kind of branched off this season, and I opened up my own, uh, travel team, the Palm Coast Reds.
00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:45.939
Okay.
00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:47.759
And that's, and that stands for red fish.
00:06:48.093 --> 00:06:48.752
There you go.
00:06:50.973 --> 00:06:55.228
And, and, uh, I was like, hey, the, a college league is something we needed around here.
00:06:55.367 --> 00:07:00.048
I've had Where, where I grew up, there was always a college league, and for some reason it was just never here.
00:07:00.067 --> 00:07:08.464
And I'm, we moved here two years ago, and within these two years I, I brought an indoor facility to this area, and now I'm bringing a college league to this area.
00:07:08.584 --> 00:07:21.920
So everything that we're doing here is, is, geared towards the community and, and creating a baseball community, because there's a lot of young athletes here, but the, in the, in the past they, they kind of traveled to different areas, and the goal was to kind of bring them back to this area.
00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:22.089
Okay.
00:07:22.139 --> 00:07:27.939
And, and, you know, show the, show the county and show the area that, you know, Palm Coast has some real players.
00:07:28.411 --> 00:07:28.771
I love it.
00:07:28.812 --> 00:07:30.091
Well, I appreciate you sharing that.
00:07:30.471 --> 00:07:37.672
And then Alex, for yourself, obviously you had mentioned kind of before we got going that you have four kids, and so obviously you've been big within the baseball.
00:07:37.791 --> 00:07:41.511
So, uh, what kind of led you into being the GM then of the team?
00:07:42.038 --> 00:08:00.762
Uh, Jim actually,'cause he found out the information on becoming the coach and signed on to be the coach, and when he did that, they were like,"Hey, do you know anyone that would be interested in being the GM?" And he was like,"Well, my wife, she's runned all my businesses for the past 10 years or so, and she's pretty good with these types of things.
00:08:00.802 --> 00:08:11.026
What do you guys think about bringing her on?" And they were like,"Yeah, we, we love the idea of, you know, it being the two of you together." And so I mean, unlike Jim, I didn't grow up in baseball.
00:08:11.091 --> 00:08:12.350
it was more of a football family.
00:08:12.812 --> 00:08:26.057
But pa- the past two years having both of our sons be involved in Little League and travel ball, and being able to watch him coach, has brought my love of the game, and I'm still slowly learning and understanding the game.
00:08:27.067 --> 00:08:29.708
Sometimes I ask some questions that make him roll his eyes.
00:08:31.274 --> 00:08:33.153
Well, I appreciate you sharing a little bit about that.
00:08:33.274 --> 00:08:38.874
So I was just curious, so is it the league the Big Buoys are gonna be in, is it the Orange, is it the Orange State League?
00:08:39.474 --> 00:08:39.774
Yes.
00:08:39.994 --> 00:08:40.014
Okay.
00:08:40.033 --> 00:08:47.025
We are the Orange State League, and then, we are an extension of the- Carolina Carolina League.
00:08:47.345 --> 00:08:47.884
Oh, okay.
00:08:47.924 --> 00:08:48.024
Yeah.
00:08:48.125 --> 00:08:48.544
Awesome.
00:08:48.870 --> 00:08:49.270
Yes.
00:08:49.525 --> 00:08:58.682
so obviously being, new in here with the league and everything, Jim, just tell us a little bit so far what you've learned and what you're kind of excited for being in this new league.
00:08:59.024 --> 00:09:16.309
a lot of the kids that we have are coming from this area, and their parents are just, they're ecstatic that they get to actually come and they can watch their kids play baseball again,'cause everyone goes to college, and then they come back home and, and, you know, they don't, the parents don't really get to see them and, and watch a baseball game and watch their kid play anymore.
00:09:16.455 --> 00:09:22.288
So, I guess that feeling w- is, is pretty awesome to, to be able to give to the community and the parents.
00:09:22.567 --> 00:09:35.164
but then, you know, there's a, there's a lot of kids instead of going to Daytona to j- to a Tortugas game, they'd rather just go to down the road to Indian Trails and, and watch a semi It, it's a semi-pro atmosphere.
00:09:35.184 --> 00:09:39.927
It's a minor league atmosphere, some of these kids are, are looking to get drafted.
00:09:39.986 --> 00:09:43.086
So this isn't, uh, a league just to have fun really.
00:09:43.126 --> 00:09:45.466
This is You know, there's gonna be scouts at these games.
00:09:45.907 --> 00:09:52.355
These kids are gonna have opportunities, it's their job and, and my job to make sure that they take advantage of it For sure.
00:09:52.416 --> 00:10:03.404
Well, obviously you'd mentioned that you've, coached some travel ball, but so far, is there anything specific that you've learned that, you know, it's gonna have to take adjustment to being able to coach these college kids?
00:10:03.495 --> 00:10:11.835
Maybe something you, obviously now in the day and age of, like, NIL and everything, so I'm sure there's probably lots that you're learning now doing the college kids.
00:10:12.413 --> 00:10:13.432
Yeah, there's tons.
00:10:13.609 --> 00:10:19.548
I don't have to remind them to pay attention to the game and stop pick- picking, uh, daisies out of the grass, that's for sure.
00:10:19.948 --> 00:10:20.208
Yeah, for sure.
00:10:20.208 --> 00:10:23.469
So that's, that's a, that's a relief on the brain for a little, for a little bit.
00:10:23.589 --> 00:10:28.288
You know, the base running stuff, you know, the kids that I work with are 11, 10, 12.
00:10:28.649 --> 00:10:28.808
Okay.
00:10:29.288 --> 00:10:45.149
Those, that age category, the kids are just, they're just starting to figure out baseball and learning all these rules and, and it's gonna be a, a relief, you know, for me to be able to watch kids I'll be able to tell if they're, they're well-coached, if they were well-coached or not from the colleges that they go to.
00:10:45.190 --> 00:10:45.409
For sure.
00:10:45.490 --> 00:10:50.351
And, uh, it's definitely gonna be a, it's a stepping stone to the, in the right direction.
00:10:50.546 --> 00:10:53.645
I just think that it's a, a necessary thing for, for the neighborhood.
00:10:53.961 --> 00:11:06.855
Well, Alex, I did wanna ask, so for any fans or any, you know, family that are gonna get to come out to, uh, see the team play, do you guys have anything that you're gonna do this year, any little promotions or firework nights, anything like that?
00:11:06.914 --> 00:11:09.115
What can fans expect if they come out to the games?
00:11:09.586 --> 00:11:12.986
We are gonna be having theme nights throughout our season.
00:11:13.326 --> 00:11:17.567
Um, our first home game is June 17th, so that is gonna be Faith and Family Night.
00:11:17.753 --> 00:11:23.113
So I'm trying to work with local churches and schools to get them involved.
00:11:23.249 --> 00:11:25.408
there's gonna be Military Appreciation Night.
00:11:25.629 --> 00:11:33.407
We have a Local Heroes Night, which I'm already started to meet quite a few different businesses in the community that do things.
00:11:33.427 --> 00:11:48.844
There's a place, it's Vincent's Clubhouse, that works with the, with children and adults with autism and other learning disabilities, and, the woman who started that and her son I've gotten to know quite a bit over the past couple months, and my kids absolutely adore Vincent.
00:11:49.203 --> 00:11:56.711
you know, and then we're gonna be having, there's First Responders Night, so everything's to just try to get the community involved as much as possible.
00:11:56.772 --> 00:11:58.011
We're gonna have Little League Night.
00:11:58.091 --> 00:12:00.231
There is Kids Run the Bases.
00:12:00.590 --> 00:12:05.190
And so my biggest thing is just getting the community involved and getting the community excited.
00:12:05.590 --> 00:12:15.735
Um, there's going to be, like, on-field games in the middle of innings for the kids and, you know, we're having that if there's a foul ball, they get to keep the ball.
00:12:16.143 --> 00:12:26.745
And so I think that that will help bring the excitement and just make it more entertaining for them and, you know, bring everybody together.
00:12:27.446 --> 00:12:28.405
Yes, that's wonderful.
00:12:28.845 --> 00:12:31.105
Um, and then where, where's the team playing this year?
00:12:31.184 --> 00:12:31.966
What ballpark?
00:12:32.565 --> 00:12:35.245
We will be at Indian Trail Sports Complex.
00:12:35.644 --> 00:12:35.845
Okay.
00:12:36.143 --> 00:12:36.254
Very cool.
00:12:36.283 --> 00:12:42.380
So that's where the Little League is, and that's the main area where majority of our baseball fields are here.
00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:43.120
Okay.
00:12:43.201 --> 00:12:47.640
So if anybody's obviously in the area, they'd be pretty familiar with where the team's gonna be playing, then?
00:12:48.160 --> 00:12:48.520
Yes.
00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:49.282
Okay.
00:12:49.380 --> 00:12:49.740
Love it.
00:12:50.282 --> 00:13:05.124
My first question, and you guys said you've only been in Florida for two years, when I saw the logo- Was it inspired by those dearly departed Brevard County Manatees, a departed beloved minor league logo?
00:13:05.224 --> 00:13:08.183
Did that influence this logo at all?
00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:08.980
No.
00:13:09.354 --> 00:13:14.347
The, the, the logo was kind of picked, we, we had nothing to do with any of the design or anything like that.
00:13:14.486 --> 00:13:17.268
But if you You know, I like to think it could be something like that.
00:13:17.469 --> 00:13:18.869
Yeah,'cause that was my first thought.
00:13:18.948 --> 00:13:38.717
Okay, cool, because I've never, you know, I've never encountered, you know, four years of doing this podcast and Twitter, X, whatever, that was one of those logos that was just universally loved, and of course they have been, been gone for a while now, uh, of people, you know, going on eBay and trying to find merch for the Manatees.
00:13:38.756 --> 00:13:49.460
And, and so I thought,"Well, that's clever for this new team to maybe indirectly tie in to, you know, to the Manatees name and into that, into that branding." Yeah.
00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:52.408
Uh, second question: what would, uh, what's the origin of the nickname?
00:13:52.815 --> 00:13:54.490
Who, who came up with that?
00:13:54.553 --> 00:13:55.433
That's, that's all the league.
00:13:55.494 --> 00:13:56.293
That's all the league.
00:13:56.355 --> 00:14:04.072
Yeah, the team name and all that was determined by them is this league connected to the Volunteer State League and- Yes the Cowboy Collegiate?
00:14:05.022 --> 00:14:05.032
connected?
00:14:05.052 --> 00:14:08.394
Yeah, they're all, and, um, so they're all, yes, they're all connected.
00:14:08.826 --> 00:14:13.105
you know, I've noticed a lot of the artwork's the same for branding logos.
00:14:13.317 --> 00:14:21.961
The league logos you can tell was probably the same creative team or person, you know, did those logos- Mm-hmm the similarities, between the three.
00:14:22.239 --> 00:14:29.479
Uh, who do you guys anticipate being the biggest rivals that will bring people out and get them excited to come to a ballgame?
00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:32.818
Who's gonna be the biggest rival team or who- Yeah what's gonna be the biggest hurdle?
00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:34.759
No, the biggest rival team for us.
00:14:34.979 --> 00:14:35.479
Biggest rival.
00:14:35.509 --> 00:14:35.958
The biggest.
00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:38.469
Out of- I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say, uh, St.
00:14:38.658 --> 00:14:48.803
Augustine probably will be,'cause that's our closest, that's the closest one to us, and, you know, we, compete with those travel teams a lot, and I could see that being, being our biggest rival this year.
00:14:49.043 --> 00:14:51.264
Big Buoys and Sardines, I'm, I'm up for it.
00:14:51.325 --> 00:14:51.884
Let's go.
00:14:52.264 --> 00:14:52.485
Yeah.
00:14:52.565 --> 00:14:52.784
Let's go.
00:14:52.784 --> 00:14:53.345
Let's see what we got.
00:14:53.544 --> 00:14:54.625
I'm curious myself.
00:14:56.650 --> 00:15:03.061
want, wanted to ask, uh, this question of you guys, I guess particularly Alex, as general manager.
00:15:03.140 --> 00:15:05.321
This is my, one of my go-to questions, Alex.
00:15:05.380 --> 00:15:08.301
I say this repeatedly, I believe in recycling.
00:15:08.760 --> 00:15:09.140
Okay.
00:15:09.541 --> 00:15:16.015
Love the answers we have gotten over I don't know how many years I've asked this question, out of the four plus.
00:15:16.474 --> 00:15:25.155
If money was no and they said,"Alex, here is a blank check," what is your dream one-night promotion for the Big Buoys?
00:15:25.936 --> 00:15:32.206
Ooh, that's a tough one, cause it, I mean, we already s- to me, have so many great theme nights.
00:15:32.586 --> 00:15:33.995
Oh my God, what are you talking about?
00:15:34.005 --> 00:15:36.846
We can invite the Major League, every Major League player to the field, honey.
00:15:37.025 --> 00:15:38.086
Oh, that would be true.
00:15:38.285 --> 00:15:38.495
That's true.
00:15:38.505 --> 00:15:47.942
There's no money and there's no amount, so I would say that definitely we would fill the fields with Major League players, and, have them be able to watch them hit a home run derby.
00:15:48.311 --> 00:15:49.331
Oh, that would be amazing.
00:15:49.431 --> 00:15:50.331
That would be awesome.
00:15:50.590 --> 00:15:52.960
A dream bobblehead, along those lines.
00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:54.120
That, that's a new question.
00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:55.721
I, I, I, Mm-hmm collector, Mr.
00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:58.732
Proffitt is, of some of bobbleheads.
00:15:58.822 --> 00:15:59.682
I love bobbleheads.
00:15:59.722 --> 00:16:04.177
What would be the dream, year one dream bobblehead giveaway as a promotion?
00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:06.900
I would say a manatee bobblehead.
00:16:07.076 --> 00:16:07.777
Oh, yeah.
00:16:07.787 --> 00:16:08.197
Oh, yeah.
00:16:08.592 --> 00:16:09.623
I think that would be cool.
00:16:09.633 --> 00:16:10.873
I was gonna pick my favorite baseball player.
00:16:10.932 --> 00:16:12.432
I don't know if that's gonna make sense here though.
00:16:12.552 --> 00:16:16.418
I was gonna say you,'cause I think all, all of your, uh, players would enjoy that.
00:16:16.479 --> 00:16:17.839
Oh, yeah, the coaches bobblehead.
00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.399
That'll be great.
00:16:18.418 --> 00:16:19.418
The coaches bobblehead.
00:16:19.734 --> 00:16:23.106
But if I had to pick a player, I would have David Cone bobble, bobblehead night.
00:16:23.446 --> 00:16:26.764
You know, i- in this era of NIL, I guess that's permissible, right?
00:16:26.905 --> 00:16:29.445
If you had a, a- an active player, current player.
00:16:29.903 --> 00:16:30.503
Absolutely.
00:16:30.706 --> 00:16:40.216
so that's a What a gr- You know, toward the end, I guess maybe middle the, of the season, a particular player that's currently playing on the team, that would be something new.
00:16:40.697 --> 00:16:40.836
Yeah.
00:16:40.917 --> 00:16:41.836
Yeah, that's true.
00:16:42.256 --> 00:16:43.596
That would be a good thing too.
00:16:43.677 --> 00:16:43.897
Yeah.
00:16:44.206 --> 00:16:46.605
That's a, that's a absolutely great idea.
00:16:46.688 --> 00:16:49.649
yeah, we've got some great answers with that question.
00:16:49.831 --> 00:16:53.221
Some things just totally unexpected, with that question.
00:16:53.621 --> 00:17:04.041
But like I said, that's kind of my go-to general manager, team question that, that, that I, that I like to ask Well, Jim, so you had mentioned, so favorite player, David Cone.
00:17:04.261 --> 00:17:07.882
Uh, Alex, did you have a favorite Yankee or, or any favorite player you enjoyed?
00:17:08.366 --> 00:17:14.747
I would ha- always have to say Babe Ruth, and that's just because No, it's, it's our oldest son's favorite player.
00:17:14.826 --> 00:17:23.807
He- You never saw him play, though I know, but he's- That's the- Our oldest son, Colton, has always, that's his number one favorite- No, he loves Shohei Ohtani He loves Sh- Well, now.
00:17:23.916 --> 00:17:23.926
Mm.
00:17:23.926 --> 00:17:28.267
But I would, when he first started to get into baseball- I wanted to hear, like, Bernie Baseball.
00:17:28.287 --> 00:17:29.797
Bernie Baseball Bernie Williams or something.
00:17:29.926 --> 00:17:32.286
Well, my nickname from Jim is Bernie, so.
00:17:32.957 --> 00:17:33.615
So Bernie Williams.
00:17:33.646 --> 00:17:35.207
He calls me Bernie Baseball now.
00:17:35.646 --> 00:17:36.307
There we go.
00:17:36.686 --> 00:17:37.067
I love it.
00:17:37.490 --> 00:17:42.750
one of the segments we do, it's called the profit and the loss, and the profit's some- uh, it's something you've gained or earned.
00:17:42.810 --> 00:17:51.231
So Alex, that could be, your time kinda learning now, the GM role and everything with the Big Buys or, uh, maybe any favorite moment.
00:17:51.372 --> 00:17:53.731
Obviously you said you're a football family as well.
00:17:54.152 --> 00:17:55.531
Uh, any profit or gain, Alex?
00:17:56.053 --> 00:18:11.459
I would say the profit is to continue to be able to work with Jim and to be able to have my kids involved in this, and to be giving the younger kids in our area the hope of being able to play when they get to high school.
00:18:11.798 --> 00:18:33.038
'Cause we've already had kids that he's coaches, and they're like,"Well, you know, we're 12, but when we get to that age, are you still gonna be the coach?" And he's like,"Well, obviously, I hope so." But, you know, I think that it's giving them something to look forward to as they get older, and it's not like, oh, I go to college, and if I play in college, if I go far away, my parents aren't gonna be able to watch me.
00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:39.439
You know, I can come home and play, and my parents can, can see me and can still see competitive baseball.
00:18:39.846 --> 00:18:40.405
For sure, yeah.
00:18:40.526 --> 00:18:41.145
Love that answer.
00:18:41.205 --> 00:18:41.965
How about you, Jim?
00:18:42.006 --> 00:18:52.808
Any specific profit or gain, whether that's any specific moment with the Yankees or, getting to coach and bringing in the, uh, everything that you've done in Florida the last couple years, any profit or gain you can think of?
00:18:53.333 --> 00:19:06.484
I mean, I, I feel like this is a, uh, as far as a profit, it's, it's a, a learning, for me, it's more of a learning curve to get used to, you know, the environment of not having to be in control of every aspect of the game.
00:19:06.704 --> 00:19:07.005
Mm-hmm.
00:19:07.205 --> 00:19:10.680
being able, b- having that relief, can make you really a better coach.
00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:12.940
So I think that's what I'm, what I'm gonna gain.
00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.079
That would be the profit.
00:19:14.348 --> 00:19:16.617
the loss would be, uh- Let me think.
00:19:17.922 --> 00:19:21.761
I mean, all, the only thing it would be is, is, you know, this is a, a big commitment.
00:19:22.241 --> 00:19:22.481
Yeah.
00:19:22.602 --> 00:19:26.942
So it's, it's not just like, hey, you're going to play a game once a, once a week in the field.
00:19:27.223 --> 00:19:33.914
three, four nights a week we're driving, in some places an hour, some places 45, some places an hour and a half, two hours.
00:19:34.454 --> 00:19:34.775
For sure.
00:19:34.796 --> 00:19:39.286
So it's just like being in the minor leagues, driving a school bus full of kids.
00:19:39.726 --> 00:19:44.854
And, it's a, it's, it's gonna be a learning lesson for me, but I can see stuff like that being fun.
00:19:45.355 --> 00:19:46.193
For sure, definitely.
00:19:46.473 --> 00:19:47.354
Alex, what about you?
00:19:47.394 --> 00:19:49.233
Any, uh, specific loss you can think of?
00:19:49.693 --> 00:20:00.412
I think I would have to agree on just, you know, the travel, but, you know, we're fortunate enough that with our away games, I can still have all four of our kids with us.
00:20:00.672 --> 00:20:03.132
I don't have to have my GM hat on that night.
00:20:03.451 --> 00:20:03.811
For sure.
00:20:03.852 --> 00:20:16.173
So I can sit and enjoy watching our players play and watching Jim being able to coach and kind of be where I think he, he belongs and so I am excited for and...
00:20:16.182 --> 00:20:24.016
But yeah, the tra- I think the travel might be difficult, but especially when we have our first month is- Mm-hmm all pretty much away games.
00:20:24.155 --> 00:20:24.476
Oh, wow.
00:20:25.016 --> 00:20:27.236
So we're playing up to five nights a week.
00:20:27.601 --> 00:20:33.368
So it, it, it could be taxing, but I think that the outcome of it will be worth it.
00:20:33.542 --> 00:20:34.282
Definitely, for sure.
00:20:34.343 --> 00:20:40.923
Well, uh, Alex, Jim, I really appreciate both of you joining us today, getting to talk a little bit about you guys and talk about the Big Buoys.
00:20:40.982 --> 00:20:49.982
So Alex, if anybody wanted to go online to, uh, check out what you have going on the website, do you have that website, the web address that you can share with everybody?
00:20:50.063 --> 00:20:50.262
Yes.
00:20:50.343 --> 00:20:53.242
It's palmcoastbigbuoys.com.
00:20:53.722 --> 00:20:54.103
Perfect.
00:20:54.143 --> 00:20:55.823
And are you guys on social media at all?
00:20:56.157 --> 00:20:56.657
Uh, yes.
00:20:56.718 --> 00:21:03.597
We have Facebook, and I believe they did an Instagram also, and again, uh, it's, just the Palm Coast Big Buoys.
00:21:03.756 --> 00:21:04.096
I love it.
00:21:04.135 --> 00:21:07.855
Well, make sure everybody goes out there and follow the Big Buoys on, uh, social media.
00:21:07.915 --> 00:21:13.185
Check out the website, and if you get a chance to get down there, uh, check out a game, and then make sure you guys follow us as well.
00:21:13.236 --> 00:21:14.256
We're Earn Fun Average.
00:21:14.375 --> 00:21:15.296
Average is A-V-G.
00:21:15.655 --> 00:21:17.655
We're on Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, and Threads.
00:21:17.695 --> 00:21:18.816
And one more time, thank you both.
00:21:18.875 --> 00:21:20.215
Really do appreciate your time today.
00:21:20.510 --> 00:21:22.020
Thank you both for having us tonight.
00:21:22.191 --> 00:21:23.171
Thank you for having us.
00:21:23.442 --> 00:21:25.423
America, lower your standards.
00:21:25.923 --> 00:21:27.803
Average is what these guys do best.
00:21:28.096 --> 00:21:28.196
Yes.
00:21:28.237 --> 00:21:31.182
Eric, is that the first couple that's done the sig- I- are we...
00:21:31.261 --> 00:21:32.842
Has history been made tonight?
00:21:33.082 --> 00:21:36.481
Well, my wife- Oh, we're making history my wife and I have done this, but yes.
00:21:36.582 --> 00:21:37.162
Okay.
00:21:37.182 --> 00:21:38.602
We're breaking barriers.
