Friday we drove two hours, from Scottsdale to Tucson, to see the Giants play the Rockies at Hi Corbett Park. The Giants’ starter was Kevin Pucetas, a command/control righty out of South Carolina’s tiny Limestone College. At 24, he’s never pitched above high-A ball, and I don’t know whether he’s any longer a real prospect. In fact, I recognized only one of the Giant pitchers, Merkin Valdez, who appeared after him, which made me assume all likely major-league pitchers were still back in Scottsdale, working out or just getting a day off. This got me to thinking that perhaps this was typical. The stars aren’t obligated to make the long bus trip to and from Tucson, where only the Rockies and Diamondbacks train. Did Rockies fans ever see Barry Bonds in Tucson?
Who'd a thunk it? Brats were better at Rockies' park than at Brewers'.
As to the game, the Giants won, 7-3, in the tenth inning. (Yes, we’re getting our money’s worth from the Cactus League.) Eugenio Velez, who played center field most of the game, went 3-4 with two extra-base hits, including a two-run triple, although he was picked off second in the top of the tenth for the second out of the inning. Fortunately, by that point, he was only the insurance run.
