The D-backs are in the doldrums, but it’s far too early in the year to give up on baseball (there’s probably an unwritten rule somewhere about when it’s appropriate to start watching baseball.) If you need a fix, might I humbly suggest my Reno Aces?
I know, your heart has been broken already this year. And I can’t guarantee that your heart won’t be broken AGAIN by more D-backs signees.
BUT… here’s what we have going for us:
1) We’re in the race. Two games behind the Oakland-affiliated Sacramento River Cats, to be exact. But a week and a half ago, we were five out. Remember how it felt to hope? Things can be like that again. (In Reno, but still.)
2) Rehabbing D-backs. Alright, we only have Pollock right now, after Pennington’s callup. But things could change. In fact, things WILL change, in soul-crushing ways. But then there’s recovery, and then there’s rehab starts. You know what, forget about Point #2.
3) Prospects. Three of the top twenty prospects are in Reno, and each of them is the Next Derek Jeter: Jake Lamb, Jake Barrett, and Zach Borenstein. Lamb is playing in his fourth level in the past two seasons, and is 9 of 18 with four doubles and a homer since joining the Aces’ roster. Barrett has a 4.08 ERA in 18 games (17.2 innings), but in one hell of a hitters’ league. Borenstein is 5 of 15 in four games with Reno, including this moon shot the other day in El Paso.
4) We’re brawling at a big-league level already. Why? Because there are unwritten rules. Unrelated note: we’ve won 8 of 11 since the brawl.
5) Seeing the future Giants languishing in the division. Seriously, Fresno has been the Giants affiliate since 1998. In a four-team division, Fresno has made it to the playoffs once in sixteen years. The future Dodgers aren’t faring well either, so there’s that.
6) Watching the action, live. All our games are available on MiLB.tv, for about the price of a cup of coffee, providing you pay way too much for coffee.
7) Listening to the action, live. Former U of A radio guy Ryan Radtke calls the action for most games, unless the Aces have a local TV broadcast.
The Aces are back on the field Thursday night at the House of Cards to start a five-game set against first-place Sacramento. Don’t think about it too hard. It’s not cheating on the D-backs if you’re cheering for future D-backs. Join us, and remember what hope feels like.