Most World Series stories start on a big-league diamond. This one starts on a neighborhood field in Arcadia. Griffin Jax, the Tampa Bay Rays pitcher who started Game 4 of the World Series with his team facing elimination, once wore an Arcadia Little League uniform, according to the league. That makes him one of Phoenix’s own. Jax was born here … Read More
One Manager, One Win, and the Future of Baseball in Arizona
Former Arizona State baseball coach Pat Murphy has done the unthinkable: as the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, they slayed Goliath and swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, thus taking them to their first World Series appearance since 1982. That is a 44-year wait. As columnist Dan Bickley argued at Arizona Sports, the stakes reach far beyond Milwaukee. … Read More
Ken Kendricks’ Legacy is Shaping Up
Arizona sports have had a really rough go of it recently, and a significant amount of the blame is often tossed at ownership (and for good reason). The Suns’ disappointment compared to expectations can easily be pinned on Mat Ishbia’s flashy offseason moves that seemed to be more style than substance. The Bidwell family has long been in the crosshairs … Read More
Scottsdale Phenom is Shining at the Highest Level: Former Desert Mountain High School Star Merrill Kelly Dominant in the World Series
My what a difference a month makes! At the start of October, Arizona Diamondback fans had a wild card spot to look forward to; definitely a sign of progress and something to build off of next season, but cheap and available seats spoke the story of a fanbase that was expecting nothing but a few bets on the house’s money. … Read More