Morrison: Glad to be back at the ballpark

By JAMES TUBB on May 27, 2022.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

It’s been a long two years but Medicine Hat Mavericks baseball is back in action.

The Western Canadian Baseball League club started their mini camp Tuesday ahead of the season opener Friday in Moose Jaw against the Miller Express. It will mark the first game the Mavericks have played since the 2019 season due to COVID-19 shutting down the 2020 season and the club not participating in the 2021 mini season. The Mavs home opener is set for Sunday afternoon against Moose Jaw.

Owner and general manager Greg Morrison spoke to the News on Wednesday ahead of the team’s Fan Fest about his excitement for the season.

“I can’t stop smiling, excitement and nerves all bundled up into one” Morrison said. “For me being on the field with the guys is a big, you know, big piece of why I do this.”

Morrison missed the first day of minicamp as he was stuck doing office work. When Wednesday rolled around he was out on the field throwing BP to his players and had the chance to put names to faces for a lot of them.

“We have a solid ball club, Morrison said. “We have some solid bats, some really good swings, good approaches and strength on the defensive side of it.”

When asked what he thinks of his team so far and their strengths, Morrison said he’s too superstitious to start predicting or over-speaking about the players.

“We’re a very modest organization, these guys know that, we’re looking good,” Morrison said. “We look like a good baseball team fundamentally; defensively, hitting, I’m really excited.”

Morrison was more than willing to speak about the $3-million renovations to Athletic Park started in 2020. He said the renovation process has been surreal and will be ready for first pitch Sunday.

“I just can’t believe these deadlines have been met and have people stepping up to it, because they know what our deadlines are,” Morrison said. “So it’s pretty awesome.”

Morrison pulled double duty Wednesday while throwing batting practice, as he was helping trouble shoot problems with the outlets in the pillars surrounding the park for food trucks at Fan Fest. He joked that once the season gets into full swing he and the staff will be able to relax a little.

“I joked with our staff that maybe by the sixth or seventh game, we can take a breath and by then, you hope the season’s going longer,” Morrison said.

He said the coaching staff of head coach Tyler Jeske, assistant coach Michael Forgione and pitching coach Rod White are unique individuals and he loves it.

“Rod, I think is going to add a lot to the pitching side for us, Forg who is an infield and base running specialist. I told the players today, like, that’s all I know is the fundamentals,” Morrison said. “Tyler believes in the fundamentals of baseball and believe what you will with trends of baseball going this way or that way. We know that certain things are pillars of baseball to winning and success over a season and 56 games over two and a half months, you have to just do the little things. That’s what we all believe in.”

Morrison said he does not like having a hands-on approach and doesn’t have to with this Mavericks staff, on and off the field.

“I’m not wanting to know everything that goes on, I want to have the option to know but I don’t want to know,” Morrison said. “I’d rather be out here, filling water jugs, throwing BP and talking hitting and picks at first base as a first baseman than do other stuff. But in the end, when you have experience, you just you have to be willing to provide that guidance, but not too much.”

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