Yuma Day 2

On day 2 in Yuma it was kind of a crazy day. Derek got dressed and went to the lunch for the players. He then came back to the hotel and got ready for practice. At 5pm we went to practice and the pitching coach asked the boys if anyone from day one would pitch again and of course Derek said he would.

They went out to the field and the pitching coach then can up to Derek and said that the General Manager wanted to talk to him (in other words ...kid you are cut). Derek waited and waited and finally the GM came out and Derek said that he told him there were just too many guys there throwing 90mph (which was true). Derek then told him that he was supposed to pitch in the game so should he stay or go. The GM said he could stay.

Right after their talk Jose Canseco came up to the GM and Ozzie Canseco and Jose said to them "This was not the deal....you keep your guys and I get mine. This was not the deal." Of course they could have been talking about anyone, but Derek was the only one cut that day!

The game took place and Derek was supposed to pitch against the B team. As Derek took the field Jose Canseco yelled across the field "NO, no not you yet" Derek waited till the next inning and Jose told him to come in and pitch against the A Team which consisted of both Cansecos! They wanted to hit off him! . It is funny too because Derek pitched to the top of the line up so batters 1,2,3,&4. The first batter came up and whiffed at the first ball. Then hit a little blooper to first base for an out. Then Jose Canseco came up to bat. Now Jose knows the knuckleball and he took the first pitch for a strike. I think he might have been embarrassed so he crowded the plate like crazy and sure enough on pitch two Derek hit Jose in the elbow. Jose knew what he was doing!

Then Ozzie Canseco came up to bat (Ozzie is the one in the picture with the red belt, Jose is the one with the black belt). Ozzie and the GM did not want Derek on the team so Ozzie turned to the GM who was sitting behhind the plate and told him "This one is for you". The first pitch Ozzie whiffed at it and totally missed. Then the second pitch he hit for a pop up to left field for an out. Derek pitched great. It just seems like once again we are on the hunt for someone who wants a knuckleballer. It isn't that Derek doesn't have the talent it is that GM's take a huge gamble in keeping a knuckleballer and this GM was not willing to take the chance!