Paxton Holds No Grudges Towards Blue Jays

By MATTHEW SEKERES

2009 first-round pick says he bears no ill will toward organization despite Beeston's comments ultimately costing him his remaining NCAA eligibility

One year later, James Paxton has no regrets.

The pitcher from Ladner, B.C., was the first Canadian taken at last spring's Major League Baseball draft, selected 37th overall in the supplemental first round by the Toronto Blue Jays, who failed to sign him to a contract by an August deadline because they would not meet Paxton's signing-bonus demands.

Paxton, 21, says he doesn't begrudge the Jays for not meeting terms, nor president Paul Beeston, who compromised his amateurism with some out-of-school comments last summer. What ensued was a legal fight against the University of Kentucky and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, a battle Paxton's lawyer called a "civil rights case."

The battle has brought Paxton to an independent league in Texas, where he will make three more starts before the June 7 first-year player draft. The left-handed flamethrower is again expected to be selected in the first round.

Grand Prairie Airhogs (4-2) at Pensacola Pelicans (2-5)

It looks like Matt Green is going to be the starter for the Airhogs. He has already pitched against the Pelicans this season, leading the 'Hogs to a 4-3 victory after pitching five innings, giving up two unearned runs, four hits and two walks, while fanning four. He did, however, not get a decision in the game.

It looks like he is going to have a rematch against Aaron Jackson. Jackson tossed six innings for a no-decision on the 16th. He gave up two earned runs off two hits and four walks. He struck out three.

Forecast: The Airhogs won the previous matchup, despite evidently giving up two  unearned runs, so I like the 'Hogs in this one. Being that the Airhogs are an independant, not even considered "A Ball", the score is even tougher to predict.... so, um, how about 'Hogs win this 5-2.

American Association All-Star Game

The All-Star Game Tix for Tuesday. Need some buddies to come along and enjoy the game. Are you game?

Game 8: Airhogs vs. Pelicans

Ah, the home opener. I have tickets to tonights Airhogs game. The Hogs are 2-5 coming into their home opener and the Pelicans are 3-4, so not too much difference between the two right now.

In Beam's first start, He dominated, yeilding three hits and a walk (one HR) in five innings of work. He struck out four while giving up two runs in the process for the win. He is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA.

Jose Cordero looks to make the start... although the statistics page tell me that it is Stephen MacFarland's turn, as Cordero is a relief pitcher. It would really help if they gave me a scheduled starter information. OK... MacFarland. He has a 1.93 ERA while only pitching 4.2 innings. He gave up one hit and two walks that led to a single run scoring. Opponents are hitting .067 off of him.
Forecast: I like the Airhogs in this one, although the pitching looks like it could be good from both sides. Still, the Airhogs have been itching to get some home games in, as the road hasn't been to nice for them. Score: 5-3.

Home Plate

Championship Game 3: Airhogs at Canaries

The series is tied going into game 3. Games 3, 4 and if necessary, Game 5 are all at Sioux Falls, or otherwise known as Canary Land. What a weird mascot, a canary... Anyway, I have no clue who is pitching for both teams... both upset the #1 seed in their division to make it to the finals. How this will end up, well I will just have to root for the 'Hogs and hope they pull it out.

Forecast: I think the Airhogs have better hitting and are more on fire than how they ended the season. Score: Airhogs 6-3 over the Canaries.

Home Plate

Playoff Game 3: Airhogs vs Cats

The Airhogs have won the first two games, so this is an elimination game. Could the 'Hogs sweep? The Hogs won the first game 6-5 and committed 5 errors. Game 2, the Hogs won late and also led the game with miscues. Now they come home for the first time in the playoffs, up two games to none with just one win away from advancing.The matchup today is Dan Grybash of the Cats vs Jeff Jamnik of the Airhogs.

Jamnik is an interesting choice, since he is 1-2, but has a nice 3.03 ERA. Grybash is a good deal stronger, at least his stats say so. He is 8-5 with a 3.18 ERA. It would seem that the momentum is in the Airhogs favor of late, despite the Cats storming into first in the last week of play.

Forecast: To sweep or not to sweep, that is the question. I am going to this game, and I would like to see a sweep. So... that is what I am going to go with... Airhogs taste success all-the-way-around... and finish off the series with a 5-2 victory.

Home Plate

Playoff Game 2: Airhogs at Cats

Game 2: Jose Cordero for the Airhogs. He is 4-4 with a 3.49 ERA. He goes up against Lee Gwaltney. Lee is 9-2 with a 2.57 ERA. Fort Worth has been playing so much better heading into the playoffs. Grand Prairie limped into the playoffs. The Airhogs had a three game lead that they lost and finished two games back within the last week or so before the end of the season.
Forecast: Lee is much more commanding. It would seem foolish to go with Grand Prairie in this one. They are on the road against a better team and a hotter team. Cats win it, 7-2.

Home Plate

Playoff Game 1: Airhogs at Cats

I have no clue what the Playoff Rotation would really look like, however, this is what I would guess that it would look like. Grand Prairie's rotation was a little bit harder than the Cats rotation...
With the Airhogs, Harris could be #1 or #2. In this format, there really will be no need for a #5 guy, but I went ahead and listed them. Jamnik could start for someone else, but his record may keep him in the bullpen. I would think that starting Harris instead of Garcia for Game 1 would be a good choice for the Hogs. Should the Hogs do that, maybe placing Kirsten or Gwaltney for Flores would be a better choice, as well, but the 13 wins screams to me of a certain respect for starting the first game. It would be the first playoff game this post-season for the Cats at home... but me, personally, I think it would be better for the team for a lower ERA guy to start against the Hogs lowest ERA guy. I really don't know what the playoff rotation will look like, but this is my best bet.

Home Plate

Airhogs vs. Cats in Playoffs

GAME SCHEDULE AND TIMES (Best-Of-Five Series):

• Monday August, 25- Grand Prairie at Fort Worth, game 1
• Tuesday August, 26- Grand Prairie at Fort Worth, game 2
• Thursday August, 28- Fort Worth at Grand Prairie, game 3
• Friday August, 29- Fort Worth at Grand Prairie, game 4*
• Saturday August, 30- Fort Worth at Grand Prairie, game 5*

Notes: Games at 7:05 PM CST (* if necessary)

We're going to the game on the 28th. Sweet!

Home Plate

Grand Prairie Airhogs vs. Sioux City Explorers

I have figured some things out for this post. I am going to the Airhogs game tonight. They are giving away a Pete Incaviglia bobblehead tonight, so I am going to go and try to snag one of those. The matchup tonight is Justin Garcia for the Airhogs and Alexander Francisco for the Explorers.

Francisco is 10-1 this season with a 3.39 ERA in 88 innings. This isn't going to be more indepth than that. He's got good numbers.

Justin Garcia is 8-3 this season, but has only started 13 games and has one complete game to his credit. His ERA is 3.46, so he's pretty good, too. Opponents are batting .231 against him. It sounds like he has good stuff.

This is the matchup of the best in the South Division vs. the best in the North Divison. Sioux City Explorers are 24-16, whereas the Airhogs are 27-13.

Forecast: A little more informatin makes this a bit more interesting. Sioux City topped Grand Prairie last night by a score of 10-2. Both are 6-4 in their last ten. Both starters are good... I like Grand Prairie, simply because I am going. Let's say... 5-2, Airhogs.

Home Plate

Airhog Game Pictures

My father is the one on the end, #19. This is the National Anthem.
His business has a sign in the outfield, between the Bud Light sign and the Prudential sign.
I think he is pictured somewhere in here, but I couldn't tell you where at this point.
Our seats were the first row behind home plate. My wife and I actually ended up seating in the third row, but the rest of the family sat in rows 1 and 2.
I think the seats were awesome!
The mascot is an Airhog named "Ace Bacon".

He came up to the first row, where my son was seated next to my mom.

Everyone was telling my son to say, "Hi Airhog!", but my son simply said, "Hi Pig!"

Ace took offense to it.

My dad is chatting with Pete Incaviglia, the "skipper" for the Airhogs.

My dad used the number 19... I was told that he didn't actually pick the number, but I had thought he might have gone with it due to Juan Gonzalez.

Now, my son went over to say "Hi" to his grandpa, he actually got to go down into the dugout. He didn't stay too long, however.

I think I liked the view near the dugout more than the view from right behind the plate. Either way, I really enjoyed the seats, since I could see the movement on the ball. It was a really cool view, no matter which spot you sat.

This is another view from seats near the dugout.

And this is my son, who got to go into the dugout during a game and was given a game used baseball when he said good-bye to his Grandpa. And let me tell you, he LOVES the baseball.

Home Plate

Grand Prairie Airhogs vs. Shreveport Sports

I am going to this game. My father is going to be in the Airhogs dugout, as an assistant coach to the the bench coach. I have encouraged him to make a trip to the pitching mound when they make a pitching substitution, and he has thought about it... I will definitely have my camera ready in case he actually does it. Talk about hilarious... I can't find a rotation for the Airhogs...

I really do not know who will win... and with an absence of information, I find it really, really hard to make my normal educated guess (or weather forecast). Grand Prairie does enter into this game with the best record in the league and Shreveport comes in with the worst record. That information alone tells me the best will get better and the worst will continue to dig a grave for themselves. There is one starter for the Airhogs, however, who really doesn't use any deodorant. And by that, I mean the guy stinks up the mound.
Forecast: If I find out what the matchup will be, I will update this post, however, I am not holding my breathe. From the little information (the standings) I have, I see the Airhogs taking this one, with, let's say... 8-2.

Home Plate