Day 2 At Spring Training: Franks & Beans
By Kevin Hageland | @OThankKevin
SURPRISE, ARIZ. (105.3 THE FAN) – Hey, I'm back! Hopefully you are too!! Alright, enough exclamation points, on to the day.
Monday was a fun one as we went to the Texas Rangers' clubhouse in the morning and got an opportunity to watch the team's free throw contest. It was an awesome experience as every single player on the Spring Training roster was out there for the Sweet 16. Elvis Andrus served as the hype man for the competition and the music playing was switched out for each competition.
The match of the day was Pedro Ciriaco versus Ryan Cordell as Cordell took the victory in the best-of-5 showdown, but only after five additional rounds of sudden death free throws.
It was a mixed bag for Cordell though as he, Joey Gallo, Jurickson Profar, Nomar Mazara, Lewis Brinson and Drew Robinson were all assigned to the minors shortly afterward.
Who broke that news? Cory Mageors and I did … you're welcome!
Most Valuable Person: Sam Dyson
Sometimes it takes a while to establish a rapport with, well, any human, but especially with pro athletes. We did not run into that same awkward introductory issue with the hard-throwing reliever.
It took about one minute for us to become best friends.
And if you don't believe me, go ahead and wander this site for the podcast … I'll wait.
Did you find it? If so, then proceed.
Outside of what you heard … shameless plug alert … 7-11pm Monday on 105.3 The Fan, we got into an entertaining (but not radio-friendly) conversation about how to protect my … um … let's say … franks and beans when Prince Fielder hits me in the junk with a whiffle ball bat. Oh yeah, and a discussion about what percentage of adults have been to a toy shop … yeah, you know what kind of toy I mean!
Least Valuable Person: Jurickson Profar
No, not because he got reassigned to Round Rock on Monday!
More on that in a second.
Profar takes LVP status for the day thanks to his abysmal performance in the free throw contest. He airballed his practice shot and then proceeded to miss his first three actual shots off the front of the rim each time (and I mean barely touching the front of the rim), while his opponent hit three straight in the biggest wipeout of the Sweet 16.
I have a theory that Profar would've stayed with the big club as long as he remained in the tournament – just a theory though as no one from the organization would confirm that … or, quite frankly, even entertain my question.
Epidemic in the Desert – Clean Dirt
Something alarming we have also learned … there is a lack of clean dirt in the desert!
I know, you think I might have accidentally just put random words together, but rest assured I did not. How do I know? Well, because we saw a "Clean Dirt Wanted" sign on the way home from the show. Lest you think it was a joke, there was a phone number and business hours on the sizable sign. I know, I couldn't believe it either!!
So, if it is within your means, please help out the suffering people of Arizona by sending clean dirt … whatever the hell that is … to Surprise.
(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)