I know it’s 68 degrees in Chicago, but baseball in the Windy City, sad to say, has been over for some time now. So I needed to hop on a big air jetliner to carry me so far away to the middle of the desert to get my baseball fix.
After wolfing down some breakfast it was time to head out to the ballpark in Scottsdale. The Scorpions are once again in last place, must be something about their feeder teams. Each team in the AFL gets its players from five major league ballclubs.
As I was headed to my seat I wanted to pick up a media guide and a stat sheet, but the place where they’re normally sold was closed. I saw a guy, who was lucky enough to have both, I sked where he got his stuff. He said, over at the booth that is now closed, maybe they’ll open again soon, which they did. The guy I asked, happened to be Steve Stone. I sheepishly said, oh hi, good to see you!
Clay Buchholz was starting for the Scorps, but he was roughed up for four runs over 3 2/3 innings. He had his good fastball, but seemed to be working on a change up, a work in progress. Cardinals prospect Brett Wallace was 4-5 on the day, including a bomb off Buchholz. Daniel Murphy was in the game, learning to play 2B. Kevin Frandsen was back in the AFL, ripping the ball, playing SS. Jordan Danks was the DH, didn’t show much.
The final score was 11-7 Peoria Saguaros over the Scorpions in a looong game. My day started with getting up at 3:30 AM in Chicago and ended at Don & Charlie’s on Camelback Road in Scottsdale. That place has the best baseball memorabilia around, amazing!
Going to a day game in Phoenix and a night game in Scottsdale today & tomorrow, a night game in Mesa Thursday, before heading home Friday for a Bulls night game at the UC. Wednesday night Jimmy Rollins will be present in Scottsdale to be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame, my JRoll teeshirt? It’s at home in my closet.