Scorpions say 'anyong haseyo' to new pitcher

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Scorpions say 'anyong haseyo' to new pitcher
BY MARK SAXON, Sun Staff Writer
Feb 9, 2007

ARIZONA WINTER LEAGUE ROUNDUP

The Yuma Scorpions bid farewell to a pair of local arms this week, but said "anyong haseyo" (hello) to Korean right-hander Eun Choi.

Choi got the start for Yuma Tuesday in the afternoon game just hours after joining the Arizona Winter League. Choi, battling a cold and cultural differences during his first trip to the states, struck out the first hitter he faced and compiled three punchouts while allowing one hit and no runs in two innings of work.

"It's very nice — we have a good baseball field and there are nice people here," Choi said through agent and interpreter Kenny Hong. "I want to show my best but I am never nervous. It's just like when I'm at home."

Hong came over with a group of Korean players after playing for the World Cyber University in Seoul, but is the first of his countrymen to play in the AWL. The Cubs signed Simon Lee, another righty who made the trip, after a group workout in Los Angeles.

The Scorpions moved Ceasar Solano to the Surf Dawgs and Dany Mosquea to the Falcons after pitching became a scarce commodity due to injury last week. Scorpions manager Mike Marshall got a lead on Choi and his slider through Hong in Los Angeles and thought he would be a good fit for the team.

"We had some guys with sore arms and had a couple guys go home," Marshall said of the AWL pitching depth. "We had a pretty solid pitching staff. But to be honest to lose one was OK, but two, now I'm a little bit short. But we were able to bring in Choi and on Friday I'll have to pitch one of my regular players."

Canada coming out

Attendance has experienced a slight bump since Sunday-Thursday games were shifted to a 12:15 p.m. first pitch at the end of January. Scorpions general manager Jason Matlock said the most noticeable change has been in the afternoon crowd as most of the 200 or so people now stay for game two.

By all accounts the Canada Miners have the most loyal following, powered by the influx of winter visitors.

"There's a lot of us down here and the whole country is Blue Jays crazy and it was really sad when we lost the Expos," said Bill Buhr, a Calgary native attending his first AWL game. "We're both really big ball fans."

He and his wife originally purchased their Yuma residence in part because the Padres used to train at Desert Sun Stadium.

"We like to get to Phoenix to see some spring training games, but look at this facility," Buhr's wife Jeannette said approvingly.

Miners manager Les Lancaster said it was nice that the fans came out to support the club, but most of his players are more focused on doing their job.

"I know there are a lot of Canadian people down here and everything and with us becoming the Canadian Miners it helps to get the fans out here a lot more and it's nice to see." Lancaster said. "We have a few of the Canadian guys out here on our team and (fans) recognize names from the Edmonton players."

American umpire?

Umpires calling AWL games aren't just in Yuma for the warm weather, they're also trying out for a job in the Golden Baseball League this summer.

Umpires are forbidden from talking to the media but Dan Perugini, GBL supervisor of umpires, said the league will be offering at least one summer position based on performance.

"There's certain things that are more important," said Perugini, who called NCAA games on the field for 26 years before moving into supervisory roles for the last decade. "Obviously, the plate work is critical and handling people is critical and, believe it or not, how you react with your teammates, your partners on and off the field is important."

Last year, the GBL staffed most games with a pair of local umpires. Perugini said no decisions have been made with regard to this summer's staffing or just how many positions will be tendered to the four officials working the AWL.

"The way we like to have it is to have a guy walk off the field and eveybody say, 'Who was that guy?'" Perugini said. "That's the mark of a good umpire when you can say who was that guy?"

It's a brotherhood of guys who get together and enjoy the game of baseball and have integrity, because they are the keepers of the rules of the game and we're not looking for accolades."

Mark Saxon can be reached at
msaxon@yumasun.com or 539-6882.