Cubs 31-Year-Old Rookie Making Most of Shot!

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2009-05-14T21:09:00-04:00

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258 3075 Bobby Scales, the well-traveled, 31-year-old rookie infielder for the Chicago Cubs has finally gotten his shot in the show, the big leagues, and he is definitely taking advantage of the opportunity that has finally presented itself.  Scales has played in the minors for the Padres, Phillies, Red Sox and the Cubs. Now, at least for the time being, he is finally being given his shot in the major leagues with the Cubs. So far, he is making the most of it.   Scales time in the majors was supposed to be short, but in his second trip to the plate against last years Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, he stroked a single to left field. He is 8-18 since his call up, and has a six game hitting streak. <o:p> </o:p> Scales hit two two-run doubles Thursday afternoon against the Padres at Wrigley Field during the Cubs 11-3 victory. Even though not in one game, since being called up, Scales, in only six games has hit for the cycle. He has had four singles, two doubles, a triple, and a home run. He has scored six runs, has five runs batted in and has a .444 batting average. <o:p> </o:p> "Scales is swinging the bat, driving the ball," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "He wants playing time."   Scales, has spent ten grinding minor-league seasons before being called up by the Cubs on May 5 to face the Giants. For ten years while in the minor leagues, he has had a diet consisting mostly of fast food, built up a ton of budget motel points, has been on infinite bus rides, and has never even been called up to the majors not even during the late season September call-ups.   Scales is trying his best not to be too overpowered by his ten-year wait for this elongated opportunity. "I have to take deep breaths and slow the game down," Scales said. "It's the big leagues and it moves fast, but you can't try to do too much. Just go play the way I know I can play and take whatever happens." There were certainly some times where he wanted to just give it all up thinking that he would never get his chance, especially when less talented and inferior teammates got the call up to the majors and he did not. <o:p> </o:p> "To be honest, that's what kept me going," Scales said. "I'd see some guys go up and I'd think, 'I'm as good as he is,' or 'I know I'm better than he is,' no disrespect. And if they got a chance, I had to believe I'd get a chance eventually. I don't have one electrifying tool, but if you let me play for a week or watch me play for a week, you'll see me do things that will help a team." Born in <st1:city w:st="on">Southfield</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Michigan</st1:state> and growing up in Alpharetta, Georgia., Scales was a walk on at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Michigan</st1:placename></st1:place>, he convinced the coaches to take a look and give him a shot as a switch-hitting second baseman or shortstop. If anything, perseverance is the best word to describe his baseball career since its inception.   "My father looked at me like I was crazy," he recalled. "I had hit right-handed all my life, but I went to one of those showcase camps and a scout told me I ought to think about switch-hitting. So I bought a batting tee at the sporting goods store and I hit off it all summer, trying to get a left-handed swing technique down." After playing on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Michigan</st1:state></st1:place> teams that won two Big Ten titles, he graduated with a degree in sports management and communications. The San Diego Padres took him in the 14th round of the 1999 amateur draft. During his 10-year minor league career, which all started in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Idaho Falls</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Idaho</st1:state></st1:place>, he has played ball in eight minor-league cities. "Jake Peavy was one of my teammates, just an 18-year-old kid from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Mobile</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Alabama</st1:state></st1:place>," Scales said. "Now he's one of the dominant pitchers in the big leagues." "He's one of the classiest people I've been around," Cubs GM Jim Hendry said. <o:p> </o:p> Every team that he has played for agrees wholeheartedly with the Cubs General Manager. "When you play as long as I have, on as many teams and with as many guys, you probably know somebody on every team in the big leagues," Scales said with a big grin. "It's nice to be known as a good guy, but I want to be known as a good player. That's why I'm here. If I stink it up I'll be out of here. It's a business, I know that, and I've got a job to do." <o:p> </o:p> Scales is a substitute teacher at his alma mater, <st1:placename w:st="on">Milton</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">High School</st1:placename> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Alpharetta</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region></st1:place> in the offseason in order to help ends meet financially. His wife Monica has a doctorate in health communication, and has put her own career on the back burners, while he continues to hold on to the hope that his dream of playing major league baseball will finally come true. "Right now, it's easy for me to say it has been worth it because I'm in the big leagues," Scales said. "But even if I never got here, I'd probably say it was. Baseball has enabled me to see and do things I never would have done, meet people I never would have met. "Some of my friends never got past A ball, and they're out working regular jobs. I'm still grinding, making ends meet, doing something I love. I couldn't have done it this long if I didn't love it." <o:p> </o:p> If this 31 year old rookie keeps it up, my bet is that Lou Piniella will be keeping him around for awhile. <o:p> </o:p> 0.0.0.0

2009-05-14T21:09:00-04:00

cubs-31-year-old-rookie-making-most-of-shot

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Cubs 31-Year-Old Rookie Making Most of Shot!

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