Baseball Reflections » Arizona Fall League http://baseballreflections.com A blog where old school baseball meets Sabermetrics while covering every MLB team, bringing you breaking MLB news, fantasy baseball insight, product reviews (equipment, books, movies, etc.), & interviews. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:34:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Two Great Baseball-Related Causes http://baseballreflections.com/2010/10/01/two-great-baseball-related-causes/ http://baseballreflections.com/2010/10/01/two-great-baseball-related-causes/#comments Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:31:53 +0000 Peter Schiller http://baseballreflections.com/?p=3720 With the AL East and the NL West yet to be determined, with the looser in the AL taking the Wild Card while the NL West looser might be watching from the couch if the Atlanta Braves have anything to say about it! That would be a fitting way to end Booby Cox’s managerial carrer, wouldn’t you say?

So while these five teams battle for positioning and the final playoff spot, we thought we’d bring to your attention two great charity events! The first up to bat is the Knuckle Ball at Minute Maid Park on November 13th (details for both can be found below) while the other, which  is later that same month, is the Mike Coolbaugh Memorial (golf) Tournament to be held on the 19th.

Joe Niekro Foundation

Natalie Niekro photo taken from Jimmy Scott's High & Tight

The second thing is for the Joe Niekro Foundation. The foundation was started by Joe’s daughter, Natalie to raise funds and awareness for brain aneurysm research. Their big event is called the Knuckle Ball and it’s held at Minute Maid Park on Nov. 13. Their site is http://joeniekrofoundation.com/. Natalie is also doing something with the Arizona Fall League, where they’ll have an Aneurysm Awareness Week – for that week , in addition to a bunch of in-stadium appearances and the like, they’ll be counting up all the strikeouts for the pitchers on the teams Joe pitched for – seven in total – and they have sponsors who are donating money for each K. In addition, we got those teams to match the donation last year and plan to do it again.

Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Tournament

Mike Coolbaugh photo also taken from Jimmy Scott's High & Tight

The first is the Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Tournament. It’s been three years since Mike Coolbaugh was tragically killed by a foul ball in a Minor League game, leaving behind his wife and three kids. They do an annual golf event (Nov. 19) to raise funds for the family as well as for a foundation they’re starting to help families and kids who are dealing with having lost a parent. I’m trying to drum up support  mostly by seeing if there are people out there – collectors, dealers, whatever – who would donate some memorabilia for the silent auction they run.  The website for their event is www.coolbaughmemorial.com.

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]]> http://baseballreflections.com/2010/10/01/two-great-baseball-related-causes/feed/ 1 The Priesthood Wins Out Over Baseball?! http://baseballreflections.com/2010/01/26/the-priesthood-wins-out-over-baseball/ http://baseballreflections.com/2010/01/26/the-priesthood-wins-out-over-baseball/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:26:00 +0000 Peter Schiller http://baseballreflections.com/?p=2580

A's OF Prospect Grant Desme

A's OF Prospect Grant Desme

This week a top OF prospect in the A’s farm system by the name of Grant Desme (23) has decided to leave baseball to pursue a higher calling. The 8th ranked player in the Oakland A’s system was looking like he could get the call to join the major league team during spring training, but now that will never happen…

This decision was made after Desme was named the MVP of the Arizona Fall League this past season where he hit .315 with a league-leading 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in 27 games.



“I was doing well at ball. But I really had to get down to the bottom of things,” the 23-year-old Desme said. “I wasn’t at peace with where I was at.”

On becoming a priest, he said, “It’s about a 10-year process, I desire and hope I become a priest.” In a way, he added, it’s like “re-entering the minor leagues.”

General manager Billy Beane “was understanding and supportive,” Desme said, but the decision “sort of knocked him off his horse.” After the talk, Desme felt “a great amount of peace.”

“I love the game, but I aspire to higher things,” he said. “I know I have no regrets.”
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