Golden Eagles Sold!
New Ownership Vows To Keep Team In California
RIVERSIDE, CA - The California Golden Eagles have announced a change in ownership, with a group from Maryland purchasing the club and installing 39-year old Steve Edwards as the new General Manager. The club has apparently been ready to make their announcement for some time but have been waiting for the completion of the AFBL playoffs, where the Frontier League Champion Oregon Explorers won the inaugural Federation Cup Series with a 4-games-to-2 series victory over the Patriot League Champion Ohio Knights.
While the details of the sale have been kept private, Edwards met with the media in Riverside to assure fans that the club would be staying in California.
?We?re an hour from Los Angeles,? Edwards began, ?everyone involved with the purchase of the club realizes that we?re in a great market with tremendous potential. The new owners have repeatedly said throughout this process that there will not be any major changes to the club as long as we can maintain a productive relationship with the city of Riverside.?
While that may not sound like an iron-clad guarantee, Edwards reiterated several times that there were no plans to make dramatic changes, except for on the field.
?There are several areas of the club that need some immediate attention,? the new GM said. ?First, we?re ranked 16th out of 16 in AFBL minor league systems, and that?s something that has to change. However, at this stage we?re not in a position here to gut the team to add draft picks or prospects. We?ll do what makes sense. Second, I?m not sure I liked how many games relief pitchers like Lyndon Shortt and Byron Newbold appeared in this past season so we?re going to look at workload. And lastly we probably need a left-handed power bat to take advantage of right field in Riverside Park if we?re going to make a legitimate run in 2014.?
California will pick 9th in the upcoming 2013 draft and may be able to address some needs that way.
?Of course,? Edwards deadpanned to the assembled press conference, ?that?s what the draft is for.?
California led the entire AFBL in stolen bases last season with 153.
?Doesn?t really matter if guys are taking bases if no one can knock them in,? the new GM said. 28-year old catcher Mike Brown led the club with 81 RBI in 2013.
In all, fans have been left feeling a bit relieved and energized that the new ownership is looking to keep the club in California, and that the front office is mulling a possible win-now mentality for next season.
