The Fielders had no fielders.
In the moments before the Lake County Fielders were set to host Jose Canseco's Yuma Scorpions on July 9, the Fielders' position players claimed their owners didn't meet payroll.
The manager, former Toros boss Tim Johnson, resigned.
And the Fielders announced a lineup that featured pitchers playing all over the field.
Canseco, fond of Johnson from his big-league days, did the same in the name of gamesmanship.
"You actually ask these pitchers, 'Where do you want to play? What do you like?'" Canseco said Tuesday.
Canseco, who pitched the Scorpions to an 8-3 win in a game that featured only two errors, and Johnson will face the Fielders again in Thursday's Tucson Toros farewell doubleheader at Hi Corbett Field.
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Johnson, since signed as a Scorpions bench coach, will help the former American League MVP manage against the Fielders.
From Zion, Ill., the Fielders are part-owned by actor Kevin Costner.
Many members of the Scorpions will wear Toros uniforms in the doubleheader, which starts at 5 p.m. and features a home run derby between games.
Toros owners Jay Zucker, whose team is being evicted, said he hopes to have more than 3,000 fans.
With the Triple-A Tucson Padres across town, Zucker mothballed the team this season but continued to hold semipro "Thirsty Thursday" games before the city of Tucson terminated the lease.
"We planned on just trying to limp through this and get through this," Zucker said. "But now we've been dealt a mighty blow."
The Scorpions actually signed a few Fielders since that July 9 game. Lake County has exactly one player - a catcher, Alan Rick - left over from the team that played 11 days ago.
"I don't know exactly who they got to replace" the others Fielders, Canseco said. "I guess we're going to find out Thursday."
Canseco smiled a bit when asked if such a situation was new to him.
"That's part of being a manager," he said, "and part of the structure of independent baseball."
Toros can stay through saturday
The Tucson Toros have been told to leave Hi Corbett Field by the end of Saturday after their lease was terminated by the City of Tucson.
"We've been asking for some feedback, for an opportunity to sit down and visit and communicate, but they have not given us answers outside the fact that we are in violation of our lease," Toros owner Jay Zucker said Tuesday.
However, public information officer Mike Graham said Tuesday the city of Tucson indeed contacted Zucker's representatives.
"The city attorney's office has spoken to Mr. Zucker's attorney," he said, "and they are completely aware of our position - and that position is we've given them notice of termination."
Patrick Finley
Up next
• What: Yuma Scorpions vs. Lake County Fielders
• Where: Hi Corbett Field
• When: Doubleheader starts at 5 p.m. Thursday
