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It’s been a while since this photo was taken Warren Schaeffer was introduced on Dec. 17, 2019 as the Albuquerque Isotopes manager. His first game in that role is still a month away. (Jim Thompson/Albuquerque Journal)
Warren Schaeffer is bringing new meaning to the term long-awaited debut.
Nearly 16 months after he was introduced as manager of the Albuquerque Isotopes, Schaeffer is still waiting on deck for his first game as skipper. The Triple-A baseball Isotopes are scheduled to open the 2021 season at home May 6, a date Schaeffer says cannot arrive soon enough.
“I’m champing at the bit to get there,” Schaeffer said Wednesday during a media Zoom call. “I’ve been hearing about Isotopes Park for a long time too long, and getting fans back in the stands is going to be really good for everyone. Baseball is theater at its finest, in my opinion, and fans make it work.”
Location: Summerlin, Nevada (555 miles from the Oakland Coliseum)
Ballpark: Las Vegas Ballpark (opened April 6, 2019)
Established: 1983 (as the Stars; previous Las Vegas clubs dating back to 1947)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 1988
Did you know? The Las Vegas franchise twice placed back-to-back PCL MVPs: Sandy Alomar Jr. won the honor for the Stars in 1988- 89, and two decades later, J.P. Arencibia followed Randy Ruiz (2009) for the 51s.
RENO ACES
Location: Reno, Nevada (740 miles from Chase Field)
Ballpark: Greater Nevada Field (opened April 17, 2009)
Established: 2009 (previous Reno clubs dating back to 1907)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 2012
Did you know? Twitter was just gaining prominence when the Aces debuted, but the team was prepared. Brett McGinness, then the team s marketing director, had the foresight to snag the @Aces handle one that remains the most concise in Minor League Baseball.
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Warren Schaeffer was introduced as the manager of the Isotopes last year, before a Triple-A season that didn’t happen. He is tabbed to manage the team in 2021. (Journal file)
Warren Schaeffer, designated as the first-time manager of the Albuquerque Isotopes during the 2020 Triple-A baseball season that didn’t happen, gets another chance in 2021. The Isotopes and parent Colorado Rockies announced on Tuesday that he’s still in that position.
The other staffers for the Isotopes: pitching coach Blaine Beatty, coach Cesar Galvez, trainer Heath Townsend and physical performance coach Phil Bailey.
The coronavirus pandemic canceled the entire 2020 minor league season, including in Albuquerque. Schaeffer, 36, then managed the Rockies’ alternate training site. The 2021 season will be his first as a Triple-A manager.
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Isotopes Park sits empty on what would be the eve of the Albuquerque Isotopes’ 2020 home opener last April. Despite much of minor league baseball preparing to come back into play in 2021, the state’s public health order currently allows no fans at pro games. The Isotopes have said they won’t have home games without fans. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
(Editor’s note: Occasional Journal contributor Noah Seligman offered this prose after being inspired by the news that the Albuquerque Isotopes have a 2021 schedule, but currently no plans to play at home because of the state’s public health order restrictions.)