Adam Montarbo is sweating it out in the Sonoran desert these
days, working morning, noon and night nearly every day in the
102-degree heat of Yuma, Az. And, he sounds like he couldn
’t be happier. That’s because the former Live Oak High, West
Valley and Chico State University star is still playing pro
baseball. Montarbo, a 24-year-old right-handed pitcher, is in late
Spring Training with the Long Beach Armada of the brand new Golden
Baseball League, a Class A-level independ
ent league with seven teams based in cities sprawled across
California and Arizona, and an all-Japanese team that will play an
all-road schedule.
Adam Montarbo is sweating it out in the Sonoran desert these days, working morning, noon and night nearly every day in the 102-degree heat of Yuma, Az. And, he sounds like he couldn’t be happier.
That’s because the former Live Oak High, West Valley and Chico State University star is still playing pro baseball.
Montarbo, a 24-year-old right-handed pitcher, is in late Spring Training with the Long Beach Armada of the brand new Golden Baseball League, a Class A-level independent league with seven teams based in cities sprawled across California and Arizona, and an all-Japanese team that will play an all-road schedule.
Started by a pair of Stanford business students as part of a class project, the GBL features a mix of well-known former big leaguers as managers along with lesser known ex-big leaguers, minor leaguers and college products as players. Big names like Darrell Evans, Garry Templeton, Terry Kennedy and Warren Cromartie are managers, and future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Rickey Henderson – with his 1,406 major league stolen bases – has signed on to play in the GBL.
Backed by a series of investors, led by the Safeway grocery chain, the GBL owns all its teams, which play in city-owned and university stadiums in Chico, Fullerton, Long Beach, San Diego, Mesa, Surprise and Yuma. The league will play a 90-game schedule beginning in late May and lasting through playoffs in September.
For Montarbo, who heard about the new league while playing for the independent Central League’s Fort Worth Cats last season, the GBL is a chance to hone his skills and get noticed by a Major League organization while playing closer to home.
“Everybody heard about (the GBL) and everybody wanted to play in it,” Montarbo said. “I asked my agent to look into it.
I went to a tryout and they signed me right there.”
After signing with Long Beach, Montarbo found out that Evans, the former Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers slugger with 414 career home runs in a 21-year career, would be his manager with the Armada. Montarbo grew up a Giants fan and knew the name well.
“When I heard the name, I was through the roof,” he said. “He knows so much about baseball. I know it’s early but he’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. And, he has so many connections.”
Montarbo said he is one of 14 pitchers vying for 11 roster spots on the Armada staff, and he hopes to earn a shot at the starting rotation. But Montarbo said he told the Armada coaches that he’ll do anything they ask.
The former power-hitting college third baseman is also looking forward to a chance to swing the bat for the first time in pro ball – the GBL uses National League rules, which means the pitcher bats, while most minor leagues use a DH.
Montarbo said one of the best aspects of playing in the GBL is the opportunity to play in front of his family, including his grandfather – who has never seen him play professionally.
“The biggest thrill is my family will get to see me play,” he said.
Sure enough, Montarbo’s grandparents – Gil and Floy Montarbo of San Martin – are all set to attend their grandson’s season-opener against the San Diego Surf Dawgs and Henderson. And, you can bet that the rest of his family – dad and mom Stan and Kim of Morgan Hill, and brothers Sean and Chris – will make time to catch a game this season.
Playing in the GBL is probably not where Montarbo envisioned himself after four years of pro ball back when he was drafted by the San Diego Padres out of Chico State in 2002. But he remains philosophical about his career.
“There have been ups and downs,” he said. “Coming up with San Diego was the thrill of my life. But getting cut (by the Padres organization) – it was the first time I’d ever been cut in my life.”
And, there are perks to playing on the West Coast, especially when you’re still getting a check to play ball.
“Playing in California – I’m used to playing in Eugene or Idaho or Texas – so this is great,” Montarbo said. “I think this is the best situation for me.
“Besides, I’m still getting paid to play baseball. I’d play for free but I’m getting paid. I’ll play until my arm falls off.”
n It might come off as a promotional gimmick to some, but the GBL has it right on by declaring itself a zero tolerance league when it comes to steroids and illegal drugs. The GBL will use an Olympic-level testing procedure for banned substances, and a first offense will result in immediate expulsion from the league.
n Another former Live Oak player visited the Bay Area last weekend. Rey Sanchez, who played for the Acorns while visiting Morgan Hill as part of cultural and sports exchange program – earning high school All-American honors after his senior season, was in town with the New York Yankees for a series with the Oakland A’s. In the midst of a four-game sweep that increased the surging Yanks’ winning streak to eight straight, Sanchez played the final few innings of a 15-6 blowout victory for the visitors on Saturday. The 37-year-old Sanchez, who has the third-best career fielding percentage among Major League shortstops, can still pick it as he showed in Saturday’s stint on the Coliseum infield. The Yanks definitely could have used him last year. Despite a .271 career batting average, it is Sanchez’s smooth glove work that has allowed him to fashion a 14-year big league career.
n It turns out A’s fans still love The Wave, for my taste one of the most hideous fan participation bits ever foisted on baseball. It’s right up there with yelling “balk” every time a pitcher throws over to first base and mindless booing during every intentional walk. It reveals true ignorance and a certain disrespect for the game. But there they were, standing and flailing their arms, section by section in the midst of a thrashing of their home team. Such a stunt would be roundly booed at SBC Park. And should be.
n Finally, rumor has it the A’s and new owner Lewis Woolf are considering a Fremont parcel as a possible location for a new stadium. That would avoid the conflict with the Giants and Santa Clara County because the A’s would stay in Alameda County. So, the Fremont A’s? The East Bay A’s? Or, the Golden State A’s?
I still say it’s going to be the Las Vegas A’s.
Jim Johnson is the Morgan Hill Times Sports Editor. He can be reached by calling (408) 779-4106 (ext. 203) or by email at
jj******@mo*************.com
