Sidewinders: Winning atmosphere
by Michael Schwartz on Jun. 23, 2006, under SportsSidewinders on roll,drawing bigger home crowds
Tucson Sidewinders fan Tom Bernal (left) gets a noogie from Sandy the Sidewinder during the game against Las Vegas on Thursday as his wife, Lee Ann, looks on.
Despite stumbling Thursday night, the Tucson Sidewinders have been rolling through the Pacific Coast League and drawing bigger home crowds.
But when the PCL playoffs roll around, even if Tucson keeps winning at this clip, some of its Triple-A stars might get their chance with the Arizona Diamondbacks as September call-ups.
That’s OK, says Sidewinders owner Jay Zucker, who watched a crowd of 5,056 attend Thursday’s game at Tucson Electric Park on a work night. The team expects a bigger crowd tonight, with fireworks after the game.
“Our job is to make the Diamondbacks successful,” Zucker said. “However, if they can be successful without compromising the synergy that we have in this team, that’s the delicate magic that (D’backs’ management) has to perform. It’s an art form knowing who to pull at what time with minimal impact to the affiliates.”
The Sidewinders (46-28) have won 15 of their last 18 games and have an eight-game division lead, the latest in the season they’ve been in first since the franchise began in 1998.
A comeback from a 7-0 deficit in the fourth inning ended up falling just short Thursday, as Las Vegas beat Tucson 9-8 on a game-winning single by Dioner Navarro in the ninth.
The Diamondbacks called up Enrique Gonzalez for their regular rotation and have taken looks at Sidewinders pitchers Dustin Nippert and Edgar Gonzalez, as well as former Canyon del Oro High infielder Scott Hairston, who is on the disabled list.
But the majority of Tucson’s core has stayed intact throughout the year, which could change if Arizona’s slide – the Diamondbacks have lost 15 of the last 18 – turns them into a rebuilding mode.
This group includes Baseball America top 25 prospects Stephen Drew (No. 5) and Carlos Quentin (No. 20), both projected to make it to the majors this year, and Chris Young (No. 23).
“I think the main thing for the organization is the players get prepared to play in the major leagues,” Tucson manager Chip Hale said. “Winning is a major byproduct of learning to get better. This front office that we have wants our players to have a winning taste in their mouth when they come to the big leagues.”
Still, Hale didn’t hesitate to say that priority No. 1 is winning in Phoenix, so if the Sidewinders were to lose and players still got better and helped the Diamondbacks win, that would be fine with the organization.
“We’re just trying to do our job here and hopefully take it to a championship here,” Drew said. “If not, up there with the big team. It’s always good to have a farm team down here striving to win here, just like the guys are up there.”
But Drew may not even have a chance to help Tucson win a title if the Diamondbacks want to see what he can do against big league pitching later in the year.
“It’s tough on the fans because you get attached,” Zucker said. “The fans get to know these guys, and they get close to them, and you’re excited and proud of them. It’s like your children growing up and going to college or whatever. They’ve finally made it to where they want to be. We’re excited as the organization, the fans are excited for them too, and they can’t wait to go to Phoenix to see them play in Chase Field.”
Jim Bowden, 65, a retired Air Force auditor, said he wouldn’t mind if Drew and others are called up.
“It will be great for them next year,” Bowden said.
Hale said that all PCL playoff teams are in the same boat.
“Sometimes you’ll watch, look in the box score of the PCL championship game, and you might not recognize six or seven guys,” Hale said. “That’s all part of it.”
Some of the more than 5,000 spectators at the Tucson Sidewinders game Thursday at Tucson Electric Park
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BEST RECORDS IN TRIPLE A
1. Charlotte (White Sox, International) 50 23 .685
2. Tucson (Diamondbacks, PCL) 46 27 .630
3. Rochester (Twins, International) 45 28 .616
4. Round Rock (Astros, PCL) 44 28 .611
5. Nashville (Brewers, PCL) 39 32 .549
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The Tucson Sidewinders are 15-3 over their past 18 games. Their parent club, the Arizona Diamondbacks, is 3-15 over its past 18 games.
