The Las Vegas Call-Up Wall

Going a little off-kilter for today’s post: I want to show you guys one of the “underground” things in the PCL that I think is really cool: the Las Vegas 51s Call-Up Wall.

Las Vegas clubhouse manager Stevie Dwyer has a little alcove off the visiting locker room that he uses as an office for himself and his assistants. It’s a sliver of a room, shaped like a shoe box.

Along one wall, he has hung up the locker nameplate of every visiting player who has been called up to the majors from the Cashman Field locker room since he started working as the clubbie years ago.

It’s a unique homage to every player who got called into the manager’s office and received the good news that they were going to the big leagues. Perhaps not coincidentally, the manager’s office is on the other side of the Call-Up Wall.

Here are some shots – click on it to enlarge:

The nameplates are sorted into columns by year.

Here is a group of Tacoma players who got called up in 2007:

I’m sure you all recall the John Parrish era. Tacoma was in Vegas on September 1st that year; thus there were a lot of call-ups.

Here is a column of more recent vintage:

Sometimes the clubbie has the called-up player sign his nameplate.

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The Rainiers lost last night, 6-5. Tacoma had 15 hits and left 13 runners on base – if the Rainiers were in contention right now, it really would have been a tough loss.

Alex Liddi is on a mini-tear right now. He had three hits and two RBI’s yesterday, and he now has nine RBI in the last four games. He’s batting .330 with five home runs in August, with only 14 strikeouts in 106 at-bats this month. I think Mariners fans can look for him to see some time in the big leagues when the rosters expand.

Tonight’s game is at 7:05 and it airs on South Sound Sports 850 AM and streaming online right here. Tacoma starts LHP Danny Hultzen (1-3, 5.14) against Las Vegas LHP Bill Murphy (6-5, 4.72).

Links:

• We start with the Rainiers recap from The News Tribune.
• College teammates Kyle Seager and Dustin Ackley had the big hits as the Mariners beat the Twins, 5-2. The Mariners go for the sweep tonight.
• Albuquerque’s John Ely won the PCL Pitcher of the Year award, and I suspect the voting was close to unanimous.
• Yesterday, Reno’s Adam Eaton won the PCL Rookie of the Year award. I suspect he’ll win the MVP, too.
• On the field, Reno lost in 12 innings at Fresno when Brett Pill launched his second homer of the game. Fresno pitcher Boof Bonser homered off Trevor Bauer in this game – he out-pitched the top prospect, too.
• Fresno infielder Brock Bond has recovered from a concussion.
• Colorado Springs lit up Dan Straily and the Sacramento River Cats, pulling within three games of Reno. Meanwhile, Sacramento’s “magic number” to clinch the South over Las Vegas is one.
• Tucson beat Salt Lake, 9-6 – and the Padres scored all nine runs in one inning.
• Todd Dewey of the Las Vegas Review Journal has a nice piece on outfielder Anthony Gose and his recent major league experience.
• Las Vegas 51s broadcaster Russ Langer got the UNLV football job – hey, I know that guy!
• The Round Rock Express were the visiting team in their own ballpark, and apparently that suits them: they swept the displaced New Orleans Zephyrs in a doubleheader.
• Nashville smacked a couple of three-run homers in a 7-3 victory against Iowa.
• Memphis starter Scott Gorgen completely shut down the Omaha Storm Chasers.
• Bobby Abreu is playing for the Albuquerque Isotopes – and it’s not a rehabilitation assignment.
• Do you follow Pac-12 football? Have fun with this pick ‘em contest, it should be a good time.

Game eight of the Nine Game Mega Series is tonight. Tacoma leads the Mega Series, four games to three. It’s tense!

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