Curtain Call

Well folks...your 2009 Arizona Winter League has gone dark. The hometown Yuma Scorpions used a patented offensive outpouring to claim the league championship for the second time in the league's three year existence. Congratulations to Mike Marshall and his band of bats!

I'm a little overdue on wrapping up this conclusion. Had to get away for some R&R as previously promised. The roulette wheels in Laughlin didn't treat me to kind, and I didn't stop before I should've, naturally. But, the view, in that valley, on the Colorado, is just priceless.

I had a lot of fun this season. And I learned a whole heck of a lot. I got to see more baseball in a month than I could ever have imagined. The weather was great, my host family was even better, and I got to meet and work with a lot of great people.

I hope all of you enjoyed what little insight this blog passed on. Hopefully I'll see you somewhere in the future at a ballpark.

More of What I Think I Know

Here we go with installation numero dos on what I’ve learned here at the AWL:

(4) If you ask to answer the phones, you’ll be answering them constantly for the rest of the month. The first week that everyone reported to the Ray Kroc Complex, the phone consistently ran off the hook. A testament to the newspaper ad that ran promoting our $20 season pass. I started answering after the first couple days, and I haven’t stopped since. I’ve talked to Japanese agents, newspaper people, what feels like half of Canada, and plenty of people who assumed my authority to be much greater than it really is. Mike Marshall I am not. The best call had to have been late on a Sunday night, as I waited for the result to come in from Blythe, a job-seeker phones in past 7 o’clock. On a Sunday! Hmmm…Must need a job as bad as me! He ain’t gonna get it calling on Sundays.

(5) Being ballpark DJ is a lot of fun. I got a taste of this last summer while working for a summer collegiate team in Ohio, playing the BP music. Out here in Yuma and down in San Luis both, I’ve got to play plenty of tunes for the gathered. Lots of oldies, because, who doesn’t enjoy the music of the 60’s? I remember taping songs off the radio as a kid, and with so many songs in, out, and rocking in 120 seconds give or take, what’s not to like? Chuck Berry visited my high school in Missouri annually to speak to a Humanities class, and having sat in on that twice, I’m a huge fan. Although, if you listen not-so-closely, “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Johnny B. Good” have unapologetically the exact same guitar parts. The true “Oldies” format is disappearing from FM radio, with a good example being right here in Yuma. 1400AM is the only place in town to hear Motown, the British Invasion, and so much other good stuff. However, if you come out to the ballpark, we got your covered!
As for the players, they wish they were getting more hip-hop, or more screeching heavy metal, but they’ve got the stuff between the lines to worry about. The other consistent request I got from the players was, “are you going to play my walk-up music?”. For 195 different players, coordinating all that would’ve required a staff-member all to itself. All I could do was laugh, and tell ‘em “get me your CD”.

(6)Baseball players don’t wear much facial hair. I’ve taken some ribbing from Marcus and others in the front office about my lumberjack beard. I came from Flagstaff, Arizona, up in the mountains at 7,000 feet of elevation. It’s almost a requirement in that mountain-town. But the cat-calls got me thinking, of nearly 200 ballplayers, I don’t really have a rival beard. There are some goat-tee’s, a sideburn or two, but nobody wearing a couple months worth of face-warmer. The only thing I think is that ballplayers, by nature, are very particular and thus crack out their razors often. It can’t be because there are a lot of babyfaces, because the average age in the league is in the mid-20’s.

Firing Down the Home-Stretch

Geez….we’re about done. The final week has begun. Playoff teams already set. All that’s left is to battle out the playoff matchups. It sure doesn’t feel like it’s been a month…it seems like it’s been three. I’ve had my fill of baseball, for better or worse. I won’t need to tune in again until the Cubbies get started in April. I’m going to head to Laughlin and crawl into a hole, waiting for a job for the summer to materialize.

We’ve all had a lot of fun though. Being stationed down in San Luis has been an experience. The concession stand there has the greatest Salsa Verde Tostitos I’ve ever tasted. You can only purchase them in Mexico apparently. I’m brokering the price on a case from the concessionaires. Otherwise, seeing the border fence beyond the outfield fence is a good reminder of where we are. A little diamond in the furthest Southwest corner of Arizona.

We didn’t attract overwhelming crowds while down here, but the field is maintained just as nice as the complex in Yuma, and true to our word, we delivered some exciting professional baseball. As official scorer, I’ve got to stay objective, but as I’ve seen every pitch thrown in San Luis, the Atleticos are my favorite to watch for the balance they have up and down the lineup.

I’ve meant to write a lot more on this blog, as I’ve said numerous times. I began the blog thinking that I might not be taught, or might be splitting the virtual-ink with someone else on the main website. Alas, I’ve been solely in charge of both, and I hope you’ve followed along on the main page. Nothing too heavy, but game reports everyday and that amazing, Pulitizer-worthy press release regarding the new seats at Desert Sun. I want to thank Mr. Sangiolo (that's his picture of his son above) and a couple other parents for sending me pictures to thumbnail on top of the stories.

As I sit right now, the sun is setting out beyond the left-field wall, across both Arizona and the Sonoran state of Mexico. Not too bad of a spot to work at. It’s finally gotten to be in the 80’s temperature wise, which makes our evenings at the ballpark much more enjoyable. No more cold February evening breezes. It amazes me to see Yumans still wearing jeans, explaining…”it ain’t hot yet”.

The View of it All!

Well folks...I'd been holding out on the pictures, but now...to return, we had to do it in style. Check out these pictures my fellow intern Jenny Will took while she flew over Desert Sun and the Ray Kroc Complex itself.

Jenny was riding with the Scorpions Booster Club President Jim McDermott. The two of them were trying to perfect where they need to fly to be able to successfully drop cashola onto the paying patrons on Baseball Bail Out Day (FRI. FEB. 20TH!).

This second picture narrows down the scope a little bit, but you can still see all four fields of the complex, with the office center too! Amazing pictures! Looks pretty green, eh? Not as deserty as you'd imagine? All I know is the city does an amazing job upkeeping these fields, I've written about that a few times.


Jenny had a heck of a time flying around and snapping these photos. As you might know, Jim McDermott is a flying instructor, and Jenny said she got to land the plane as well! A little impromtu, free lesson!

It's Been Too Long

Too long, and not enough photos! Guilty as charged! Without photos to enhance, all of you reading will just have to enjoy the wordsmithing. (sigh)

We're past the halfway point of the season, and are heading into a little break of sorts. Everyone is locked out of the ballpark tommorrow...all office staff, players, coaches, trainers, and/or visitors. The city of Yuma is working on electrical issues at the complex, so I unplugged my desktop and left the office tonight, wondering...what to do on a non-baseball, non-office Monday? (WRITE ON THE BLOG!)

Thus far, I've had myself one heck of a time down here in Yuma. Everyone has been so busy, and everyone has been enjoying the novelty of baseball here in the winter, but soon enough, the season will go dark. Scoring three games a day and working with all the great people I do, I'm sad to think in two weeks, it'll be over.

So, I was thinking I would recount some of the things I've learned thus far.

(1) The Clubhouse guy has a lot of work to do here in the AWL! Marcus Commander is our clubhouse guy, on loan from the Southern League (AA) Hunstville Stars. Marcus has been great fun to visit with late in the evenings at the clubhouse, and he's got a lot of great stories about his years in minor league baseball. His month in Yuma is without a doubt ten-times busier than mine. Having grown accustomed to only doing two teams' laundry on a homestand, Marcus is doing over 200 uniforms a day, accounting for the coaches from all 8 teams. One busy man! Don't ask him if he'll squeeze in your dirty whites, as I did, or you might end up in the washer yourself!

(2) Major Leaguers put their pants on one leg at a time. I'd never personally met major league players until coming down to Yuma. Beginning with Mike Marshall, and then meeting and working with them as they trickled into Yuma, I have been so very impressed with the "aura" around these guys. Templeton, Virgil, Snyder, Lancaster, Evans, Cadaret, the aforementioned Marshall...all amazing. And they're here, displaying their passion for the game that will never cease, teaching these young kids. I speak of the "aura" around these guys, and I think it stems from the fact that I could sit down with each one of these guys and ask a million and one questions about the memories they have from playing at baseball's highest level. What's it like having Dodger Stadium or Wrigley Field as your office? How does your World Series ring fit? Do you remember the kids asking for autographs? ...Unbelievable. To bring it full-circle, my host family for the month were long time San Diego Padres season ticket holders. When I come home from the office, whose autographed, framed picture is on the wall...TEMPE!

(3) Official Scoring is a tough job. I really really enjoy being the de facto "judge, jury, and executioner" while I'm at the ballpark, but the stat hounds are a drawback. I understand where they're barking from. But it's not like I've got any agenda. I've got my father to thank for teaching me how to keep score many a year ago. I've kept score of just as many Cub games on TV as I have kept score in person. I enjoy the responsibility, take it seriously, and just like the end of the AWL, I know I will miss the opportunity to do what I'm doing.

Well...I think this is enough for now. If my camera batteries didn't drain faster than the time it takes to open a soda-pop, I'd have more pictures for you. But...there you have it.

Answering some Questions

My responses to a few questions:

When are we going to get the three missing rosters up and running?
...Hopefully real soon. I should have posted an Excel sheet download by now for you folks to browse through, perhaps I can get that done tommorrow/today. It's out of my hands on why the three teams aren't appearing correctly. Apparently, the links need to be kinked out deep inside the html annals of the webpage, and that's something that my usership has no access too.

When are we going to broadcast in Yuma?
...Again, hopefully real soon. Time Warner did come out late this week and get us hooked up for internet inside the pressbox at Desert Sun. I believe, not promising, but believe...that I'll be delivering the 11am game on the internet on Wednesday. We still need to finalize the deal with the webstream service and need to connect and troubleshoot so we're completely ready, but this is what I've been chomping at the bit to do, and I'll do my best to make it happen. Cole St. Clair would follow me, delivering the afternoon game in Yuma, as I head out in the afternoons for my post as magic-man down in San Luis. Actually, it's really not magic. Just the same Steve Miller Band and oldies tracks I keep recycling.

Rain and Shine!

A wild weekend is over, as it's technically early Monday morning as I scribe this.

An odd Saturday afternoon of constant rain showers forced cancellations in Blythe, San Luis and Yuma. Which meant...double-headers for Sunday. The Blythe area received much more rain than we did down here in "the tri-corner", so the Blythe-San Diego double-header was played in Yuma.

As for the action, in my fatigue, I wasn't able to give the San Luis versus Saskatchewan marathon on Friday night justice. A scheduled 9 inning evening contest went 12 innings, with Stuart Champion living up to his name and delivering two huge extra-inning RBI baseknocks for San Luis. After the Silver Sox had scored three runs in the top half of the 10th, Champion re-tied the score in the bottom half with a 2 out, 2 RBI double to keep the game going. Then in the 12th, Champion knocked a chopper through a drawn-in infield to clinch the 15-14 victory for San Luis. A thrilling ballgame for all of us who stuck it out past 11pm on a breezy, chilly February night.

In Sunday's action, Team Canada got it's first W of the season, taking the first of their double-header with Yuma. San Luis swept a twin-bill from Western Canada, extending their winning streak to three. San Diego and Blythe split a nightcap double-header at Desert Sun, with San Diego putting their hitting boots on to score 14 runs in their first victory of the year in which they weren't no-hit. And, over in Palm Springs (wish I would get there this season, but don't think I will), Palm Springs got right back on the horse, winning 12-3 after dropping their first ballgame of the campaign on Saturday afternoon.

So now, we welcome somewhat of a lull in the schedule. No AWL games either Monday or Tuesday, however, San Luis will play a much anticipated exhibition game Monday night against the Mexican San Luis Algodoneros. I know that everyone can use these next two days for resting up. We're not even halfway through the AWL schedule, and it feels like the grind of the first ten days has been a 100 days.

On a positive note, I used some of our unanticipated down-time on Saturday afternoon to head on our to the casino with our Clubby, Marcus. Didn't really have any money I could afford to play, but I changed some quarters into a crisp Washington, and walked away with a Lincoln and that same Washington. Texas Tea penny machines...a good bet. Only nine lines. Really wanted to play Tailgate Party, but those slots are becoming few and far between. I could tell you where they're at in a few Laughlin properties...but you'll have to trade me some other information for that knowledge. All I know is that I'm changing my availability date on my resume to one full week after we've wrapped up here in Yuma. I'm heading to Laughlin to sit by the river and do some honest relaxing!

All for now. Should have some pictures from tommorrow's exhibition in San Luis. Everyone's expecting a large contingency to show up.

Running on Fumes

Hey folks. The "Bergler" here, getting ready to power down after another full schedule of baseball this Thursday evening. Closing in on being in Yuma for two weeks. Glad to be out of the winter cold and drafty, broken-window house I called home up in Flagstaff, Arizona. The weather has been unbelievable here in the Sonoran Desert, and my host-family has been even more gracious (Bob and Susan Lauer out in the Foothills).

I've gotten to speak with a lot of parents and fans who have said they've been following along on the website and this here blog. I'm an never-ending English major up at Northern Arizona University, and thus, I enjoy these opportunities to wax poetic and publish. Anybody enjoy the Groundhog story?

Here's a look at the "business corral", or "office space", or as I like to think of it, "the first desk I've ever occupied in a professional baseball office". You can see "BatBear" there on the desk, he proofreads most of my work. Dad, thank you so much for the computer. And if you look closely, there's a mini-Wrigley Field model there on the desk (Avon's finest, love ya Mom).

I know there are broken links on the website and some incorrect numbers on the roster-inserts, but we're working at all hours of the day. If and when you reach me on the phone here at the Arizona Winter League nerve center, this is where I'm sitting.

I've been splitting my days between Yuma and San Luis, taking in 3.5 baseball games a day more or less. I never thought being the official scorer would make me so popular in all the wrong ways. A couple players came to talk to me in San Luis after their games tonight, and they saw me ready to have a politically correct meltdown. I know everyone has stats on the brain, but what happens on the field happens. I've got no agenda, and I've also got three different people who want specific outcomes on every questionable call (batter, fielder, pitcher). So, if you're calling about that...don't call.

Want to wind this down with some pictures of the morning at Desert Sun. In this first picture, in the forefront we've got our scoreboard operator Mr. Bob (that's not his last name, that's Midwest manners) and our tasmanian-devil of a front office manager who was caught actually sitting down for a quick second, Jimmy Taipalaus. Forget what we were laughing about, but a good picture. In the middle of a busy and anxious pressbox, it was a real nice change of pace to have Bob's granddaughter come up to the pressbox the other day. She brought him coffee and some snacks, and his smile was ten times as big as the one he's got going on here.

And finally, a picture of the fans getting ready for the 11am first pitch. The fans are the most important aspect to the work we all do. I've heard from a player or two that they've been very pleasently surprised with the crowds at the ballpark. Keep on coming out all you baseball fans. As the season gets thicker, the playoff races will ratchet up, the scouts in the stands will become recognizable, and you'll come to know your favorite AWL ballplayers better and better. And most important of all, we need more singing and dancing in the stands. Come out to Desert Sun just to let us know what you think of our ballpark jukebox! Ya know...nothing's better for your smile than singing!

Author Admission

And I just want to clarify...I'm a horrible photographer.

Finally, Baseball in Yuma

Holy Cow! A fantastic opening in Yuma was had on Tuesday afternoon. Hope you were there to experience it right along with all of us thrilled front-office staff. Everyone was anticipating working hard and delivering a good experience not just for the fans, but for the ballplayers as well, and with the largest opening day crowd ever seen in the Arizona Winter League, allow us to exhale and smile a little bit.

Close to 500 people came out to cheer on the ballplayers on one of the warmest and sunniest days we've seen so far. (Really, as I write that last sentence...is one day more sunny than the next in Yuma? I really do forget it's FEBRUARY!) Two competitive ballgames, good oldies blaring between innings, great tasting ballpark fare, and all the free sunshine you could absorb! Where else can you get these things in this time of year?

I was busy trying to work in the press box, so I didn't have an opportunity to take too many pictures. I did take this picture of some of the record crowd filing out to the concourse after the first "Battle of Canada" wrapped up.

We thank everyone that came out to enjoy the day with us, and we hope you return and bring some friends along with you. Strike up some rivalries with your peers. Catharsis is healthy! (That's a rejected slogan I threw out in one of our meetings recently!)

And finally, I wanted to post this picture of the guys on the groundcrew at work. I've been a whole lot of places, and I don't believe I've ever seen municipal facilities upkept so unbelievably nice. All four of the fields at the Ray Kroc complex could pass as the best fields I've seen in person in the past year (not Wrigley Field, but that's a landmark all to itself).

Here is my chat-break partner, Sergio, working on the baselines right after the end of the ballgame. I know the whole crew gets to the field at 4am, and returns in the evening after the ballplayers have been shuttled away to the hotel. If the ballplayers had any doubts when they traveled from across the world to come to Yuma, they can put in their backpocket that they practice and play on world-class facilities. Here's to you, Grounds-Crew!

GET YOUR SEASON PASSES!!

The season finally opens up at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma tommorrow, and everyone out there needs one of these great season passes. The pass costs $20, and it affords you admission to all three local AWL sites, Yuma, San Luis and Blythe. It also will pay for itself if you use it around town at partcipating local businesses who have agreed to offer special discounts.

You can purchase your pass at the ballpark in Yuma all this week, or you can come out and visit us at the Scorpions offices at the ballpark. We're located behind the center-field fence. If you have any questions, do call us at 928-257-4700. And a list of all partcipating businesses is available on our arizonawinterleague.com website.

San Luis Off to Hot Start!

Well, it's Monday morning. Everyone in the state shut down yesterday for the Super Bowl. Wow. What a game. There are a lot of heartbroken Cardinal fans moping around today. I'm a Bear fan, so I can empathize. We lost a Super Bowl not too long ago as well.

Another great night of baseball in San Luis on Saturday. Here's a look at the opening gate at Joe Orduno Field for those of you who haven't made it out to the park but are going to join us soon.

Things are about ready to get real busy at Joe Orduno. Tuesday through Friday the site will be hosting double-headers, so come on out and get twice the baseball for your money. The home-side will always play in the nightcap, so even if you come out early for your Atleticos, you should catch an exciting finale to game one.

Finally, here's a look at San Luis manager Greg Cadaret. Cadaret, a Detriot native, pitched in the major leagues for 10 years and will be returning to Yuma during the summer as he was recently announced as the new manager of the Chico Outlaws. His squad is out to a hot start, the only 2-0 team in the AWL thus far, and the Atleticos figure to have a nice home-field advantage in their backpocket, as they'll play 19 of their 20 games in San Luis.

Opening Night in San Luis

Baseball for 2009 has finally arrived! As the final flickers of sunlight faded into night, the Arizona Winter League officially arrived in San Luis, Arizona, and a victorious night it was for the homeside. San Luis left seven men on-base in the first three-frames, but the bats came alive as the Atleticos sandwiched five runs a piece in the fourth and sixth innings around a three spot in the 5th to runaway from Team Canada. Final score: San Luis 14 Team Canada 1.

The evening was an event all unto itself. San Luis is a fantastic baseball town, and the AWL was very excited to bring professional baseball to Joe Orduno Park. AWL President Dave Kaval and AWL Commissioner Kevin Outcalt were both on hand to take in the sights for themselves. Also marking the occasion was the San Luis High School band (as seen below), who played the national anthem prior to first pitch.

The Atleticos appear to have a solid squad who should entertain the local following for the next month. Team Canada didn't get the bats going as they would've liked, but Reid Horton showed he belongs as a No.1 starter in the league, and Garry Templeton's squad will get right back after it.

In other AWL action, the Blythe Heat outlasted the Saskatchewan Silver Sox (a last minute schedule change) 9 to 7 at Alexander Field in Blythe, CA. Saturday's slate of games sees the league makes its' inaugural appearance in Palm Springs, CA, as well as another set of games in San Luis and Blythe.

(Team Canada being announced on the field prior to the start of the 2009 AWL season)

Draft Night Party!

Wow! What a wild evening. The draft room was constant chatter and 188 ballplayers waited anxiously in the clubhouse for their assignments.

First, the BBQ. Glenn and Jimmy from the front office tamed the propane beast, as you can see. Hot dogs and burgers, just about as American as baseball. From 4pm until the final ounces of propane burned away, everyone here at the clubhouse got their fill.

Some of those burgers and dogs made it into the draft room, and a good thing they did. Everyone involved was holed up in the war-room for every bit of three hours. Stephen Bedford, a front office man with the GBL, must have super-human hearing. Stephen was charged with taking down the picks as they came, and I don't believe I've ever heard a room full of men carry-on, barter and bluff, and think outloud like I did tonight. A "spirited" draftroom might be an understatement.

But...after three hours, every list had been checked twice and the draft completed. 188 players across eight teams. Take a look at this final picture. (Every single member of the AWL crammed into one clubhouse!) And as I write this, the first pitch of 2009 is less than 44 hours away. A quick turnaround for these players after spending a good portion of the night here at the complex. Now, the teams practice separately for the first time tommorrow and begin the process of becoming a team.

MID-WEEK- BBQ and Draft Day!

We're halfway through our week of spring training, and the weather's finally heating up. Also heating up today will be the BBQ (here are the supplies) and the shape of the league! Today is draft day, the day everyone's been waiting for. The players are anxious to figure out which team they'll be representing, and the coaches are all bluffing each other about whom they've taken a liking too.

All the players are out on the four fields now, making their last impressions. Here we've got a good picture of one of the first fans who have trickled out to the complex to check out some scrimmage action.

Lots of more pictures to come from the BBQ, and of course, stay tuned to the blog, and to arizonawinterleague.com for all the draft night information.

Afternoon Pictures

After a lunch of Olive Garden in the clubhouse, everyone checked this list, the masterlist and headed out to the fields.

In the afternoons, each one of the four fields at the Ray Kroc complex is bustling with a scrimmage. The pitchers are knocking the dust off their wings, and the batter's are trying to get their first sweet-feeling hacks of the year. I was watching action this afternoon where a lefty with a wicked slider broke bats consecutively, getting ground ball outs. His name shall remain a mystery...But, the first pitch is just days away, and the forecast promises plenty of sunshine to accompany your day out with the AWL!

Training Day #2

A little later start for everyone today. 9:30am stretch-call. Everyone was a little worn-out after an anxious first day of on-field baseball activities. Not to mention a nice night-out for all the players and AWL staff hosted by Buffalo Wild Wings yesterday.

The weather remains a little chilly, as a constant breeze from the west tempers our sunshine. Of course, “chilly” here in Yuma is relative. I heard plenty of the ballplayers discussing the bone-chilling wintry weather they left behind.

Everything will take further shape tomorrow night with the player-draft. Meanwhile, it’s almost lunch-time, and the afternoon promises more scrimmaging and some warmer sunshine.

The Boys of Winter are Here!

Welcome to the unofficial Arizona Winter League blog. I am your scribe, Joe Rauschenberger, embedded deep in the offices of Desert Sun Stadium as a media intern for this 2009 season.

It's a chilly Monday morning here in the Southwest, but the sun is climbing and baseball players are arriving by the van-full! Close to a 170 ballplayers from half-a-dozen countries and all corners of America came through the offices yesterday. An evening meeting brought everyone together at once for introductions (pictured below), and the mood was set for hardwork.

Stretches began sharply at 8:30am this morning. The ballplayers will have three days to make their impressions on the impressive array of scouts and managers before Wednesday night's player-draft.


I took this last photo as I strolled around the ballfields. Jimmy Tenerovich (Alphareta, GA) takes some time, as I imagine all the young men did, to reflect on the wild and exciting month we all have ahead of us.

Thus...we're here at the end of post numero uno. Stay tuned to this blog, as well as arizonawinterleague.com for information, pictures, and most importantly...BASEBALL! The 2009 professional season starts anew right here in the third installment of the Arizona Winter League!