Surprise, Surprise...Arizona

Paul Catalina and I in our second day at Rangers Training Camp in Surprise, Arizona.

Now. This. Is. Work.

MLB Training Camp.

We're currently watching the Padres vs. Rangers at Surprise Stadium, been a long, but productive day.

We basically got through Wednesday on fumes and adrenalin after literally NO SLEEP following the Lady Bears win against West Virginia on Tuesday night. But, hey--someone has to do this job, right?

Wouldn't want it any other way.

We were so tired after the show on Wednesday, we left the stadium, checked into our hotel, went to PF Chang's (where else did you think we were going?) and then crashed before the sun was down in Arizona.

We didn't wake up until 6:30am on Thursday.

But, we were rested thank goodness and went straight to the Rangers Clubhouse for interviews.

We secured a recorded interview with Ian Kinsler and Derek Holland. We spoke with Holland before the Rangers actually announced their starting rotation and he didn't even know at the time he was included.

Problem is---Tommy Hunter strained his groin pitching against the Reds and now the Rangers are searching for a short-term solution until Hunter is back.

Meanwhile, we also had veteran lefty Darren Oliver drop by the booth and come on live with us this afternoon.

We're LOADED for Friday's show (our last here in Surprise) with the following guests that we know of and working on others.

*Ron Washington, Rangers Manager
*Jon Daniels, Rangers General Manager
*Ian Kinsler, Rangers Second Baseman
*Jamey Newberg, The Newberg Report

Paul and I are also working on getting Melissa Jones or a Lady Bears player for Friday's show before they leave for the Dallas Regional. We normally would have been at their Media Session today, but couldn't make it due to our coverage here in Arizona.

Rangers and Padres are 4-4 into the top of the 7th, we'll wait around for the conclusion and then head to the Clubhouse and get another piece of audio or so.

We'll be right back in the Clubhouse first thing on Friday morning around 8:00am. I brought my golf clubs, might try and hit the links after Friday's show.

You turn around and can run into a golf course. There's one right down the street, well--there are a couple of dozen shows right down the street from the ballpark.

It might be time to hit the little white ball on Friday afternoon.

Thanks for listening when and if you do!

David Smoak