Late last week, pitchers and catchers began to report to Camelback Ranch in Phoenix, the spring training facility for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. But before they could be joined by position players, news began to spread over the weekend that they had instead been joined by scorpions that were popping up throughout the stadium and clubhouse.
https://twitter.com/ESPNChiSox/status/569228929145245696
On Tuesday, the scorpions apparently reached the Dodger side where one staff member felt their wrath.
Camelback Ranch scorpion invasion has reached Dodger side,, where club PR man Jon Chapper was stung.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) February 24, 2015
According to White Sox pitcher Jeff Samardzija, who has lived in the area most of his career, scorpions aren’t much to be concerned with, but that it’s important to be aware of their hiding places.
“They’re not big deal really. As long as they’re dead and on your floor, you can pick them up. But you always have to check your shoes is what it is. Every morning when you go to put on your shoes, shake them out to make sure there are no albino scorpions in there.”
They’re not a big deal, he says. Those seem a bit like famous last words to me, especially considering how things are going for Chicago sports right now (cough Derrick Rose, cough Patrick Kane).
Please be careful out there, Jeff.
