Schmidty01

This looks like it is heating up. This is from the Lancaster paper. Wild throws draw wild remarks in Adelanto This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Wednesday, July 21, 2004. By JEFF SANDERS Valley Press Staff Writer ADELANTO - A wild pitch Monday drudged up bad blood between High Desert and Lancaster, a rivalry that continues to simmer because of the Mavericks' accusations that the JetHawks stole signs during the first half. When Lancaster right-hander Sam Smith hit Froilan Villanueva with a pitch during a three-run first inning in the series opener, the Mavericks bullpen - perhaps a bit edgy after a heated weekend series in Stockton - emptied and the JetHawks' dugout chirped when Villanueva glared at Smith. Mavericks manager Mel Queen said he did not believe the JetHawks were throwing at Villanueva, but said tempers were on edge because of incidents in May when the two teams exchanged hit batters over the belief that JetHawks baserunners were relaying signs to hitters. Lancaster manager Wally Backman took extreme exception on Tuesday. "(Villanueva's) a liar," Backman said. "We don't do it. If I have guys stealing signs, they are doing it on their own. I don't teach that. "If he's got a problem, let him take the 50 steps to my (expletive) dugout." Further igniting emotions in the JetHawks dugout was Queen's comments that hitting three players and throwing behind catcher Phil Avlas during a game on May 9 was a warning that the Mavericks were catching onto the JetHawks. "That was letting them know we didn't appreciate what was happening," Queen said. That was news to Backman. "I wish to (expletive) I would have known that they were throwing at us in that game," Backman said. "If I would have known that, somebody would have got hit right in the (expletive) head. That's a fact because I would have ordered that." Backman said he ordered a batter to be hit earlier this season - when High Desert's Chris Morris stole a base in a game the Mavericks were leading by seven runs - which may have been the precursor to tension between the two teams. Through Monday, the two teams have combined for 22 hit batters in 15 games (12 by the Mavericks and 10 by the JetHawks). Queen said he knew Morris was hit intentionally and added that he was surprised Backman didn't catch onto the reasoning behind hitting Carlos Quentin twice and Neb Brown on May 9. He said he didn't care that Backman took exception that Queen admitted those pitches were intentional, either. "Well, then tough," Queen said. "How about them hitting one of our hitters because he stole when we were up seven runs? They don't quit trying to hit home runs when they are up by seven runs do they? Morris is a base stealer. He hit Morris on purpose. We knew that. We knew he did it on purpose and we were going to get one of their guys. We had some problems (with the JetHawks) early but we haven't had any lately." The reason? Queen said he hasn't caught the JetHawks - a team that won the first-half title with the league's best offense - stealing signs since he had his pitchers throw at them in May. "We played them very early in the year and it was prevalent then," Queen said. "It hasn't been lately. But like I said, I don't know if they've stopped doing it or the players here aren't as experienced enough to give them." Backman and several JetHawks took Queen's comments to mean they couldn't have won the first half without their players cheating. To prove they weren't, Backman prepared a list showing what promoted players are doing at Double-A El Paso - Quentin is hitting .389, Conor Jackson is hitting .352, Jesus Cota is hitting .329, and Neb Brown was hitting .284 before a season-ending injury. Queen didn't want to see the list. "They had a great club, they beat everyone," Queen said. "They got a lot of hits and hit a lot of home runs with nobody on second base. I would never imply (that's why they won). I would never take anything away from those guys. "I'm saying we had games where I sat there and seven pitches in a row, I never looked at the pitcher, never looked at a pitch and I called every pitch just watching the runner (as he relayed the pitch call to the hitter). If they weren't giving signs, that's seven pitches in a row that are a real coincidence." If anything was going on, Backman said his players were doing it on their own. The players, though, said Queen's accusations are unfounded. "They don't know what they are talking about," outfielder Jarred Ball said. "We don't do that, I've never done it and I've never heard of anyone on our team doing it. No one on our team does that. I'm pretty positive about that." Said Avlas: "We are not a team that does that. We can go out and get our own runs the way we've been doing it the whole year. That's just the type of club we are. "We are total professionals."

Mass- Is there anything wrong with David Bradley to skip his start.

Mavs Update: Sounds like some radio trouble... 5-3 Mavs bottom of the sixth. Mel Queen got ejected in the second inning of the game... now two nights in a row.

Heading into the Bottom of the 9th ... Mavs up 4-3 Aybar for Rancho gets a home run in the bottom of the ninth and the send it, into extra frames. 4-4. Top of the 10th. Van Inderstein leads off with a double. Farnsworth follows up with a single no outs. Mendez with an RBI single. Now 5-4 mavs, in the 10th. Cruz out. Bibbs singles in two, Mavs now lead 7-4,. Mavs win in 10. 7-4 Parra goes 5 and 2/3 with all 3 runs earned. Hinton is 4-5 on the day... the Mavs bullpen seems to be holding up.

When Johnny Rayburn has a higher BA than you, don't you feel a bit embarrassed to be named to an all star team that you didn't earn your way on? They should call it the All-Star (and those who should have been all stars, but are struggling this year but we'll but them on the team anyway because more people will come to the park to watch the "famous players") Game.

Does anyone find it strange that the Brewers signed two indy league guys instead of promoting from within? Its not like there aren't guys who havent earned it.... Trufholz, Rottino in Beloit and Boyd in HD... I don't see how the benefits can out weigh having your players upset with the organization. What else does someone like Boyd have to prove...

Ballouli just gave up the first hit of the game in the fourth inning. Mavs now lead 2-0

High Desert: Great pre game interview with Parra, hopefully Roxy will archive it. No score after the first half inning, for Ballouli that is an accomplishment considering his recent performances. Crabbe just went yard, Mavericks 1-0. Roxy Bernstein back in the booth today after a day off... I did miss him