The Evergreen Diamondbacks started the 2010 baseball season off on the right foot this past Sunday with two big victories over the Cicero Devils, but several Diamondback players were missing in action, despite their assurances to manager Sergio Senese that they would be at the game.

“Everyone knows that if I don’t call you, it means that the game is taking place,” Senese said. “We don’t have a switchboard operator that is going to make calls to everyone to tell them to show up.”

While Senese was correct that the Diamondbacks do not have a switchboard in place to reach their players in an expedited manner, sources within the organization say that funding was approved in 2007 to purchase the communications system.

“I’ve been a member on this team since 1998,” said veteran pitcher Ed Sochacki, “and I know that we had raised concerns about the speed in which information was delivered to the players. I had thought that (Senese) made the purchase.”

Other team members agreed and have now begun questioning other apparent purchases made on behalf of the organization and have never seemed to materialize.

“I purchased a whole new set of catcher’s gear for the team just last year, and here we are on Opening Day and it’s missing,” said Jim Cezak. “I’m not going to point any fingers at anyone, but is it possible that someone traded that in, along with their gold chains in a Cash4Gold.com scam? I don’t know… but certainly I’m starting to open my eyes.”

Fortunately for the Diamondbacks, the Cicero Devils showed why they are a class-act organization and allowed the Diamondbacks to utilize their catcher’s helmet and several batters’ helmets.

Senese, when questioned, said that there was some confusion as to whether former manager Joe Cipolla was going to be coming to the game and whether he would be bringing the equipment.

“It’s all safe and nobody traded it in for cash – neither at Cash4Gold.com or at Play It Again Sports. We have it. It’s here. Everyone can call off the dogs,” he said.

But the response from Senese is a familiar one to a number of players on the team. As of the start of the 2010 season, the Diamondbacks are missing more than 15 team jerseys from former players that either didn’t return to play another year or, didn’t pay team fees for the jerseys they kept. Several jerseys have been spotted in recent months on eBay, selling for just over $165 – well above retail and the back-of-the-trunk pricing found on Maxwell Street.

“I don’t know where the jerseys are,” said Senese – who just so happened to be sporting a new Rawlings 6-finger glove and mobile phone, “but I’ll look into these allegations and keep everyone posted.”

In the meantime, Diamondback players that are uncertain about the status of Sunday morning games should call Senese directly on his mobile phone hotline with questions. And, as Senese eventually figures out how to record a message on his phone, he’ll provide updates through the voicemail feature.

That should be all the D-Backs need to field a full team for the rest of the season, jerseys or not.

Tagged with: Cicero Devils, Ed Sochacki, Evergreen Park Diamondbacks, Jim Cezak, Joe Cipolla, Opening Day, Sergio Senese

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