Jimmy Scott's High & Tight: The Jalal Leach Interview

When does 1554 = 8?  It does when you're talking about former Major League Baseball outfielder Jalal Leach.  In his particular case, the 1554 is the number of minor league games he played over 14 years (and 5 big league organizations, not including repeats).  The 8 is the number of Major League games he played.  It culminated for him in 2001, 11 years after being drafted in the 7th round by the Yankees (Carl Everett was their #1 pick that year).   More numbers: 10 at bats and 12 plate appearances.  That's what he can tell his kids, his friends, the young students he teaches at The Baseball Mentoring Academy, which he runs with his brother Jarman in Sacramento.  Baseball is known as a game of numbers.  Do you think these favor Jalal?

What does it say about a man who will toil for 14 years all around the Western Hemisphere in pursuit of a dream?  What does it say when it took him 12 to finally get his first big league game action?  And what does it say that he stuck around for 2 more years after his big shot? 

You don't need to answer.  Jalal will do it for you.  In the Jimmy Scott's High & Tight Jalal Leach Interview, "Leachy" tells us some stuff we may be surprised we didn't know.  Like what?  Like this:

Pt. 1

Winter ball.  How much do you know about playing baseball in the off season somewhere other than the United States?  Jalal is a veteran of Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and more.  He talks about hooking up with teams, getting paid, and why he stopped playing down there.

Pt. 2  12:00

The 8 games.  What does Jalal remember about them?  What was it about those games that made him want to come back for more?

Pt. 3  21:00

The End.  Why he finally stopped his pursuit and how he began The Baseball Mentoring Program with his brother.  The qualities somebody needs to get signed and, maybe, make it to the Major Leagues.  How he transitioned from player to coach and then back to player again.  What he did as a part-time scout with the Colorado Rockies.

Pt. 4

Does the name Bonds mean anything to you?  Sure, you can invest in them on the market.  But in baseball, you immediately think Barry Bonds and then his papa, Bobby.  Jalal knew and trained with both men.  Listen to his impressions about these two famous figures and a little story about lunch with Willie Mays.

My recap, or precap, above does not do Jalal Leach Jimmy Scott's High & Tight Interview the justice that Jalal does himself.  So rather than blather on about my admiration for this man, just click Play below.  You'll like what you hear.

THE MUSIC

Glenn Frey - Soul Searchin'

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Against The Wind

Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth

The Doobie Brothers - It Keeps You Running

The Doors - When The Music's Over

The Eagles - I Dreamed There Was No War

Mark Knopfler - Speedway At Nazareth

Derek & The Dominoes - Layla

Soundtrack: Risky Business - Various Selections

Led Zeppelin - The Rain Song

The Police - Darkness