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.