Pulliam: Scrappers fun bunch to watch

July 24, 2014 at 12:09a.m.

There were more people at my last college party than were at last Saturday’s Mahoning Valley Scrappers game.

Thankfully, the kids in attendance were better behaved. Almost.

The Scrappers, who struggled to start their season, have turned it around recently.

Last week, the Scrappers went 5-2 and earned their first season sweep. Not bad for a team that looked worse than my first Little League team just weeks ago.

Who cares?

You should.

Since it is short-season Class A baseball, winning is fun, but not the most important thing. Teams like the Scrappers are designed to develop players who might play in the majors one day. The team also provides entertainment for the summer months.

Everyone loves the promotion nights. Dollar beer nights, dollar this night, all of those.

I challenge you to go on a regular night.

For a Scrappers home game tickets start at a measly $8 for general admission. You can pay as much as $30 to sit behind home plate. The cost for an Indians ticket in the same spot is almost three times as much.

The team is made up a variety of players from different backgrounds and cultures. The United States is well represented but so is the Dominican and Venezuela. Looking at the roster made me feel old and I’m 23. To me, seeing how they work together is intriguing.

Manager Ted Kubiak has been around the game. Kubiak and his staff are there to teach the game at a professional level while trying to get kids to develop and produce. Not the easiest thing to do.

Outfielder Bradley Zimmer, the Indians’ 2014 first-round draft pick, could be a star. The future Indians closer could be on this year’s roster in Luis DeJesus or J.P. Feyereisen. Let’s hope neither is the next Chris Perez.

If you attend a Scrappers game, you never know who you might see out on the field. Many major league players join teams during rehab assignments. Indians pitcher T.J. House made a spot start at Eastwood Field in Niles last week.

Some of the best players who have played for the Indians have made stops in the Mahoning Valley. Current Indians Asdrubal Cabrera, Lonnie Chisenhall and Jason Kipnis were Scrappers at one point.

If you love the game, watch the Scrappers. These guys aren’t worried about how much they are getting paid per at-bat, and do not have 15 Cadillac Escalades waiting for them at their mansions. They’re just a bunch of kids trying to play the game they love while trying to become better at it.

They’re all that is right with sports today.

These days we have stories about players being bigger than the game and being motivated by money. Not at Eastwood Field.

Although the quality of play may vary from one night to next, the Scrappers compete. Hustling on every play and making mistakes are part of the game.

The Scrappers’ 76-game schedule runs through Sept. 1. Plenty of home games are left on the slate. Before the football hype takes over, take time to enjoy America’s pastime at one of its most interesting levels.

You never know if you will see the next great Indian or just some high school or college kids with dreams.

But it’s a chance worth taking.

Write Vindicator sportswriter Curtis Pulliam at cpulliam@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @pulliam_vindy.