In Game Reading...

Some things must be read to be believed. Then, they must be read again because you can't really be sure if what you read was real. USA Today has a beauty today about three Devil Ray prospects who can't believe that they aren't in the majors yet in D-Rays' kids set for major promotions. The opening paragraphs:

DURHAM, N.C. — It's late morning at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, and already 92 degrees. There is no breeze. No clouds. Just stifling humidity.

"I don't know whose idea this was to play a day game," says Class AAA Bulls third baseman B.J. Upton, wiping the perspiration from his forehead. "It's the hottest time of the year here. It's going to be about 130 (degrees) on the field. And you wonder why we can't wait to get out of this place.

"I still can't believe I'm here. The three of us all thought we'd be all up in Tampa by now."

Yes, it's never hot in the Major Leagues.

One of the other three is Delmon Young.

I don't know what they're waiting for," Young says."They're what, 30 games (actually 20) out of first place? They think we're going to mess up their clubhouse chemistry. B.J. should be up there. What are they waiting for? They always have excuses."

Young stops himself. He has already said too much. Please, he asks, let it be known that he was just venting. Don't take him seriously.

"I just want to show up for work and go about my business," Young says. "That's all. We're just employees here. We do what we're told. "We've been in enough trouble as it is."

But, the passage that made me want to stop reading was this one from the third member of the group, Elijah Dukes:

Dukes, the oldest of the trio at 22, laughs and shakes his head. Trouble? He may be the king. He has been suspended four times the last two years, and was ejected five times last year and twice this year.

"The only thing holding me back is me," says Dukes, who is hitting .293 with 10 homers and 50 RBI this season. "I know I can play in the big leagues. On any team. But they want to see whether I can stay away from trouble.

"If I can just do that, if I can just keep my cool, I'll be fine. Because when there is trouble, whether it's my fault or not, I'm the one who's got to pay the consequences."
Dukes is staring disgustedly at his baseball jersey while talking. It has dark stains around the collar. His pants have tears by both knees. If this were the big leagues, the uniform would be in the garbage.

But this is Durham.

"In the big leagues, you throw your uniform on the ground, and it's washed and hung up nicely in your locker," Dukes says. "Here you do that, you come back the next dday and find it still on the floor. Those guys up there (in the big leagues) shower in Evian. Here, we use sewer water."

Of course, you do. Of course, you do.

It does get better. No, really. I guess from that point you really can't dig any deeper.

[Upton] talks constantly with Young and Dukes, pleading for them to keep their emotions in check, reminding them they are just a phone call away from the big leagues.

"When I do go to Tampa, I don't want to ever come back here. And I'd love to see Delmon and Elijah with me. We talk about it all of the time how special it would be for us to make it together.

Spoke too soon. Do you think the folks in Durham will invite any of these players back for an old-timers night in about fiteen years?

Staying on the off-beat side of things, but with a bit more cheer "Rubber Boy" throws 'em a curve at Whitecaps game:

It goes on for three virtual pages.

COMSTOCK PARK -- You really had to see it to believe it.

After witnessing the debut appearance of "Rubber Boy" at Wednesday night's minor-league baseball game at Fifth Third Ballpark, a perplexed Sally Groters of Comstock Park wasn't sure what to think about contortionist Daniel Browning Smith. "I'm speechless.

It makes me ache just thinking of him," she said. Browning's act nvolved passing his body through a toilet seat and a tennis racket and folding himself into a small suitcase and being carried off the field.

"I've never seen anything like that," Don Groters added.

The crowd of 6,683 at the West Michigan Whitecaps games reacted with shock and applause throughout Smith's routine, which was his first appearance at a local sporting event.

Go to his website, but be warned, and don't try it at home.

Word is that a Northwoods League team may be headed for Green Bay.

According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the Green Bay Park Committee on Tuesday unanimously endorsed an agreement to negotiate with Northwoods League officials on terms of a lease for city-owned and 1,500-seat Joannes Stadium, beginning with the 2007 season.

It isn't known if the Green Bay franchise would be an expansion club or if an existing team would slide in.

Here are a few quotes from Rob Zerjav of the Rattlers, who is the greatest boss in the world and also from Dick Radatz, Jr. of the Northwoods League.

"I don't consider us being in the same market, truthfully," Northwoods League president Dick Radatz Jr. said. "Appleton and Green Bay, I'm betting, are two somewhat distinct markets. I know they're in the same region. I would hope they could feed off each other to some extent and grow a better awareness to baseball in the region."

"No matter what business you're in, there's going to be competition," Zerjav said prior to the Rattlers' 7-5 Midwest League loss to South Bend on Wednesday at Fox Cities Stadium. "All you can do is believe in the product and what you sell, and I do. That's not going to change. We believe in it, and obviously the general public does as well."

A new stadium in Fort Wayne? A new downtown stadium in Fort Wayne? Study supports downtown stadium. Well, if a study supports a downtown stadium they might as well just go ahead and do it. When was the last time a study was wrong?

Fort Wayne should pursue a downtown baseball stadium.

That was the sentiment of a report from a committee appointed in February by Mayor Graham Richard to investigate the viability of building a mixed-use baseball development downtown.

The report was released Friday morning. Mayor Graham Richard commended the group for its examination of comparable facilities, possible downtown locations and the potential re-use of Memorial Stadium.

“We want to make downtown a destination place for residents and visitors to enjoy,” he said in a statement.

I wonder if that was an editing mistake (Kiner knows, I make plenty) or if Mayor Graham Richard wants to be called Mayor Graham Richard or if he can be referred to as Mayor Richard. Mayor Graham Richard sounds kind of cool, though. Mayor Graham Richarg, your table is ready. Mayor Graham Richard, would you mind picking up some bread on the way home? Mayor Graham Richard, there is a call for you on line one.