[Recte44]

Former Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Monarchs, and Las Vegas Hustlers infielder Don Money interviews for the managerial opening

1. Tell me about yourself.

Whats there to tell. You have all the history in front of you. Brought up by the Phillies, traded to Milwaukee. I'm originally from DC. I developed late. Well at least when I was a young kid, I was never good - so I got stuck at second base. I learned the game, and as I learned it - I became better at it.

2. What do you know about our organization?

Your organization. The one ran by Matt Rectenwald. Isn't he on his 4th baseball organization by now? Seems he hit the jackpot with that Brewster fella. The Hustlers are one of the top 5 organizations in the MBBA. I know you guys have never lost a World championship series in 20 something years. You were ok to start, then were a non factor seemingly forever then you had few equals for about 7 years. Now your retooling and you need someone to teach the kids and bring you back to tthe glory land.

3. Why do you want to work for us?

Despite having his hands in everything, I know that ownership is hands off, which I think is the way to go. There is spotlight here, but no matter what I do, it won;t really be on me. I can go out, teach em how to win and do it, without haviong to deal with alot of nonsense. There is stability, history and not that much pressure here as other places. The Hustlers may be expedted to win, but ownershipo takes the heat if they don't. While I am here thou, ownership won;t have any heat.

4. What can you do for us that someone else can't?

I know this game. Better than anyone. I just never had the actual skill set to perform at the level I am capable of. Guys still come to me with advice on how to fix their swing, or how I was so successful at going the other way. I can tell by talking to you that you got a hitch in your swing that makes you flare at curveballs and foul them off at best.

5. What do you find most attractive about this position? What seems least attractive?

The most attractive is that ownership is stable and knows the game. One owner, with a history of success and usually doing the right thing. TO me their is nothing that isn't attractive, or else I wouldn;t be here.

6. Why should we hire you?

Yoiu won't find anyone better than me to teach your young guys or relate top the vets. Heck your entire staff is 300K fellas. You need some schooling on the batting side, and I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I won't cause waves and I'll do my part to make this club a winner again.

7. What are the most important components of your ideal job?

Like I said, stability and a good baseball sense. I have been offered other jobs at managing in the big league level, but it just was never right. Either there was too much pressure put on one guy, or the club had a history of bad decisions and not even asking ther guy doing the day to day what he thought. I know that doesn't go on here.

8. Please give me your definition of an MBBA manager's job.

Educator. Role Model. I understand this league is growing and trying to increase it's fan base. Look at all the troubles those MLB gusy get into. There is no discipline, no rules. That thing with the firecracker and the Mets a few years ago. Drug scandals. It never stops. Here it's about 2 things. Pride and baseball. I never hear of no MBBA star beating his wife. A manager is repsresentative of his players, his organization and his fans. He should be respectful and respected. I am definitely the former and strive to always be the latter.

9. How long would it take you to get us back to the playoffs? How do you plan to do that?

How long? Thats tough to say. I;d like to say 2 years, but its hard to say. Alot of it isnt on me only. I think we may have the top farm in the division, but can use a few pieces especially on offense. The pitching has the pieces there. We definitely cvouls use some pop, but with the clubs patience maybe a speedster or two would better suit our needs. Take that extra base and manufacture some runs. Speedsters are usually easy to acquire and speed never slumps.

Pitching wise, our pen is very strong, but it seems management took some chances with some guys this season. We need to get a few decent arms and maybe one top notch guy. We will be back in this before long. 2 starters, 2 hitters and we win 85 games with a monkey at the helm.

10. Describe your management style.

I am relaxed as a manager. Even the best teams lose 40% of their games. It's just natural. I don;t air dirty laundry and you don;t hear me say a bad word about anyone. I handle my clubhouse business in the clubhouse, no matter what goes on outside of it. I love to teach and try and help guys out, but as a former player I understand that when you are going bad, you sometimes ahve to figure it out for yourself. I was asked to hit the ball up the middle for Philly, so I shook my head and did so. I was asked to pull in Milwaukee and did that. A little knowledge of the game goes a long way.

11. What do you think is the most difficult thing about being a manager?

25 personailities. Ownership, Media. It's the politics of the game that is most difficult. Give me a one on one session in the afternoon in rightfield and I will teach you things that you have only dreamed of doing. Trying to reach out and touch millions at once, well thats a little harder sometimes.

12. What important trends do you see in our league that might help our cause?

The disicipline of the players. The high standards to which it seems hold themselves. Players are moving here from the MBBA more and more. They see it as baseball how it should be, not what it is becoming. In the MLB, baseball is a game of politics and players are getting a "me-first" attitude. Here it is more about the game and the history. That will win over more fans than self-promotion.

13. What are your long range goals?

I'd like to open a school for baseball, like a clinic for kids that can;t afford it. Help them with education and teach the game too. An education is the most important thing you can give to a person. My greatest gift is being able to teach baseball and in some form, I;d like to continue to do that.

14. Tell me about a time that you've achieved success. How did you do it?

I guess it goes back to when I was younger. I never had the "athletisim" that other kids had and I didn't pick up any sport, especially baseball very well. I enjoyed the game and enjoyed to play, but no one wants to be the last kid picked every time. I unfortunatelyt was for a long time. But I started picking up things here and there and making it to the majors, with the odds stacked against you...well thats by far my best story of success. I studied and worked at it and applied principals I knew and understood wherever possible.

15. Summarize for me why you should be the next manager of the Las Vegas Hustlers.

You have a great organization and a history of having some of the most knowledgable people in all of baseball. I think that is where I fit in. I have a great general knowledge of the game and plenty of tricks up these old sleeves. I will be here every day and every night doing all I can to being this team back atop the league. I will do everything asked of me and I will ask others to help me do so.

Thou you really shouldn't be asking me about myself, it is too egocentric a question. Ask others, ask other players, other vets of the game, guys I played with , guys I have oplayed for. Heck, ask yourself why shouldn't I be the next manager.