Castro's predecessor

Break into bits

(The seemingly inevitable answer in a crossword like this that just defies a coherent clue) Here goes: How an umlaut is typed when the two dots aren’t available (2) followed by short for a back muscle (3) followed by a verb whose present tense plural is “are” (2)

Proportionately

What a popular science curriculum turns into when adding arts and theater (inits)

What many baseball coaches tell kids before swinging at a pitch

Android snobs who wouldn’t be caught dead owning an Apple device?

NHL’s Blues visiting the Senators on a scoreboard (with the last letter malfunctioning—hey, it happens)

Animal that grew a spine: Ver_______

Larger than a throw rug, but used to clean your shoes?