Saturday's Race Card ~ I'm Going To Be Sick Now!

It took extra innings - eleven to be precise - for the Scorpions to obtain victory Saturday, but not without some modicum of controversy.

Pete Whisler, Yuma's hitting coach since the Scorps' inception in 2005, was tossed in the sixth for arguing a call (to recap, the Scorps were hosting the Reno Silver Sox and their skipper, Lancaster, is not known for his 'tact' and good grace.).

Sources say that Whisler 'bumped' the ump - and if that's the case he should sit out a game. But sources also tell me that the ump is now saying that Whisler called him...well, this is a family forum and I won't say, but it definitely had to do with the 'race card' and we all know what that means.

I was at the game last night - Sunday - and Pete was still not in uniform and Shannon Hunt, the pitching coach, was manning the first base side.

What I will say is this, unequivocally: I have known Pete Whisler since the GBL's inaurgural spring training in 2005. I have never known Pete to say one rotten, nasty, mean-spirited thing to any ball player, coach, front office staff person, sponsor or fan. Pete is the most even-keeled man I have had the pleasure to meet.

The fact that this is dragging on - day three! Hello?! - is a disgrace to the league and a disgrace to the game. Marshall needs to step up and toe the line for his assistant (whom I'm sure he knows as well as I), or Outcalt needs to render his decision and let the chips fall - even if it means Whisler goes home to Oregon, which will no doubt be a loss to Yuma and the Scorpions.

The club is leaving for a long road trip manana and it is the players, and Yuma's win-loss ratio, that will suffer without Pete's experience and knowledge and strong persona on the playing field.

It's one thing to make an example of someone (can we all spell P-A-R-I-S?) with just cause, it's another matter entirely to set an example of someone who has done absolutely nothing (and, remember, I witnessed this event!) to justify this ambiguity.

Y'all feel free to send an email to the GBL Commish, Kevin Outcalt, at koutcalt@goldenbaseball.com and tell him that Pete's place is on the field, not keeping stats near the press box or fishing from his dock in Oregon (altho I'm sure he'd not complain about doing that!). The Scorps have benefitted from Whisler's experience for three years (that is longer than inaugural skipper Castillo and two-year vet Meacham) and now it's time to show some loyalty to someone who has been loyal from the beginning, not some fellow in blue who is trying to stir up some controversy.

Good night! And don't neglect to send a quick note to Outcalt!