Good morning, all! Hope your week is going splendidly!

Some might say Theo Epstein’s departure as president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs might be greeted as shocking, but it should not be. All along, Epstein has stated he would not return to the Cubs, after his 10-year contract expired in 2021. All this does is advance the timetable, particularly since rumors have abounded the Cubs are about to “shake” things up this off season.

Epstein has always felt a baseball executive’s lifespan in an organization is about 10 years. And whether he continues in baseball - there is some thought he may pursue a career in politics - he has earned his place in the Hall of Fame. Who else can say they ended both the Red Sox and Cubs long World Series championship drought?

For now, Epstein is looking forward to taking a year off from baseball. That has not stopped the New York media - always looking for website clicks - from speculating Epstein could end up with the Mets.

Whatever his next chapter, the bottom line is Epstein is one of those people who will succeed at any pursuit. Do not bet against him.

Meanwhile, Jed Hoyer, Epstein’s longtime assistant, will become the new head of baseball operations for the Cubs. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. Wesleyan has a long list of alums who have gone on to major successes in life. But how about this for openers? They can claim that arguably the greatest-ever NFL coach, Bill Belichick, and now Hoyer, leader of one of sports’ iconic franchises, have graduated from their school. Not too shabby.

Rose still bets on baseball

Major League baseball’s all-time hits leader was banned from MLB because he bet on baseball, while managing the Cincinnati Reds. Now he is admitting he still bets on baseball. In an interview with Jim Gray Rose stated:

“Yeah. I haven’t (bet on baseball) this year yet, but I have. When I was betting on baseball when I got suspended, I was betting illegally on baseball. I make no more illegal bets in my life. That’s why they have casinos.”

And with more states permitting legalized betting on sports, why should we surprised, if Rose admits he is betting on the game?

Masters TV ratings sink

Like other sports on television, the final round of the Masters took a hit in the ratings. Sunday’s final round produced a 3.4 rating and 5.59 million viewers. That turned out to be the lowest final-round TV numbers since 1957.

Of course, the tournament was going up against the NFL, with the New York Giants playing a significant game opposite the final round, in the nation’s number one market.

There may be numerous reasons behind the slide of television sports ratings. COVID-19, naturally, leads the way, but it is possible, when sports was off the tube in the early days of the shutdown, out of sight became out of mind.

ACC rescheduling football games

In the last newsletter I wrote that I cannot get into the college football season this year, because of constant changes in the schedule. Almost on cue, the ACC announced on Monday numerous schedule changes because of the virus.

Remember the old line you can’t tell a team without a scorecard? Well, these days, you cannot tell a team’s schedule even with a schedule!

Be well, be safe and as always, thank you so much for your support of the newsletter.

SPORTSCASTER DAN