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MLB

Spring Training 2015: Dooley's Diary - March 25th

By Jeff Dooley
March 25, 2015

Dooley's Diary

Spring Training 2015

Scottsdale, AZ- After covering the Red Sox and Twins at Spring Training in Ft. Myers, Florida during the past 14 years, I am covering the Cactus League in 2015 with our new major league affiliate, the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies front office employees and coaches are wonderful people and have really made me feel at home. I will try to get you a better understanding of some of the players the Rock Cats may have to start the season which is only a few weeks away. The Rock Cats open the season with a seven game road trip in New Hampshire and Portland (April 9-15) and open their home schedule on Thursday, April 16 (6:35 PM) against the Fisher Cats. The Rockies have a good farm system and their Double-A club reached the playoffs in each of the past three seasons so we can expect some of baseball's top prospects to be at New Britain this season.

Scouting the Desert

The spring training complex the Colorado Rockies have is very impressive and is one of the newer facilities in major league baseball. One gigantic building makes up the team offices, with the workout rooms, cafeteria, clubhouses and fields all very close to each other so it is very easy for the players to get their work in. Many work fields surround the major league facility which is called Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Fans have the opportunity to get real close to the action and get autographs from the players. This is also home to the prestigious Arizona Fall League.     

 

The Cactus League features the following Major League clubs: Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners. The ballparks are located in Scottsdale, Mesa, Glendale, Goodyear, Surprise, Peoria, Phoenix and Tempe.

Rock Cats 2015 Coaching Staff

I had the chance to meet the Rock Cats coaching staff and Cats' skipper Darin Everson introduced me to Pitching Coach Dave Burba and Development Supervisor Ron Gideon. Although the rosters are still a few weeks from getting set, the coaches seemed to like what they have seen with the Rock Cats club. They are all excited to be in New Britain with the Rock Cats this season.

 

Former Rock Cats Star Justin Morneau- 

I had a chance to catch up with former Rock Cats star and 2014 National League Batting Champion Justin Morneau. Morneau has been impressed with some of the young prospects that the Rockies have in their organization and thinks Rock Cats fans will be in for a treat watching them play. He talked about what a wonderful organization he plays for and he is so thankful that he recovered from his serious concussion and will try and help the Rockies win. Justin thinks the Rockies will surprise some people this season and mentioned what a great thrill it is to play with Troy Tulowitzki each day.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

The Voice of the Rock Cats

 

-Jeff Dooley