bedsitter23

I made it to my second game of the year for the Iowa Cubs.  This saw the I-Cubs lose in ten innings and also saw 2B (and former Indians prospect) Luis Valbuena get ejected for arguing.  I am not sure if you get ejected from the game if you get to come back after the game and watch the Friday Night fireworks, but I am guessing not.

Frankie de la Cruz pitched for the Cubs (a former Brewers prospect and a possible future Cubs reliever) and did well- 2 runs on 4 hits in 6 2/3 innings of work.  He threw 92 and 94 mph and looked real good, although the people around me noticed he wasn't much of a fielder.

This edition of the I-Cubs are led by three prospects, and per the reviews I have seen, is pretty shallow after that.  Anthony Rizzo is having an amazing year, and there is a lot of buzz about him not being called up to Chicago.  there is a fear that the Chicago Cubs 2012 edition is so bad that the pressure on Rizzo to be a saviour for the team would ruin him.

Josh Vitters has been the top prospect in the Cubs minor league organization for the last two years.  He will make it to the bigs but as with all the 'can't miss' prospects I have seen in my time here, the expectations are probably just too high.  Brett Jackson is this year's version of Vitters.  He's the second most popular I-Cub after Rizzo, but again, fans are expecting a lot.

I did also see two Raygun shirts at the park (Raygun is the local hip t-shirt company).

Iowa- The California of the United States
Des Moines- French for "The Moines"

No surprise, but as with the last few years, I have tried to hit as many of the area's professional minor league sporting events.  With Jeremy Lin hitting the mainstream a few months ago with his "outta nowhere" story, I figured it was time to revisit some recent trips to watch the local action.

Des Moines Buccaneers - The Bucs are an USHL Hockey team.  These are players at the very beginning of their career- 18 and 19 years old looking to play in college and hoping for a shot at the big time.

Success is possible here, but limited.  To give some idea, I think there are 3 alumni from the Bucs in the NHL (probably the most bnotable, a third-line center).  Even then, the Bucs are a blast to watch, and the fans embrace them.  Gasper Kopitar remains the team best player from the last couple of years (His brother is a star on the LA Kings).  The team has been terrible this year, but the flipside of that is that they seem a bit rowdier this year than normal.  As this is hockey, either is okay with the fans.

Iowa Barnstormers - I can't imagine watching arena football on tv, but it is a blast in person.  The team started the year by signing Derell Johnson-Koulianos.  DJK seemed a can't miss for the NFL- setting records at a Big 10 College; but while at Iowa, his roommates got caught running a crackhouse (seriously).  DJK is trying to rehabilitate his image by playing in the CFL, but apparently he could not translate his game to the Arena game; and was cut by the 'Stormers  before the first game.

I am not sure if the Barnstormers are good this year or not (They lost the game we attended, but arena football seems like a crapshoot anyway).  I did attend the home opener armed with the must-have accessory - a cowbell- and I must say I have to recommend it,

If anyone from the barnstormers is destined for a pro career- it has to be the receiver Jesse Schmidt- who has several team records, but played college football for a Division 3 school- though his age would suggest that maybe that window is closing.

Iowa Energy - The Energy (of the three) is probably the best chance to see a future star.  The NBADL (Developmental League) indeed got a boost from the Jeremy Lin story.  Still, the future pros you will see are most likely sixth men and future NBA journeymen.

The Energy are led by last year's NBADL MVP Curtis Stinson (and yes, Lin played in the NBADL last year).  Stinson seemed like a can't miss NBAr when he played at Iowa State, but the games I have seen him in have him marked for me as an unlikely NBA starter (not quite the field general a NBA team would look for in a point guard).

Recently, the Energy picked up Patrick Ewing, Jr; who i have not seen, but seems to have a pretty solid wrap of he would be good if he actually put some effort into it. 

NBA Developmental basketball is a lot more exciting than it sounds and the local team does it right - uptempo music over the PA, great gimmick nights (starting of course with 70s and 80s nights), and that other feature attraction, winning.