Mavs mark milestone in uncertain times

In their inaugural season of 1991, the High Desert Mavericks became the first team in the history of the California League to draw 200,000 fans. This pace continued relatively unabated for the first several seasons of the franchise's history, and in 1996 the Mavericks hit the vaunted one million mark at a league-record pace.

But recent years have not been as kind to the Mavericks, currently operating as a Seattle Mariners affiliate. Stater Bros. Stadium, one of the Minors' crown jewels when it opened in 1991, has lost much of its luster. The city-owned facility, built thanks to the leadership of former Adelanto mayor pro tem Mary Scarpa, is in need of extensive renovations unlikely to occur during these economically rocky times (especially in the fiscally challenged state of California).

And the stadium's decline is likely to continue amidst its wind-swept Mojave Desert environs, the facility standing as a solitary symbol of a greater commercial development project that never quite materialized. Brett Baseball, the team's original owners, made no secret of their desire to move the club in recent years. When no viable option materialized, they sold the Mavericks to Main Street Baseball (which also owns and operates the Midwest League's Quad Cities River Bandits).

This transaction was finalized in November 2010. Given this timetable, the new ownership group decided to use the 2011 season largely for evaluation purposes. Main Street Baseball president Kirk Goodman told me after that sale that one of their primary goals was simply to see "what kind of potential exists."

"It's evident that there is a very loyal fan base here, people who really want to see the team succeed," continued Goodman. "Now it's our job to let people know there's something different in town with new entertainment options. This market is spread out, and an interstate runs right through it. Much of our early conversations [with the community] will be trying to convince people to make the drive."

But Stater Bros. Stadium's original 20-year-old lease expired upon the conclusion of the 2010 season, and the new agreement is for just two years (with a mutual opt-out after this season). Is this short-term agreement indicative of High Desert's lack of a long-term future?

The jury is out on that, of course, but at the moment there are no viable California League markets for the Mavs to relocate to. So the best course of action for all involved is to simply enjoy the present state of High Desert baseball. And, despite the challenges, there is still much to enjoy.

I attended Sunday's game between the Mavericks and visiting Rancho Cucamonga, with the chill from a stiff desert wind largely neutralized by the powerful afternoon sun. A small-time community feel prevailed, with Little Leaguers still in uniform sliding down the grassy berm in right field as local members of the booster club congregated behind home plate. Wooly Bully proved to be an accomplished and very popular mascot, initiating the wave from atop the dugout and leading chants of "Charge!" while engaging in an endless stream of improvised physical comedy.

Long-time fans still bring their Mavericks-logo beer pitchers for $10 refills (even though the pitchers haven't been sold at the stadium for more than a decade), and the ushers "pass the hat" through the crowd after each and every home team home run. California League Offensive Player of the Week Vincent Catricala and Daniel Carroll both went yard Sunday, netting $50.68 for the former and $53 for the latter (an excellent way to supplement Minor League Baseball's meager meal allowances).

The man presiding over the Mavericks' day-to-day operations is general manager Eric Jensen, who has enjoyed one of the unlikeliest career arcs in Minor League Baseball. He first landed a position with the team after driving his roommate to a job interview; his mere presence at the stadium led to an interview of his own. He went on to serve as the team's clubhouse manager (saying it's a job he still prefers over all others) before eventually rising to what he describes as the team's "default general manager."

Jensen has become accustomed to the uncertain state of the Mavericks and understands that it's all part of the business.

"I don't think [Main Street Baseball] is opposed to staying here, but I understand the goal is to put the team where it's profitable," he said. "There's hope that some municipality might build them a new stadium, but with the current budget crisis that's a real tough sell."

An easier sell is to extol the virtues of Stater Bros., despite its challenges.

"We've got an open concourse, the scenery's interesting and there isn't a bad seat in the house," he said. "We're not the biggest or flashiest operation, but I'd like to think we're one of the friendliest."