We got to Yuma at 12:30pm and Derek changed, warmed up and began his try out. My overall feeling for the town was not that great. I know we are in war (the U.S.) and I know we have a military but I don't like driving on the freeway and seeing nothing but tanks of all kinds. There happens to be a Marine base right next to the ball field in Yuma. To me this is a little scary.
Derek started his try out and was doing great. Jose would make little comments and Ozzie was catching Derek and he was making little comments too. It seemed to be going very well. Jose would then stop Derek and tell him to try something, and Derek would try it and they seemed to like the out come!!!!
There were two other guys at the try out one of which was a 22 yr old ex minor league player who got hit in the head with a 94 mph fast ball. It cracked his helmet and left him blacked out for 30 seconds or so. He is now trying to get over his fear of hitting against a pitcher!
As they were working with this guy, Derek was shagging balls in the out field and this kid hit one way back to the fence and Derek jumped and robbed him of a homerun! Oh the Canseco brothers went crazy! They loved that play and told the batter that he got robbed by a knuckleballer! It was pretty funny!
The try out came to a close and we all went into the clubhouse and waited as the coaches talked.... it felt like forever when it probably was only 10 minutes. The owner of the team then came in and called the boys in one by one. I seriously was so nervous.
Derek came out left his information with the receptionist and the owner said "I will call you tonight".
I thought for sure he didn't make the team.
Derek and I got in the car at 3pm and headed home. Derek told me that the owner said they needed more time to discuss about Derek being on the team and they didn't want us to wait there.
At about 8:30pm Derek got a call from the owner. He told Derek very bluntly "I don't want a knuckleballer, but Jose Canseco sees something in you and wants to work with you. You are paid for Spring Training and we will decide then if we keep you on the team or not"
When Derek told me this I was shocked that the owner would be so blunt, but so excited that someone sees the potential that Derek has. We are very excited and nervous to see the out come of spring training. Jose changed a couple of things to Derek's mechanics so now it is time for him to get the changes down and get ready for spring training in two weeks!
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