Minor League Baseball is always a hub for ridiculous, sometimes embarrassing shenanigans. On Wednesday, our front office staff brought the '80s back by dressing up in all sorts of "Not 2000 appropriate" clothing to make our fans feel better about themselves. OK, so maybe it was '80s Night at Gesa Stadium, but we definitely did dress up and our fans did quite well also. Check this video out and tell me what you think!

This is why you come to Dust Devils games: The people in charge may be crazy; We win games (most of the time) and something is always going on. Check the video and I'll see you out at the ballpark!

We are now at the middle of a five game homestand against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and this series is definitely one of the most important of the year for the Dust Devils. SK is leading the league right now and the Dust Devils are leading the East Division. Needless to say, at least for Dust Devils fans, this could be a championship matchup.

Now, I've been a bit irked in the past two games because it seems that without Scott Beerer and Mike Zuanich, the Dust Devils offense is playing at just an average level. Sure we're still winning most of the time, but it's the situations that we fail to score runs in that could hurt us in the long run.

For instance, on our first night (which was a 3-1 victory) the Dust Devils had the bases loaded, with NO OUTS and what happened? K, K, F-6! Not only did we fail to get the ball out of the infield, but twice we couldn't even make contact! Ouch!

So what happens last night when we needed a run to win at the end of the game? Well, the bases were loaded after our usual late game hero, Kevin Clark, was walked. That brought up one of the best hitters on the team, rookie Ben Paulsen. With a full count and the TC faithful rallying behind him, Paulsen took the pitch and started walking towards first base....when the umpire promptly rang him up. Now the pitch may have been a ball in the first or third inning, but with the game on the line, anything close probably deserved a swing. Now in no way can Paulsen be blamed for the loss. He has been a catalyst the entire time he's been here. But this is just another missed opportunity the Dust Devils didn't need.

What else happened last night? Well, Salem-Keizer was in a similar situation (bases loaded, I believe, 2 outs) and, unfortunately I don't recall the batter, but he drove a ball to short stop Joey Wong. With a runner storming to second, Wong flipped the ball to second baseman Alex Feinberg about a second or two too late and to the dismay of the runner, he was called out. I mean this guy was completely safe, it would have been funny, but this was just a sad call. OH WELL!

Either way, the TC Dust Devils did not help themselves out last night. Kent Matthes had trouble finding a routine fly ball in right field in the tenth inning which put a runner on first with two outs. Paul Bargas, who was doing quite well, threw a wild pitch (probably blockable) and then Jose Gonzalez let a ball slip past him which gave SK the winning run, without getting a hit. The batter who was watching this debacle take place, well, he struck out. Ouch.

So what do we take from all this? Well, the reason these guys are here is that they need to work on every aspect of their game. No player is perfect, even through the MLB. In no way should we be angry at these players for losing this one game on missed opportunities. Kent Matthes is usually automatic in the outfield, not to mention he was having an AMAZING night at the plate the very same night. The other night, Gonzales gunned two guys out when they tried to steal second, effortlessly. One night isn't going to kill us, in fact, it will probably make us better in the long run. These guys are among the best in the league and a lot of that is learning from past mistakes. Freddy Ocasio and the rest of the coaching staff are going to keep us on top of our division and the Dust Devils players are going to keep on winning.

This one loss isn't a big deal, it's just an experience.

So, I realize that my blog has been more of "blah" for a while now, but here I am ready to go. The Dust Devils are pretty solid this year and we can only hope they continue their exceptional play through the end of the season. Now, on to the fun part: My Opinion.

Here is what and who I enjoy in the realm of Los Diablos de......Dust...

1) Winning: If you don't like winning, you're a loser. That's right. The Dust Devils have been winning a lot this year and are currently in first place in the East Division. If you wish to see a successful, winning team in the Tri-Cities, Gesa Stadium is where you'll find it.

2) The Press Box (aka the Party Room): I spend my time in the Press Box here at Gesa Stadium during games and let me tell you, it is awesome. The press box is a place where only cool people such as myself, Scott "Showtime" Reister, Patrick "P-Licious" Noland, Keith "Wild Thing" Leventhal and, of course, "The man, the myth, the legend" Jack Milikin hang out. Now, I don't want to brag, but behind the 10 Flat Screen Hi-Def TVs, live band, the Fine Wine and Cheese bar and celebrity guests, the press box is an amazing place to watch the game. While you have a moment, take some time to click those links. All the stories are pretty cool, especially Keith's (WORST PITCH EVER!). And Jack remains the DD blogging king due to the fact that I am terrible. ONWARD!

3) Matt Sanders, Jeremiah Sammy, Kent Matthes, Joey Wong and Bo Bowman
We all have our favorite players and no doubt, I do enjoy some Dust Devils more than others, but they're all cool in my eyes. Matt Sanders is definitely the coolest and he summed up best:
BJones: Wearing shades inside huh?
MSanders: The sun never sets on planet cool (cue 80's hair metal as he rides off into the sunset on a Harley)
Besides that, he's just a generally funny guy and is happy to be here. Check this out: Matt Sanders
Sammy: Now, I like Sammy because he's an awesome second baseman. I call him "the Black Hole" because any ground ball hit his way is instantly fielded and good for an out. Jack insists that he is indeed good, but needs to work on finishing the double play. Fair enough, that's why these guys are here. The other cool thing about Sammy is that he has power and can get the ball out of the park.
Matthes: Kent Matthes is awesome, plain and simple. He hits the ball, he makes great catches and guns people out with his arm which is actually a missile launcher. If Matthes was a bit faster, he'd be the total threat. There's no doubt that watching Kent Matthes is one of the best things about Gesa Stadium this year.
Joey Wong: Jack Millikin is constantly raving about J-Weezy in the VIP Room, I mean, the Press Box. Every time he makes a play, all I hear is "Wow! That's amazing" or "He just makes that look easy." OK Jack. But most of the time, I would have to agree. When Wong first showed up, he looked like a middle schooler. Now, he still may look like a middle schooler, but he is definitely a top player on the team. He turns double plays faster than the Mariner's fanbase declines on a losing season! Not to mention one game when the Dust Devils needed a run, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and Wong took a fastball right to the thigh to win the game. That's taking one for the team.
Bo Bowman: This wily veteran is a great baseball player and a popular Dust Devil. He has really turned things up defensively and is able to scoop those off-balance throws by the Dust Devils infielders. His power at the plate is definitely exciting and he is one of the few guys here that can smash a ball out of the park.

4)  Dust Devils Fans
Best in the Northwest of course. We are averaging over 2,300 fans per game which is pretty sweet, but that means there's about 1,000 more seats available, so grab your family, friends, co-workers and your boss (if you want a raise) and come watch the best team in the Tri-Cities!

5) Comebacks
Seriously, if this team has any more tense, late game situations I might be on my way to the hospital. I swear, the Dust Devils will toy with teams until late in the game, just to make it exciting, this is how I imagine a conversation between manager Freddy Ocasio and a random player or coach in the dugout:
FO: Are we winning?
Random: Ya, but they have a guy on first.
FO: It's cool, let them catch up and we'll win later.
Random: OK
I doubt that this happens at all, but still, there are so many late game come backs. It's cool though because every time we need a run late in the game, our fans cheer, our front office staff gets nervous and yells things and the press box gets this weird electric buzz. I enjoy the late game comebacks because every time we pull one off I jump in the air and walk around in circles like I had something to do with it. Cool.

Well that's all for now, I'm going to update this some more during the games hopefully so please don't stop checking in!

  Last season, a storm system known as Charlie Blackmon devastated pitchers all over the Northwest League, leaving bullpens everywhere in shambles. That storm has passed, but its forward momentum is great and its potential to reach the big leagues is.....wait. OK, so by now you've probably figured out that I was able to chat with former Dust Devil and current Modesto Nut, Charlie Blackmon.
  In 2008, Blackmon shattered the Tri-City single season hits record with 98 (previous record: 80) and this year in Modesto, Sir Charles is batting .311 (second on team) and is third in the California League with 69 hits. Blackmon and his roommate Mike Mitchell (also a former Dust Devil. What's up Mike?!) are tied for first on the team with 14 steals apiece, good enough for fourth in the league.
  I was able to chat with Charlie briefly today and, all I have to say is, I don't want this guy back in the Tri-Cities, nor do I think we'll be seeing him back here any time soon. Now don't go taking that the wrong way! I'd love to see him play for the Dust Devils again, but this guy is so humble, focused and hard working, it would be a travesty to see him move anywhere but up.
  It was clear, from just the few minutes I was able to talk to Charlie, that he is not a selfish guy that goes out looking to garner individual awards. He's happy to see his team succeed and be a part of that success. His demeanor is cool and collected, something that he takes with him every at bat. He's not a guy that's going to bore you with "I don't know" or "yes/no" answers. Nor is he the type of person who is going to talk your ear off and give you more information than you'd actually like to hear.
  Now that he's in Modesto, and doing fairly well, I figured it was time to let him know that the Dust Devils still do exist. Overall, it seemed like Blackmon enjoyed his time here in the TC and is adjusting to life in Modesto.
  "We're doing really well and the team is playing great," said Blackmon. "I feel alright, but not as consistent as I'd like to be. Overall for the season, I'm doing ok, both defensively and offensively."
  See?! This guy is having a very good season, yet he downplays it. Oh well. I had to ask him about everything else in Modesto. I mean, I don't expect anybody to be happy anywhere else once they've played in the Island Paradise that is the Tri-Cities.
  "The Tri-Cities was my first time being on the west coast and I was really pumped to be in California" Blackmon Stated. "It's a little different from the East Coast. I thought Modesto would be really hot, but it gets cold at night and really windy. I'm not a fan of the cold and wind. I liked Pasco, hot and dry."
  That's exactly what I thought. I bet if you asked Jeff Francis (Rockies Pitcher, former Dust Devil) he'd tell you he's longing for the piercing heat of Pasco, WA.
  Since Blackmon was such a great player here in the Tri-Cities, I thought I'd ask him what his feelings were on Charlie Blackmon Replica Jersey Night.
  "That'd be really awesome," answered Blackmon.
  Well, sorry Charlie, we won't be doing that any time soon, but hey, never hurts to ask. As I looked at the Modesto Nuts home page, I noticed a little blurb that said Blackmon had gone 4-4 with 2 RBI and a Run in a 6-2 Modesto win over Stockton.
  "I don't remember the last time I went 4-4" said Blackmon. "I was about as pleased as you can be and especially happy that we won. When I was up to bat and had already gone 3-3 I just wanted to be as relaxed as I could."
  That's the kind of approach Blackmon takes to every at bat, calm, relaxed and taking it on a pitch by pitch basis.
  "Each at bat you get a little better," said Blackmon. "I just try not to do to much. You're not going to do well if you swing at balls. I just take what they give me and  try to be relaxed"
  Good advice for some of those incoming rookies or anybody that's struggling with their swing. He had some more advice for those rookies coming into the Tri-Cities.
  "At the time, every game was the most important baseball game of my life there [in Tri-City]. Looking back it's just a stepping stone, another step in the developmental process."
  So, for those rookies about to enter Gesa Stadium, laden with pressure to perform; RELAX! You won't break any of those prestigious Dust Devil records if you're too worried about making it to the next level. Also, don't worry, the Tri-Cities isn't such a bad place to start your pro career. Just ask Blackmon:
  "Tri-City was my first professional experience," stated Blackmon. "I had a great time, and have a lot of good memories. I met a lot of good people there, especially my host family." The best thing about the Tri-Cities was "my little Pasco Bubble. I was close to the ballpark and everything was right there, the movie theatre, Wal-Mart, it was nice. No matter where I went I could look back and see the water towers."
  See? It's not so bad here, well at least not for the most-prolific hitter in Dust Devils' history and if you really want to argue with that, then well....Anyways, Blackmon may be remember as a great hitter, but he's also good on the base paths. This year he has stolen 14 bases, which ties him with his roommate Mike Mitchell. I asked Blackmon if there was a little friendly competition between he and Mitchell.
 "Well, we're roommates, and Mike is a really good guy. I wouldn't say I make it a competition. I'm not going to lose sleep if Mike steals more bases than me. We both want to see each other do well."
Blackmon was drafted twice as a pitcher, but turned out to be an outfielder and is now thriving. Some of his success at the plate can probably be attributed to his prior experiences as a pitcher. Still, he sees room to improve in all areas of his game.
  "I'd like to improve defensively in general. Whether it's throwing, getting better jumps or better communication with other outfielders. I'd also like to improve my base running." With prior experience as a pitcher "it feels like I can sometimes get in the pitchers head."
  After the usual baseball questions, I asked Charlie a few random questions, just to get a feel for who he is. These things have got to be important to MLB teams right?

BJones: Who is your favorite athlete of all time?

CB: John Smoltz, he's just a dominating pitcher. I got to meet him once and he's a really great guy, good at basketball too.

 BJones: Favorite sport to watch (not baseball)?

CB: Let's just say I'm sick of seeing basketball and hockey playoffs for the last month on TV.

 BJones: Any superstitions?

CB: I always wear my sliders inside out. I like to stick with my pre-game routine, doing all the same stretches every time.

 BJones: You just went 4-4 and it's time for a post-game meal. What's your favorite?

CB: Apple Pie and Vanilla Ice Cream

 BJones: Your favorite thing to do when you're relaxing/have free time?

CB: I've been playing video games. We play Rock Band. I'm the drummer.

BJones: When and if you make it to the majors, you plan on coming back to the Tri-Cities to visit right?

CB: Not really, I plan on having everybody from TC come visit me wherever I'm at.

 

 So there you have it. Charlie Blackmon in a Modesto Nut-shell. He's a great, team-oriented player from the sport he plays professionally to the video games he plays in his free time. Let's face it, this dude is cool and he's got swagger. Let's keep him in the Rockies system. We wish him luck and I'll occasionally update everybody when he accomplishes another great feat. Shouldn't be long. And maybe he'll throw a little money this way so I can get my Charlie Blackmon Replica Jersey. Ya feel me?

 

It turns out that people actually care about steroid use in baseball. I received some great feedback from multiple people. Here are some of the responses:

      "It's funny, I was talking earlier this year about how I was going to organize the "Roid Olympics."  I was going to find a major pharmaceutical company to sponsor them.

Each category would have an asterisk by them.*

(*roid performance)

    But wouldn't it be cool every four years to watch how far the human body could be pushed beyond where it is now?  Something like 8.5 second 100m sprints, or bench pressing 1400 pounds, or throwing the javelin or hammer or shot-put record-breaking distances...maybe even a 3.5 minute mile.

     And even then it could be pushed farther: How about Human Growth Hormone or other pharmaceuticals that could push us even harder than steroids.

Anyway, your A-Roid led superstar baseball team could compete with other Like-bodied teams as well. I think it would be a hit, and millions of people would watch it... Maybe call it the Rx-games..."

From Jerry LeMieux
Kent, WA

Well Jerry, you're exactly right. It probably would be a hit. I leave it up to crazy people like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to bring this "un-American" dream to life.

"It is my contention that "roids" are the biggest scandal in baseball. If betting on your team is a term for lifetime suspension from the game such as in Pete Rose's case, then the use of "roids" should also require the same or worse penalty."

Gene Tolley
Tri-Cities

Agreed Gene. It looks like the League needs to sort out its priorities!

"Though you are just joking around, I think you make a valid point. If people eat a lot of protein (among other nutrients) and lift weights, they should be able to get comparable results to steroids without the adverse effects. According to a fitness expert, it's completely viable for a man to gain 20 pound of dry muscle (not to mention the water and other things that come along with it) if one works out consistently for a year."

Paul Weeks
Tri-Cities

Exactly Paul, but let's remember, these players don't get paid to "work out" they get paid to play and complain about how much money they aren't making. It's a rough life right?

"XLB huh? What sorta nicknames would Palmeiro use for his jersey? He Take Viagra?

Lucas Leon
Tri-Cities

HAHAHA! Well, the things my fictional league would bring to life might just be worth a small investment. ("He Take Viagra" is a reference to former XFL and NFL player Rod Smart who is famous for having "He Hate Me" as his name on the back of his football jersey. Take that Chad OchoCinco.)

You forgot two very key ingredients.....chocolate chip cookie dough, and Gatorade Rain.

Alicia LeDuc
Olympia, WA

Of course! These things do slip my mind when I get into a writing frenzy. Though Gatorade Rain may be the most worthless Gatorade product ever made, it would be a key ingredient for the desperate athlete's "boost." Sadly or even comically, "Da Rain" has seen a name change, it is now known as "Gatorade No Excuses." Wow.

As always, thanks for sharing your ideas and comments.
Until next time!

BJONES

 

  So apparently steroids have become a problem in baseball, in case you haven't heard. It's become such a problem that our government has become involved and the American people are lost in a black hole of confusion and speculation because of the allegations against some of the games best and most popular players. Ok, maybe that last part isn't completely true, but if we don't put a stop to this steroid problem, I predict that a full scale revolution will occur within the next few years.

   So what can we do? Well, the league/government/ruling party must either put an end to steroid use or allow it. To put and end to steroid use, the league would have to go ultra-harsh in their punishments of proven users. No matter who the player and how popular, they must be completely erased from the annals of American Baseball. A-Rod? Gone. Manny? Gone.
   If the league is so adamant about fighting steroids, then why haven't they taken these strict measures? Well of course because of money, but their may be another reason. At this point who knows how many players would be out of the league. The entertainment value would go down and eventually another competitor may rise up to challenge the MLB. Remember Vince McMahon and the XFL? Not too successful, but hey, if there was a competitor out there that gave these alleged users a "second chance," had cheerleaders lining the stadium and brought stadium measurements to say, high school size, the MLB would have problems keeping seats in their stadiums. Say A-Rod and Manny were booted from the league and jumped ship to the new XLB, other former stars could join them. Barry Bonds playing for the Seattle SuperSocks, Rafael Palmeiro emerges to hit 79 homers for the Portland Whack-A-Moles, the possibilities are endless!
  Not to mention the fact that many of the minor league players who figure they will never make it to the League could jump ship to an alternate league in hopes of stardom and fame. The MLB would be crushed, and depending on the economic climate, this new league could last for a couple years until the MLB figures out a way to bring fans back.
  The other option was to allow roids. Now, the problem here is "integrity." Former players, old fans and honest young people would freak out, protest and boycott games. Other, "honest" players who do not wish to expose their bodies to the side-effects of 'roids would probably boycott as well, but for how long? They still have to make their money. Could the league possibly make separate categories for All-Natural players and 'Roid Users? Yeah, but the league would then have to literally split itself into 'roid teams and natural teams. That's just awkward.
  I believe that this is a lose-lose situation for the MLB. They're going to lose a ton of money either way. Fans are going to be angry either way and the game of baseball as we know it is at an end. BUT DON'T FRET FANS! I have a solution!
  I know that the Dust Devils will have many young, first-time pro players on the field this year. Maybe some will be tempted to use 'roids to get to the top level, well I have concocted the perfect formula to keep our players off roids, yet perform like a 'roids user. So here it is, my all-natural, MLB saving, roids solution.

INGREDIENTS:
3 Carrots: Carrots contain beta-carotene which helps with eyesight. As a player, maintaining your eyesight for as long as possible can lead to a lasting career.
1/2 lb Spinach: Spinach can deter the brain from deteriorating and improve motor skills along with learning capacity. Plus, who can forget good ol' Popeye popping a can of spinach in his mouth which resulted in his arms turning into large muscular tumors?
Coffee/Caffeine: Caffeine is known to improve athletic reaction time making it very valuable for those of us who are bit slower than others. Side effects? Possible addiction, fast heart rate. Whatever, at least you're still in the league!
Ginseng: Asian Ginseng to be specific. This particular type of ginseng has been known to improve athletic performance and is also used for energy. Plus, it sounds cool
3 Gallons Soy Milk: One of the side effects of 'roids is that some users turn out having the chest of a female supermodel. Well, we wouldn't want to lose that so we'll include soy milk because of its estrogenic properties.
10 lbs Ground Turkey: If you're going to do 'roids, you're going to get huge. So we'll throw in an unnecessary amount of turkey burger for the protein bonus.
1 Norah Jones' Greatest Hits CD: We've all heard of "Roid Rage," so to combat that, I've thrown in the soothing sounds of Norah Jones. Cooler heads prevail.
A dash of 'Swagger': That's right; everybody needs a little pep in their step or whatever you want to call it. Winners always have swag.
   Now that we have all of our ingredients, let's get to mixing. First, throw all ingredients in a blender. Next, "liquefy." Now, pour this creamy liquid into your ice tray and let it freeze. After it is frozen, melt the cubes down and boil the liquid. After boiling, inject the steam into both biceps and into the back of the neck. Any left over liquid should be sprayed directly into the eyes.
  There you have it, my MLB saving, performance enhancing concoction.
Disclaimer: Do not use this product or even try to make it.

As most of you know, the Tri-City Dust Devils are the single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. So, I started thinking, "I wonder how the Rockies success correlates with the Dust Devils success?" I expected to see something strange and crazy like similar winning percentages, but no, nothing special. Actually what I found was that the Dust Devils have outperformed the Rockies since 2002. Does it mean anything? (Ya of course, you're more likely to see a winner if you watch the Dust Devils) Probably not, but it's nice to look at these things. Take a look at these stats:

Rockies	Record
2002	73-89
2003	74-88
2004	68-94
2005	67-95
2006	76-86
2007	90-73
2008	74-88
2009	20-29 (June 1)

Dust Devils	Record
2002	40-36
2003	33-43
2004	40-36
2005	36-40
2006	38-38
2007	37-39
2008	36-40
2009	?

Let's remember though, in 2007 the Rockies were the National League Champions (swept in the World Series). The Dust Devils found some time to shine in 2007 as they also reached the finals (and also lost). So we have one incident where both teams were very succesfull, besides that, there doesn't seem to be too much going on. If I find any strange happenings, I'll be sure to update!

Hey all,
  Just reminding you that individual tickets go on sale Monday. Come to our new office and get a hold of some of those home opening tickets before they sell out!
  Our new scoreboard is up and it looks pretty cool. Gesa Stadium seems to be growing up, up and up with this tall scoreboard and the sun shade. My guess for the next addition? A replica Tyrannosaurus Rex behind the right-field wall. Count it.
    Also, tryouts for national anthem singers will begin on Thursday, June 4.It is an open tryout, so plan on showing up anytime from 12- 6 pm. If you can't make it or need special arrangements, contact my main man Ryan Millard at (509) 544-8789 or email Rmillard@dustdevilsbaseball.com.


We're a couple weeks away baseball fans! I encourage everyone to get outside and get used to the heat before you come out to the ball park. Practice makes perfect!

BJONES

"Dust Devils Baseball...Cooler Than Ever!" Yep, you've seen it somewhere, in an ad, the website, through a telescope. Either way, the Dust Devils slogan is getting a little old (a fact, according to me) and dare I say, it's not so COOL anymore! Haha.....oh man, bad joke. Anyways, I have taken it upon myself to come up with a new Dust Devils slogan. Now, I already know that my slogan will never replace "Cooler than Ever," but maybe I can HEAT UP some discussion with my thought provoking creativity!