List of Nashville Sounds managers

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A man in a red baseball jersey and gray pants kneels down on a green grassy field as a player in the same uniform slides headfirst into third base.
Manager Fran Riordan looks on as Melvin Mercedes slides into third base.

The Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball team has played in Nashville, Tennessee, since being established in 1978 as an expansion team of the Double-A Southern League.[1] They moved up to Triple-A in 1985 as members of the American Association, joined the Pacific Coast League in 1998, and were placed in the Triple-A East in 2021.[1][2] The team has been led by 29 managers throughout its history. Managers are responsible for team strategy and leadership on and off the field, including determining the batting order, arranging defensive positioning, and making tactical decisions regarding pitching changes, pinch-hitting, pinch-running, and defensive replacements.[3] Rick Sweet has been the team's manager since 2021.[4]

As of the completion of the 2021 season, managers have led the club for 6,123 regular season games in which they have compiled a win–loss record of 3,146–2,977 (.514).[5] In 15 postseason appearances, their teams have a record of 42–41 (.506) and won two Southern League championships and one Pacific Coast League championship.[6] Combining all 6,206 regular season and postseason games, Nashville has an all-time record of 3,188–3,018 (.514).[5][6]

Four managers have been selected as their league's Manager of the Year. Stump Merrill (1980) won the Southern League Manager of the Year Award, Rick Renick (1993 and 1996) won the American Association Manager of the Year Award, and Frank Kremblas (2007) and Steve Scarsone (2016) won the Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year Award. Mike Guerrero won the 2013 Mike Coolbaugh Award in recognition for his contributions in developing and mentoring young players in the Brewers organization. Three managers have been selected for midseason All-Star teams. George Scherger coached the 1979 Southern League All-Star team. Two others participated in the Triple-A All-Star Game. Pete Mackanin coached on the National League team in 1991, and Rick Renick managed the American League team in 1994.

Trent Jewett won 320 games from 1998 to 2000 and 2003 to 2004, placing him first on the all-time wins list for Sounds managers. Having managed the team for 625 games over five seasons, he is also the longest-tenured manager in team history. The manager with the highest winning percentage over a full season or more is Stump Merrill (1980–1981), with .622. Conversely, the lowest winning percentage over a season or more is .437 by manager Mike Guerrero (2012–2013).

History[]

A man in glasses wearing a blue satin jacket with "Sounds" written on the front in white and red trim with a blue cap with a white "N" on the front
George Scherger led the Sounds to win Southern League championship in 1979.

Playing in the Southern League as the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, the Nashville Sounds were managed by Chuck Goggin in their inaugural 1978 season.[1][7] Goggin had managed the Reds' previous Double-A team, the Trois-Rivières Aigles of the Eastern League, in 1977.[7] He was replaced in 1979 by George Scherger, a veteran manager of 18 minor league seasons.[8] He was chosen as a coach for the 1979 Southern League All-Star team and led Nashville to win their first Southern League championship that year.[9][10]

The Sounds became the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees in 1980.[11] Stump Merrill, who had been with New York's Double-A West Haven Yankees in the Eastern League the previous two seasons, led Nashville in the first two years of the new affiliation.[12] He was selected for the Southern League Manager of the Year Award in 1980 after the Sounds set a franchise-best 97–46 record.[5][13] Merrill's .622 winning percentage from 1980 to 1981 is the highest among all Sounds managers over a full season or more.[14] First-year manager Johnny Oates took over in 1982 and led the club to its second Southern League championship.[10][15] Doug Holmquist was promoted to Nashville from the Class A Greensboro Hornets of the South Atlantic League in 1983.[16] He was succeeded in 1984 by former Major League Baseball (MLB) manager and 1952 Nashville Vol Jim Marshall.[17]

The Sounds moved to the Triple-A American Association in 1985.[1] Affiliated with the Detroit Tigers,[18] Lee Walls was assigned to manage the team, but he was hospitalized with internal bleeding after seven games.[19] Outfielder Leon Roberts became the acting manager for the next seven games until being replaced by Gordon Mackenzie,[19][20] who was promoted from the Tigers' Double-A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League.[21] Roberts retired from playing at the end of the season and was hired to manage the 1986 club.[22]

A man in a white baseball jersey with "Sounds" written on the front in red and blue and a blue cap with a white "N" on the front smiling with his hands behind his back.
Jack Lind was the first of five managers to lead the team over a five-week period in 1988.

Nashville became the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds in 1987.[23] Jack Lind, previously manager of the Reds' Triple-A American Association Denver Zephyrs, led the team from 1987 through the first three months of the 1988 season.[24] From June to July 1988, the Sounds went through five different managers.[25] Lind was fired on June 27.[26] Pitching coach and former Sounds starting pitcher Wayne Garland served as a fill-in manager for one game.[27][28] Jim Hoff, Cincinnati's minor league field coordinator, managed the next five games on an interim basis.[28] Former manager George Scherger was brought in on July 3, but he chose to retire after one game.[29] Garland managed two more games before Hoff returned for seventeen.[30] Finally, former big league skipper Frank Lucchesi was hired on July 25 to manage the Sounds for the last 39 games of the season.[30] He remained with the team for the 1989 campaign.[31] Pete Mackanin was hired to lead Nashville in 1990.[32] He was selected to coach the National League team in the 1991 Triple-A All-Star Game.[33] Mackanin was dismissed on June 28, 1992.[34] Dave Miley, manager of Cincinnati's Double-A Southern League Chattanooga Lookouts, was promoted to take his place for the rest of the season.[34][35]

The Sounds switched their affiliation to the Chicago White Sox in 1993.[36] Rick Renick, who had managed Chicago's Triple-A Vancouver Canadians in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) for two years prior, continued in that role at Nashville from 1993 to 1996.[37] Renick won the American Association Manager of the Year Award in 1993 and 1996,[38] and he was chosen to manage the American League team at the 1994 Triple-A All-Star Game held at Nashville's Herschel Greer Stadium.[33][39] He was succeeded by White Sox minor league outfield coordinator Tom Spencer in 1997.[40][41]

Nashville moved to the Pacific Coast League in 1998 following the disbandment of the American Association after the 1997 season.[42] As the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates,[43] the Sounds were managed by Trent Jewett, who had spent the last two seasons with their previous Triple-A club, the PCL's Calgary Cannons.[44] He remained with Nashville until being named Pittsburgh's third base coach on June 6, 2000.[45] Sounds pitching coach Richie Hebner was made the manager for the rest of the season.[45] Marty Brown, a former Sounds third baseman from 1988 to 1989, was manager in 2001 and 2002 after two years leading Pittsburgh's Altoona Curve in the Double-A Eastern League.[46] Jewett returned to manage at Nashville from 2003 to 2004.[44] Over both stretches from 1998 to 2000 and 2003 to 2004, Jewett won 320 games, placing him first on the all-time wins list for Sounds managers.[14] Having managed the team for 625 games over five seasons, he is also the longest-tenured manager in team history.[14]

A man in a black baseball jersey with red trim and "Music City" written in red letters across the chest, a black cap with an "MC" on the front, and gray pants stands in front of a dugout.
Steve Scarsone won the PCL Manager of the Year Award in 2016.

The Sounds became the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005.[47] Frank Kremblas was given the helm at Nashville after leading Milwaukee's Double-A Huntsville Stars in the Southern League for three years.[48] He led the Sounds to win the Pacific Coast League championship in the first season of the affiliation.[49] Kremblas was chosen as the PCL Manager of the Year in 2007 and remained with the club through 2008.[48][50] Four-time MLB All-Star Don Money, who had replaced Kremblas in Huntsville in 2005, led the Sounds from 2009 to 2011.[51] Mike Guerrero was promoted to Nashville in 2012 after two years at Huntsville.[52] He missed nine games of the 2013 season on bereavement leave, during which Charlie Greene, the Brewers' field coordinator and catching instructor, served as interim manager.[53] Guerrero returned to finish out the year, after which he won the Mike Coolbaugh Award in recognition for his contributions in developing and mentoring young players in the Brewers organization.[54] His .437 winning percentage is the lowest among all Sounds managers over a full season or more.[14] Rick Sweet, a roving catching instructor for Cincinnati and veteran manager of 24 minor league seasons, led the team in 2014.[55][56]

Nashville switched its affiliation to the Oakland Athletics in 2015.[57] Steve Scarsone managed the Sounds in 2015 and 2016 after two seasons in the same capacity with the Athletics' former Triple-A club, the PCL's Sacramento River Cats.[58] He won the PCL Manager of the Year Award in 2016.[50] Scarsone was succeed in 2017 by Ryan Christenson, who had spent the two previous seasons with Oakland's Double-A Midland RockHounds in the Texas League.[59] Fran Riordan was promoted from Midland to Nashville for 2018.[60]

The Sounds affiliated with the Texas Rangers in 2019.[61] Jason Wood, who had been with the Rangers' Round Rock Express in the PCL for the last four seasons, continued in the same role with Nashville.[62] Wood had also played for the Sounds from 2000 to 2001 at third base and shortstop.[62] First-year manager Darwin Barney was hired to manage in 2020,[63] but the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[64]

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Sounds reaffiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers and were placed in the new Triple-A East.[2] Rick Sweet, who led the team in the final season of their previous term with Milwaukee, continued to manage the Brewers' Triple-A clubs in the six years between affiliations and returned to lead Nashville in 2021.[56]

Managers[]

Table key
No. A running total of the number of Sounds managers. Thus, any manager who has two or more separate terms is only counted once.
Apps. Postseason appearances: number of seasons this manager has led the team to the postseason
Award winner Award winner or All-Star while managing the Sounds
A black and white photograph of a man kneeling wearing a white baseball uniform with "Sounds" written on the front
Chuck Goggin managed the Sounds in their inaugural 1978 season.
A man in a white baseball jersey with "Sounds" written on the front in red and blue and a blue cap with a white "N" on the front stands with arms crossed and a stony-faced expression.
Stump Merrill's .622 winning percentage over the 1980 to 1981 seasons is the highest of all Sounds managers.
A man wearing glasses in a blue baseball jersey with "Sounds" written on the front in red and white smiles.
Lee Walls managed the Sounds' first games at the Triple-A class level in 1985.
A baseball player in a blue baseball jersey with "Sounds" written on the front in red and white stands leaning on a baseball bat.
Leon Roberts was an outfielder for the Sounds in 1985 before retiring and managing the 1986 team.
Managers
No. Manager Season(s) Regular season Postseason Ref(s).
Games Wins Losses Win % Apps. Wins Losses Win %
1 Chuck Goggin 1978 141 64 77 .454 [7]
2 George SchergerAll-Star 1979 144 83 61 .576 1 5 2 .714 [8]
3 Stump MerrillAward winner 1980–1981 286 178 108 .622 2 5 6 .455 [12]
4 Johnny Oates 1982 144 77 67 .535 1 6 2 .750 [15]
5 Doug Holmquist 1983 146 88 58 .603 1 2 3 .400 [16]
6 Jim Marshall 1984 147 74 73 .503 1 1 3 .250 [17]
7 Lee Walls 1985 7 3 4 .429 [14]
8 Leon Roberts 1985 7 2 5 .286 [14]
9 Gordon Mackenzie 1985 127 66 61 .520 [14]
Leon Roberts 1986 142 68 74 .479 [22]
10 Jack Lind 1987–1988 217 102 115 .470 [14]
11 Wayne Garland 1988 1 1 0 1.000 [14][28]
12 Jim Hoff 1988 5 4 1 .800 [14][28]
George Scherger 1988 1 0 1 .000 [14][28]
Wayne Garland 1988 2 0 2 .000 [14][28]
Jim Hoff 1988 17 8 9 .471 [14][28]
13 Frank Lucchesi 1988–1989 185 96 89 .519 [14]
14 Pete MackaninAll-Star[n 1] 1990–1992 366 186 180 .508 1 2 3 .400 [14][34]
15 Dave Miley[n 2] 1992 68 32 36 .471 [14][34]
16 Rick RenickAward winner & All-Star 1993–1996 575 309 266 .537 2 7 7 .500 [37]
17 Tom Spencer 1997 143 74 69 .517 [41]
18 Trent Jewett[n 3] 1998–2000 340 176 164 .518 [14][45]
19 Richie Hebner[n 4] 2000 85 34 51 .400 [14][45]
20 Marty Brown 2001–2002 284 136 148 .479 [46]
Trent Jewett 2003–2004 285 144 141 .505 1 3 4 .429 [44]
21 Frank KremblasAward winner 2005–2008 572 299 273 .523 3 9 8 .529 [48]
22 Don Money 2009–2011 432 223 209 .516 [51]
23 Mike GuerreroAward winner[n 5] 2012–2013 279 122 157 .437 [14][53]
24 Charlie Greene[n 6] 2013 9 2 7 .222 [14][53]
25 Rick Sweet 2014 144 77 67 .535 [56]
26 Steve ScarsoneAward winner 2015–2016 286 149 137 .521 1 2 3 .400 [58]
27 Ryan Christenson 2017 139 68 71 .489 [59]
28 Fran Riordan 2018 140 72 68 .514 [60]
29 Jason Wood 2019 138 66 72 .478 [62]
Darwin Barney[n 7] 2020 Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)[64] [63]
Rick Sweet 2021–present 119 63 56 .529 1 7 2 .778 [56]
Totals 29 managers 44 seasons 6,123 3,143 2,977 .514 15 49 43 .533
Managers with multiple tenures
No. Manager Season(s) Regular season Postseason Ref(s).
Games Wins Losses Win % Apps. Wins Losses Win %
2 George SchergerAll-Star 1979, 1988 145 83 62 .572 1 5 2 .714 [14]
8 Leon Roberts 1985, 1986 149 70 79 .470 [14]
11 Wayne Garland[n 8] 1988 3 1 2 .333 [14]
12 Jim Hoff[n 9] 1988 22 12 10 .545 [14]
18 Trent Jewett 1998–2000,
2003–2004
625 320 305 .512 1 3 4 .429 [14]
25 Rick Sweet 2014,
2021–present
263 140 123 .532 1 7 2 .778 [56]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Pete Mackanin was dismissed on June 28, 1992.[34]
  2. ^ Dave Miley, manager of Cincinnati's Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, was promoted to manager of the Sounds on June 28, 1992.[34]
  3. ^ Trent Jewett became Pittsburgh's third base coach on June 6, 2000.[45]
  4. ^ Richie Hebner, Nashville's pitching coach, was promoted to manager on June 6, 2000.[45]
  5. ^ Mike Guerrero missed nine games of the 2013 season on bereavement leave.[53]
  6. ^ Charlie Greene, Milwaukee's field coordinator and catching instructor, served as interim manager for nine games in May 2013 while manager Mike Guerrero was on bereavement leave.[53]
  7. ^ Darwin Barney was hired to manage the 2020 team, but the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[64]
  8. ^ Wayne Garland served as an interim manager for two periods in 1988.[28]
  9. ^ Jim Hoff served as an interim manager for two periods in 1988.[28]

References[]

Specific
  1. ^ a b c d Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "Top 100 Teams". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  3. ^ "What is a Manager?". Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  4. ^ "Milwaukee Brewers Announce 2021 Triple-A Coaching Staff". Nashville Sounds. Minor League Baseball. January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Nashville Sounds Yearly Results". Nashville Sounds. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Nashville Sounds Media Guide 2021, pp. 172–173.
  7. ^ a b c "Chuck Goggin Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "George Scherger Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  9. ^ Squires, Tom (July 12, 1979). "Walker Still Not Satisfied". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Southern League Past Champions". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  11. ^ "New York Yankees Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Stump Merrill Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  13. ^ "Manager of the Year". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Nashville Sounds Media Guide 2021, p. 14.
  15. ^ a b "Johnny Oates Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Doug Holmquist Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Jim Marshall Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  18. ^ "Detroit Tigers Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  19. ^ a b Woody, Larry (April 22, 1985). "Walls 'Serious' After Surgery". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 1-C – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ The Nashville Sounds 1986 Official Souvenir Program. Nashville Sounds. 1986. p. 13.
  21. ^ "Gordon Mackenzie Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  22. ^ a b "Leon Roberts Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  23. ^ "Cincinnati Reds Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  24. ^ "Jack Lind Minor, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  25. ^ Nashville Sounds Media Guide 2021, p. 149.
  26. ^ Burris, Joe; Taft, Larry (June 28, 1988). "Fired Lind Gone, but 15,128 Fans See Sounds Win". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 1-C – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Wayne Garland Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i Burris, Joe (July 4, 1988). "Scherger's Debut Spoiled 3–1". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 5-C – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Burris, Joe (July 5, 1988). "Scherger Quits After One Game". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 1-C – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ a b Burns, Bud (July 22, 1988). "Sounds' Newest Manager Vows No Hangups". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 1-C – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Frank Lucchesi Minor and Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  32. ^ "Pete Mackanin Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Triple-A All-Star Game Managers and Coaches (All-Time)" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  34. ^ a b c d e f Taft, Larry (June 29, 1992). "Miley Known as a Player's Manager". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 2-C – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Dave Miley Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  36. ^ "Chicago White Sox Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  37. ^ a b "Rick Renick Winter & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  38. ^ "American Association Special Award Winners". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  39. ^ "1994 Triple-A All-Star Game" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  40. ^ Coleman, Anthony (January 7, 1997). "Spencer to Manage Sounds". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ a b "Tom Spencer Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  42. ^ "Notable Events in American Association History". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  43. ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  44. ^ a b c "Trent Jewett Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  45. ^ a b c d e f Patton, Maurice (June 7, 2000). "Hebner Named Sounds' Manager". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ a b "Marty Brown Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  47. ^ "Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  48. ^ a b c "Frank Kreblas Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  49. ^ "Pacific Coast League Champions". Pacific Coast League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  50. ^ a b "Pacific Coast League Special Award Winners". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  51. ^ a b "Don Money Minor, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  52. ^ "Mike Guerrero Minor & CPBL Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  53. ^ a b c d e "Nashville Sounds Interim Manager Charlie Greene Easily Slides into New Role". Florida Today. May 29, 2013. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  54. ^ "Guerrero Earns Coolbaugh Honors". Minor League Baseball. November 13, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  55. ^ McCoy, Hal (October 5, 2013). "Early Candidates for Reds Manager". Dayton Daily News. Dayton. p. C5 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ a b c d e "Rick Sweet Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  57. ^ "Oakland Athletics Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  58. ^ a b "Steve Scarsone Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  59. ^ a b "Ryan Christenson Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  60. ^ a b "Fran Riordan Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  61. ^ "Texas Rangers Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  62. ^ a b c "Jason Wood Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  63. ^ a b "Sounds Announce 2020 Coaching Staff". Nashville Sounds. Minor League Baseball. January 2, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  64. ^ a b c "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
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