Rockies host Vaqueros spring game
Talking Stick Resort-Salt River Fields
Blade's Blog
It took some talking and walking but I made it happen. By talking I mean "talk like you been there" and by walking I mean "walk like you been there." I wasn't issued Central Arizona College media credentials (didn't ask), I just depended on my previous experience from sneaking into concerts without tickets or credentials and it works every time. Just have an official looking camera with a boom mic, act like you've done this a thousand times, and that the whole thing is all humdrum. Looking at your phone while you're walking past unsuspecting Colorado Rockies security/volunteers doesn't hurt either. If I were really serious, I would have grabbed my ZZ TOP/Black Crowes laminate from 1992 and hung it around my neck to look official, but getting into this event wouldn't take my "A" game.
Blade got bench side seats for the Central Arizona College-Colorado Rockies spring game by talking the talk and walking the walk. I ain't paying to see my own team play.
They charge you to park and then for the full ticket of the afternoon game even at 10am. This game is separate from the actual spring training game. Our game started at 10am and the Cactus League game versus Seattle started at 1:10pm, but people like to sneak in and watch the morning practice and stick around for the afternoon game without paying, you see.
I always wonder what's going through the Vaqueros head. Do they take it seriously? I would if I were playing. I'd sure hope someone would notice me, sign me, and off I go. You want to play well not only to impress the pros, but to impress yourself. The Rockies threw two prospects who threw 92 (fast balls) and 84 (changeups) and the Vaqueros had no trouble nicking the both of them.
"That two-seamer the second pitcher threw had a lot of run" third baseman Aldo Koutsoyanopulos said afterwards.
"Yeah. Those two had a little more than we see in the regular season" added hitting coach Jerry Hardin.
Jaime Estrada treated Chad Bettis (of the farm team Colorado Springs Sky Sox) with a nice line drive. Caleb Henderson doubled off him. Cooper Esmay hit them. I think Brownie chopped one through. You know Josh Ethier got on. The guys hit well against these professional pitchers!
Dakody Clemmer started this one and had a real fireball early, I mean really. Some of his fastballs froze these guys. He walked a few later, then a little, skinny, left-handed hitter turned on one and sent it bye-bye for a grand slam. The kid looked like he had to jump around in the shower just to get wet for the sake of Pete. These pro organizations just know where to find them.
This #96 couldn't even foul one off #32 Clemmer. All day. Jaime Estrada out of the two-hole does it again.
The Rockies catcher was their back-up Michael McHenry (George Castillo sawed him off once) who I know well as a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, he was a fun player for the Bucs in the 2011-2012 seasons. Dakody plunked him (to send a message lol), and when McHenry took off on the first pitch for second, LSU-bound Colby Hamilton gunned him down.
"Nice throw catcher" he motioned towards Hamilton. I loved it.
Head Coach Anthony Gilich didn't do this, but I might have as a coach. If it were my team, I might have had Dakody send a first pitch howler right under leadoff's chin. But on second thought, is that any way to treat a team that invites you to spring training at their beautiful facility, gives you a post-game tour, and even gives the whole team Rockies t-shirts?
No.
The coach is a man of great class at all times and when I brought my idea up, what I got was a shaking of the head in disbelief, exactly what was deserved. I don't know what the score was, and yes, I would know if my boys had won.
Blade
