Tarp Wars... And a Starr Returns
We're about three weeks out. Less than two to the Round Rock exhibition.
How can I tell? The ticket office is full of large manila envelopes as season tickets are paid, processed, printed and prepared for mailing. If you've been pondering Hooks season tickets, get off the fence! Two full-season tickets for 71 great games: less than a thousand bucks. Do four of 'em for $1,980. Now that's affordable family entertainment!
Like Friday Fireworks? Do a FF package for just $175 per seat.
Call 361-561-HOOK to inquire about 2010 season tickets.
+++++
March was a big month for the Starrs.
Former Whitewater special prosecutor Ken Starr was named the 14th president of Baylor University.
And, here in Corpus Christi, former Hooks clubhouse manager Brad Starr (no relation) returned after a one-season assignment with the Houston Astros. He arrived just in time to work the Fifth Annual Whataburger College Classic.
The Floridian joined our front-office staff before the 2006 Texas League championship run. On the Mother Ship, Brad assisted long-time Astros clubbie Dennis Liborio.
Brad entered the Houston system after spending four years with the top farm teams of the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2005, he served as visiting clubhouse manager at Herschel Greer Stadium, home of the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, who won the Pacific Coast League title.
Brad's first move? The re-hiring of George Escamilla as Whataburger Field visiting clubhouse manager. George was recognized three times as Texas League South Division outstanding clubhouse attendant (2005-06-07).
+++++
If you drove by Whataburger Field at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, you were greeted by a most unusual sight. Calallen and Moody, the state's fourth- and fifth-ranked teams, were stretching and playing long toss on the asphalt surface just east of Whataburger Field. The reason? Wet field conditions from an inch and a quarter of rain Saturday compelled field superintendent Izzy Hinojosa to keep the Wildcats and Trojans off the playing surface until game time.
Players from both schools assisted the Hooks ground crew and front-office staff with a pregame tarp roll in 45 MPH northerly gusts.
Moody then went out and defeated the Wildcats 10-3 before 1,975.
I've personified Whataburger Field in this space before, writing about how she comes to life for us each night, a living, breathing thing. Her tarp can be no different. My left shoulder and hip tell me so. Jeff Mackor claims I went airborne (4-foot elevation) Saturday afternoon about 12:30. See, after periods of extensive rain, tarps have to be dumped. Otherwise, they get too heavy and require more manpower... more manpower than we may have at a given time.
During such a dump I got tumped.
+++++
According to the Astros depth chart, if the 2010 season opened tomorrow, three former Hooks would be in the everyday lineup: right fielder Hunter Pence, shortstop Tommy Manzella and catcher J.R. Towles. In the rotation, Bud Norris and Felipe Paulino are projected for the No. 4 and 5 roles, while Chris Sampson and Sammy Gervacio fight for bullpen spots.
But in Corpus Christi, expect fewer familiar faces in 2010. In each of the last two years, the Hooks had 12 returnees and a dozen newcomers on their 24-man Opening Day roster. We're hearing an awful lot out of Kissimmee about 2009 Lancaster (California League) outfielders T.J. Steele, Jack Shuck and Jon Gaston, who could comprise the starting outfield at Double-A. Koby Clemens seems destined for Corpus with a first baseman's mitt. Jordan Lyles, the system's top pitching prospect, is primed to skip the High-A JetHawks. Another name to keep in mind: 2009 Lancaster starter Leandro Cespedes.
Don't be surprised to find Jhon Florentino back at third base and Drew Meyer at second. Expect a newcomer at short, perhaps a platoon; Wladimir Sutil is now on the 40-man and likely bound for The Dell Diamond. Jonathon Fixler and Brian Esposito are battle-tested veterans who can handle a young, maturing staff.
+++++
Steele and Gaston were junior outfielders for coach Andy Lopez and top-ranked Arizona when the Wildcats joined Notre Dame, South Alabama and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the 2008 Whataburger College Classic. Arizona roared through the tournament with a 3-0 record, outscoring the opposition 37-0.
This year, another Pac-10 entry went through the event undefeated. UCLA now stands 17-0 and is the ninth-ranked team in America, according to Baseball America. The Bruins are third by Collegiate Baseball and sixth by USA Today (coaches vote).
Oklahoma (21st Baseball America) is rolling along at 18-2.
+++++
If you've been to one game in your life, you know umpires don't have it easy. Fans and field staffs can, at various times, make it hard on the men in blue. So, congratulations to the following local officials who will comprise the umpiring crew for the Hooks-Round Rock exhibition game at Whataburger Field on April 6: Oscar Hererra, Bob Wolk, Augie Garcia and Johnny Rios. Andy Cox is the alternate.
+++++
Did you know that you can keep score at Hooks games for free? Just ask a friendly representative at Whataburger Field Guest Services for your scorecard.