SB Nation User Blog: San Diego Smooth Jazz Man

Curses! (But not in Chicago, eh?)

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:23:14 -0000

Curses! (But not in Chicago, eh?)

I think a donut at Tim Horton's would solve this angst.

End of an Era In Scottsdale

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:57:28 -0000

End of an Era In Scottsdale

Jack Brickhouse and Vince Lloyd used to always mention this establishment....back in the day...

Doonesbury and the Cubs 8-14

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:33:48 -0000

Doonesbury and the Cubs 8-14

In no way am I trying to be political here, so please do not go there. But...it's funny.

Scam or Souvenir?

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:01:34 -0000

While watching some of Thursday's White Sox/Angels game, Steve Stone read a promotional announcement that I found to be pretty remarkable. Give the White Sox credit. They've found a way to make money off of tickets that were never purchased for a specific game.

Apparently, you can buy the unsold tickets to Mark Bueherle's perfect game. Stone didn't mention the prices. Are they selling them at face value? A premium?

Yes -- you too, can claim to be at a game you didn't attend. What would stop the team from just printing and printing and printing tickets if there was a demand for this souvenir? Who'd know? Is each ticket authenticated?

Well, if you can't fill the seats, get creative. And, I must admit....this is.

Cubs fans are frustrated, but it could be worse.

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:13:50 -0000

Cubs fans are frustrated, but it could be worse.

This reminds me of the Cubs teams I grew up with. This season may be a wash, but THIS situation is worse.

"Moneyball" -- "Stoplighted" by Hollywood....

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:04:30 -0000

"Moneyball" -- "Stoplighted" by Hollywood....

Why am I not surprised? I never thought this would translate to a feature film.

Wrigley Field Party Central? Not any more......

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:15:57 -0000

Wrigley Field Party Central? Not any more......

...we totally watched FOUR innings!!!

If you want to be in the Movie, "Moneyball......"

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man — Sat, 23 May 2009 08:10:48 -0000

Well, here's your chance.

From castingnetworks.com......

Project Name: Money Ball

Starting a new movie called MONEY BALL - from a book of the same title. This takes place 2001 with the Oakland A's. We are looking for "real" or actual Baseball Players - PLEASE NOTE LEAGUE AND EXPERIENCE. Trying to match real players for the movie. Workdays vary - but working June and July. We will be having tryouts for this film on Friday in LA area. Please post with experience - right or left handed, height and weight. MUST BE ACTUAL BASEBALL PLAYERS NOT PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE BASEBALL PLAYERS! College and higher ability. you can send additional photos to moneyballcasting@gmail.com

Good Luck!

Why Didn't Scales Make The Show Earlier?

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:00:47 -0000

Here are some possible reasons that Bobby Scales didn't make the Padres, some 5 years ago...

(First posted in a fan shot thread, but perhaps it would launch more discussion here)

After a good 2003 at AA Mobile, .281/361/.405…..Bobby Scales slumped, in 2005 — starting in Mobile and then in AAA Portland. (.242/.336/.335, combined, with the averages dragged down by the lower AAA stats. He didn’t seem to make the transition to a higher level of play very well.)

At the same time, the parent club improved mightly after moving to Petco Park in 2004.

In 2005, The Padres were high on other youthful talent that was passing Scales by — Sean Burroughs, who became the starter at 3B and Khalil Greene, at SS. Mark Loretta was in the midst of two very good years at 2B. With a veteran bench — Kevin Sweeney, Geoff Blum, (before being dispatched to the White Sox) along with Damien Jackson, and Manny Alexander — there was no room for another first-year player who wouldn’t play, but would languish on the bench

The Padres won the division that year, and the next year — 2006. Meanwhile, Loretta departed. You’d think that this was Scales’ next chance, but the Padres went with rookie Josh Barfield at 2B. Geoff Blum (returning) and Mark Bellhorn highlighted the IF bench. (Along with Todd Walker and Russell Branyan, who both came along later in the season....again, Kevin Towers bypassed Scales for veterans. That’s a hint right there that the parent club isn’t really considering you…)

It appears Scales’ best shot to make the Padres was 2004 – but, he was caught in that “numbers” game. Then, his poor 2004 between AA and AAA screwed him for 2005. He rebounded at AAA Portland in 2005 — .272/.344./.347, but my guess is that the organization was pretty much moving past him, so by 2006 -- he didn't have a future in San Diego.

A Visit To Camelback Ranch

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 02:33:56 -0000

Al has given you the recap, so I can fill in some the details.... Z's homer was a....bomb. He lined it right over the power alley fence....the wall is marked 380 to left-center, so it was 400' -- easily. Koyie Hill's HR was a towering shot, to the RF power alley....there was no doubt about that blast, right off his bat. 4-4, with a FC...not bad for the young man. I wish he'd back up Soto, but I'd bet that won't be the case.

Z's effort on the mound was good -- it looks better in the box score than in reality, though, as his pitch count was near 60 through his 5 innings of work. (I've left the notebook with my "exact" count at my hotel)

If Jake Fox was trying to earn a roster spot....he didn't help himself in the 4-hole, as he looked tight at the plate -- only really coming through with a single in the 8th, when the outcome was not in doubt.

Randy Wolf's line of 10 hits in 4 innings, with 7 earned runs...a tad inflated. The 4-run second inning got away from him on Hill's first hit, an infield "single." Casey Blake got his glove on this soft roller right at him...but kicked it. This play should have been made, for the second out of the inning. IMHO, it was an error, not a hit. This put Hill on first. Corey Koskie, who doubled prior to Hill's at bat, took third. (Sure would be nice to see him make the squad....more on him, later)

Andres Blanco then singled in Koskie, setting the stage for Zambrano's dinger. So, Wolf could have been tagged with unearned runs, or who knows -- the inning goes another way. In any event, Wolf wasn't sharp. The bottom of the order knocked him around, as you know -- in the 4th.

The Cubs pen looked good against the "A" and "AA" Dodgers. Sean Marshall dispatched the Dodgers in the 6th on 9 pitches.

Now...the "Ranch." It's quite a facility, and when it's completely finished, it will be quite the showplace of the Cactus League. ("Bandstand" and all. I couldn't find that on the map. Yes, you get a map of the grounds.)

This now becomes my favorite park. It serves Vienna Hot Dogs/Italian Beef. The Dodger fans will forsake Farmer John's "Dodger Dogs" when they get a load of these. You can get the entire dressed dog for 5.25, at specific stands. There are Vienna carts -- just the dog, relish, and mustard. (Love that snap! of the casing.)

If you like Connie's pizza -- it's also available. The food seems to be skewed toward Chicago visitors, which is good -- "Arnie" from the Back O' The Yards will love it, as will "Heather" from Santa Monica, who will swear off her vegan lifestyle after an Italian Beef from the Nort' side.

Today's crowd (sorry Al, I don't remember if you stated this in the recap) was a Cactus League record -- 13,046. At least, that's what they announced. I saw plenty of empty seats, though. (The 100-dollar section, right behind the plate, and just to the left and right looked filled.)

Access.....oooh, this makes Ho Ho Kam look _easy_ to get in and out of. It's grid-lock, folks. An hour after the game, Camelback Rd was still bumper-to-bumper. Thankfully, it's a short jaunt to the Loop 101. Tip -- don't take the first parking entrance, just past 107th street. You'll park in the dirt. (Unless, you want to park in dirt. if so, go for it.)

Go to "Ballpark Boulevard," west of the complex. You'll be directed into a paved lot. It's 5-bucks.

The complex features a "replica" US Cellular Field and Dodger Stadium. Don't look for the 35th Street Train viaduct. Thankfully, Glendale/Phoenix had the good sense not to get THAT realistic.

Rather, these two diamonds replicate the dimensions of both ballparks. They are marked poorly, though. Just look for the two diamonds with some cement seating and a small scoreboard. (At least, I think these are the fields in question. The dimensions were not marked on the fences.)

And, by the way, just WHERE is this place? Phoenix? Glendale? Phoenix police patrol the area. Camelback Rd is marked with the Phoenix City Logo. Where's Glendale? Can somebody clue me in on this strange Arizona-zoning? (No pun intended.) I can see University Of Phoenix Stadium in the distance from the parking lot. That, I know...iS Glendale.