Scorpions scoop

One by one, Golden Baseball League and Yuma Scorpions officials took their turn in front of ESPN cameras.

GBL president Dave Kaval was the first to be interviewed by ESPN feature reporter Lizette Castaneda, while two cameramen worked in the background. He was followed by Scorpions president Mike Marshall and finally team manager Boris Villa.

"I'm very excited with the fact that ESPN is profiling the Scorpions this year and our affiliation with Team Renteria," Kaval said following his time in the hotseat. "I think it is really a newsworthy international event and this shows that."

Each interview lasted nearly 30 minutes and took place deep in the Scorpions clubhouse. The bilingual Castaneda conducted the interview with Villa in Spanish.

Castaneda has done stories on St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols and the New York Mets' Carlos Beltran for ESPN, Kaval said.

The Scorpions and the GBL have been abuzz since they were approached by ESPN last week. The sports network expressed an interest in doing a feature story on the landmark affiliation between the league and Team Renteria.

"It is going to run across all of their properties in a couple of weeks," Kaval said.

ESPN also took notice of the league when it signed embattled slugger Jose Canseco and MLB career steals leader Ricky Henderson in previous years.

"It is pretty exciting really," Kaval said. "Anytime we are able to do this whether it is Canseco, Henderson or the affiliation with Team Renteria I think it just further elevates the Golden League and the Scorpions to the international stage, which is cool."

Brothers Edgar and Edinson Renteria founded Team Renteria and run the four-team Colombian Professional Baseball League during Major League Baseball's offseason. Their main goal is growing baseball in Colombia.

Edgar Renteria is busy during MLB's regular season as he is the starting shortstop for the San Francisco Giants. He's one of only seven from Colombia to reach MLB's highest level.

The two-year deal allows the CPBL to basically take over the Yuma Scorpions, thus giving Colombian players the opportunity to showcase their talents in America. The GBL retains ownership of the Scorpions and the team's front office remains in charge of everything off the field.

The deal was struck on May 19, days before the Scorpions season opener. All of the former Scorpions were let go and replaced with Colombians.

"I think the story is going to be positive and I think there is a positive nature to what we are doing," Kaval said. "In many ways, it is historic and I think by them (ESPN) coming here and covering it, it indicates that to everyone involved."

Not everyone in the community liked the arrangement. Some were shocked the GBL would do something so close to the start of the season and others felt American jobs were being taken away and filled with foreigners.

The GBL can opt out of the affiliation after the first year. But league commissioner Kevin Outcalt gave every indication earlier this week there was little chance of that happening.

There hasn't been a backlash in attendance at Scorpions home games due to the deal. Attendance is nearly identical to last season's numbers, Kaval said.

The ESPN crew remained in Yuma for the weekend, gathering game footage and interviews with fans as the Scorpions hosted the Calgary Vipers for a three-game homestand at Desert Sun Stadium.

"I think it helps put Yuma on the map and show Yuma is really part of this larger international fabric of baseball," Kaval said.

I couldn't agree more and it's been fun having ESPN in town.

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Brian Williams can be reached at
bwilliams@yumasun.com or 539-6880.