|
Extra Innings with Rev. Barry Abraham Zavah
The greatest distance between two points isnt on a map. It is the space between the end of the last baseball season and beginning of the next. I remember the momentum shifting mid-stream in Game 3 of the championship round earning the Cowboys a 12-7 victory over Las Cruces. Looking at the league website, http://www.pecosleague.com/, to keep up with off-season happenings and relishing the large picture at the photo kiosk inside Morrison True Value of the presentation of the 2012 trophy by Commissioner Andrew Dunn helped bridge the gap. The Kokernot Field covered grandstand is looking real good these days, isnt it? At the risk of forgetting some names, well just say "thank you, very much" to all the hard-working volunteers and suppliers. The protective mesh has been tightened, too, eliminating most of the squiggle. In the concourse, the Big Bend Brewing Company is the new beer concessionaire. I hope they serve their dark beer enjoyed with gusto at taps around the area.
But May has finally arrived. The 2013 Cowboys were introduced at last Mondays Meet and Greet at the Century Bar & Grill and opened the season the next day in White Sands. But it is our home opener that always does it for me. The call to "Plaaaay Baaawl" gives me goose bumps. You, too, Id wager.
In the Club House: The 2013 Pecos League added two cities and now consists of two divisions of 4 teams each. Welcome Las Vegas Train Robbers, Raton Osos, and Taos Blizzard. Welcome back Roswell Invaders, Trinidad Triggers, White Sands Pupfish and Santa Fe Fuego.
The league "shortened" the season by pretty much eliminating days off and scheduling the play-offs for the last week of July. The hope is to provide a greater number of players an opportunity to be drafted by a full-season Indy or affiliated team. Still and all, theres nothing more heartrending than Kokernot bereft of fans and sounds of the game.
Theyve also returned to National League rules where pitchers take a turn at bat. Pardon me? Between long travel days and little enough rest, thats bound to create some hardships for the pitching staff. Im looking for the league to return the designated hitter mid-season as they did last year. Problem solved!
The economics of fielding an Indy ball club and reality of just the way things were in a very difficult market cost the Cowboys #1 rival from the days of the old Continental League, the Las Cruces Vaqueros a place in the league.
Commissioner Dunn had his heart and wallet in the franchise and were truly sorry for all concerned that it didnt work-out.
Last year a Pecos League writer predicted a 5th place finish for the Alpine Cowboys. Instead, we finished first and won the championship. This year were predicted to finish #1 in our division, but lose to other divisions winning team. Im on-board with the first place part, but keep the tea leaf reading in the cup and playing and winning on the field to the Cowboys.Howdy, yaall! The Cowboys 2013 corral include returnees C/1B Joel Carranza, 2B Derrick Fox, Of Eric Herman, RHP Bryce Weidman, RHP Brad Orosey, LHP Brian Smith, RHP Scott Hartling and LHP Mike Castrignano and veteran new comers CF Cassanova Donaldson (.350/11HR/20+ SB) and SS Brycen Bell from the Roswell Invaders and SS Kenshoku Takubo, an 8 year pro who played for the Kandok Yamato Samurai Reds in Japan last season and rookies 3B DJ Johnson (first round draft pick from the Pecos Spring League), C Billy Crowe and LHP Derrick Mitchell. If you ever thought you came a distance for a ball game – think about the fellow from Japan.
Where are they now? Among those getting a well-deserved promotion after the 2012 season championship game was closer, RHP Alfredo Caballero. Hes about to do his comin out of the bullpen fire-throwin, mow 'em down best for the San Angelo Colts in the United League. 4 year veteran OF Eric Garcia has signed to play for a west coast Indy ball club. From your many fans here in Alpine: Vaya con Dios. We wish all our former Cowboys much success!
Upcoming home games: 5/31, 6/1, 2 and 3 against arch rivals, the Roswell Invaders first appearance in Kokernot this season; 6/13, 14 and 15 (double-header on the 15th), the Taos Blizzard return. See you at the games!
|
