Scrappers notebook \ From State College

Traveling man: Walter Diaz’s suitcase has gotten a workout this summer. Starting in the Gulf Coast League with the GC Indians, Diaz was elevated to Mahoning County before making his way to Buffalo (AAA). After a short stay in Buffalo, Diaz came back to the Scrappers, where he is on the active roster. “That [moving around] comes with the job,” said Diaz. “It is part of it and I try to adjust to it as quickly as I can. All I do is try to do my job for whichever team I am with.” So what was your experience like in Buffalo? “Basically they told me they needed someone to back up their players.” said Diaz. “I ended up going and when I got there, I had the opportunity to play every day. I just looked at it as a learning experience and I am thankful that I had the opportunity.” Diaz admitted it is difficult to settle into a routine, especially in AAA. “It was enough difficulty for me just to get used to the pitching up there because the pitching is a lot different than it is down here [at Mahoning Valley],” he said. “You need to be in the lineup every day to get into a good rhythm because when you play, then jump out for a couple of days, you lose a little bit.” Diaz said the travel has been his biggest adjustment in pro baseball. “Baseball is the same game anywhere you play it. You play with bats and balls, and if you are a pitcher, you have to throw strikes.”

Showing his smarts: Right-hander Russell Young proves that although gasoline and water don’t mix, academics and baseball do. After graduating from Dartmouth College, Young was drafted in the 28th round by the Indians before making his way to Eastwood Field to play for the Scrappers. “It [playing baseball at a top academic school] is something that was a big priority to me,” said Young. “Coming out of high school, I had a dream of playing professional baseball, but at the same time, I was also aware of how big the odds for someone to make it that far. I wanted academics to be a big priority for me as well so that is why I went to Dartmouth. When baseball is over I wanted to have a good fallback plan with my degree.” Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina graduated from Stanford in 3 1/2 year with a degree in business administration, which was a motivation for Young. “It definitely can be done and he is a prime example,” Young said. “Brad Ausmus went to Dartmouth and there are a lot of guys who are Ivy League guys and they also made that commitment to both academics and baseball.”

Bill Albright