Spring training excitement reaches the Southland

Frank Caroll showed up for spring training at the Los Angeles Scorpions vernal home in Ventura, CA today, recently freed from the bizarre kidnapping ordeal he endured during the offseason.

"One morning, I got a call from the commissioner, telling me that I was being traded to Walla Walla. I called my agent, who said he didn't know anything about it," Caroll explained. "Then I called the Scorpions's owner/GM, Michael Weintraub, and he feined ignorance, too."

"I'd been to Walla Walla quite a bit over the years, but I never really liked it there. I was getting steamed that I was being treated like a commodity, and then the news hit that it was all a mistake, and that my nephew, Jesse Caroll, was supposed to be traded to Walla Walla, instead of me.

"So, then I waited. The Scorpions made pleas for the commissioner to return me back to the only franchise I knew. I was stuck in a Super 8 motel by the airport. It didn't have ESPN, and really crappy cell phone reception. I waited there for eight days until Mr Weintraub got permission from the commissioner to send his private jet to pick me up and fly me back to Los Angeles. I'm eligible for free agency after this season, and after seeing how the Scorpions treated me and fought to bring me home, I'm not even sure I want to test the free agency waters this year. I'll have my agent contact the team for a new contract once we get started on the season," Caroll explained.

Caroll's adventure notwithstanding, it's been an exciting offseason for the team, which officially changed its name to Los Angeles Scorpions. A stud outfielder was acquired by trade and the team's best pitcher made a full-time transition to the starting rotation.

Paul Shunk was acquired earlier in the offseason to provide a balancing left-handed bat to the already-potent lineup, featuring perennial All Star John Redman, defending MVP Ricky Peppers, and slugging 1B Luis Jeon.

The team also surrounded ace Junior Cuomo, a three-time All World player as the team's closer, with veterans in the rotation, who will provide guidance and conditioning tips to the young flamethrower as he begins his first season as a starter. Rocco Wojcik, Jeffrey Shuttleworth, and Wendell Sorg return to the rotation, while new free agent acquisition Jonathan Starner rounds out the rotation. The bullpen remains unchanged, anchored by strikeout artist Johnny Cowherd, with strong support from Caroll and William Augustin.

Leading off for the potent Scorpion lineup will be new CF Gary Giles, an OBP machine. He and Redman will help set the table for the bats of Peppers, Jeon, and Shunk. Both Peppers and Jeon eclipsed 100 RBIs last season, and Shunk should join them this season at that level. Rounding out the lineup will be Charles Novotny (re-acquired from Seattle in the offseason) at 2B, last season's Rule V pick Christian Sitton at 3B, and promising youngster Ronald Sims behind the plate.

There's concern that Sims may have trouble guiding the veteran pitching staff, but Martin Baker will backup Sims. Baker and new pitching coach Samuel Dibble will guide Baker and the pitching staff.

The rest of the team include Casey Plunk in his final go-around the league as the long man in the bullpen, last year's rookie surprise Joseph Hamilton and Raymond Sant round out the bullpen. The bench include such aged bats as Bill Johnson, Silas Caruthers, Jeffrey Drewry, and Dennis Chase, as well as this season's Rule V pick, CF Monte Goss.

"Our goals this spring training are to get Junior Cuomo conditioned for a full-season in the rotation," Weintraub stated. "He's used to pitching 90 innings a season, but we want to get 200 out of him as we chase River Cities for the pennant. We also want to get young starters Sims and Sitton up to speed quickly, so they can one day add their names to the Wall of Glory beyond the outfield fence at our beautiful Scorpion Pit."

The Los Angeles Scorpions are the most successful franchise in league history, with four Cecil Cup championships and an unprecedented streak of 90+ wins each season the league has been in existence.