05.10.2012 — Fuego's Santa Fe debut!

New articles about last night's inaugural home game in the Santa Fe New Mexican and the Journal North. The Rio Rancho Observer also had an article last week on Rod's book signing in Albuquerque.

05.01.2012 — Fuego article in the New Mexican! Book signing tonight!

“Fuego season should be a blast,” writes Will Webber.

In case you missed the big red banner above, all are invited to tonight's Ageless Arm book signing, 7pm at Bookworks in Albuquerque. Hope to see you there!

04.23.2012 — Santa Fe Fuego profile in Journal North

Check it out: “Team Rekindles Dreams” by Vince Kong (select Free Trial Access and click through the ad to read).

04.17.2012 — Betsy Ronel video

Here's the video of Rod's appearance last week on Humanity: The Experience with Betsy Ronel:

04.16.2012 — Win #271

UPDATE: New Mexico MABL reports on Rod's eight strikeouts.

The MABL A's scored 24 runs on 18 hits as they defeated the Abuquerque Blue Jays 24–1 in MABL action today.

The A's hitting attack was led by Kaden Watson, who clearly was the hitting star of the day. Watson came within a double of hitting for the cycle as he led the A's with 8 RBI on the day. Jason Brinsfield had two doubles and 5 RBI.

Dylan Wisneski started and allowed two hits in three innings of work, including one unearned run.

Rod Tafoya earned his third victory of the season and 271^st in his MABL/MSBL career. He pitched three innings, allowing no Blue Jay to reach first base. He struckout eight straight batters in succession before getting the last Blue Jay to fly to right field to end the game. This season, Tafoya is averaging 16.3 K's per nine innings.

04.13.2012 — Betsy Ronel interview

UPDATE: You can listen to Rod's talk with Betsy Ronel here.

Saturday (tomorrow!) at noon tune in to Talk 1260AM KTRC in Santa Fe to hear Rod interviewed on Humanity: The Experience with Betsy Ronel. Her program “features life experiences we share, nonprofits and locals making a difference by doing positive work for humanity.” The show will also be available as streaming video or audio podcast from santafe.com after airing.

04.01.2012 — Win #270

Rod Tafoya scattered four hits in five innings as the Albuquerque A's defeated the Pirates 26–4 via the 15 run mercy rule after seven innings of play. Tafoya, who won his fourth game in 2012 and second for the A's, allowed one earned run, with no bases on balls, while striking out eight batters. The victory was Tafoya's 270^th with only 51 defeats.

The A's hitting barrage was led by Kaden Watson, who hit two homers on the day. Darrick Shultz, J. R. Molina, and Jimmy Dearholt also hit homers for the A's, who are now 3–0 on the MABL season.

In his 13 innings for the A's Tafoya has 21 strikeouts for an average of 14.54 K’s per nine innings, while issuing only three bases on balls.

03.25.2012 — Win #269

Pitching in relief for his new team, Albuquerque A's Rod Tafoya came in relief of Dylan Wisneski as the A's defeated the upstart Orioles 14–3 in the >18 MABL action today.

Both Tafoya and Wisneski are slated to pitch for the Santa Fe Fuego starting in May. Tafoya pitched three innings, gaining the win for his 269^th in MABL/MSBL action dating back to 1994. Tafoya struck out five batters in three innings of work.

Tafoya, 1–0. 3IP 1H 1R 1BB 5K's.

03.20.2012 — Santa Fe Fuego ribbon cutting ceremony

Twenty-five local Fuego dignitaries and fans bared the cold Santa Fe weather to participate in the inaugural Santa Fe Fuego ribbon cutting ceremony held by the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce.

03.09.2012 — Ageless Arm book signing

The previously announced book signing for Ageless Arm…My Passion Lives in the Core! will be happening on Tuesday, May 1 at 7pm, at Bookworks in Albuquerque, NM. Here’s a preview of the dust jacket:

Copies of the book will be on hand at the signing, and it’s also available for preorder right now from Speaking Volumes, LLC.

02.17.2012 — Win # 268

Caguas, Puerto Rico @ Parque Yldefonso Solá Morales—Left-handed pitcher Rod Tafoya pitched a nine inning complete game victory, scattering five hits to lead the Chicago Aztecs to an 8–0 triumph over the Rhode Island Cardinals in the 18^th Annual MSBL Caribbean Winter Baseball Championships here in Caguas, PR.

Tafoya threw a complete game shutout, his 268^th victory in the MSBL—spanning since 1993, when he entered the league. He walked two, while striking out eight batters.

He dominated the Cardinal lineup, defending 2011 Caribbean Winter champions, with neatly placed fastballs and sliders. The Cardinals lineup featured MLB‘s Junior Ortiz, who won a WS championship with the Minnesota Twins in 1991.

2012.02.11 — Win # 267
Ft Myers, FL @ Red Sox Complex—Left-handed pitcher Rod Tafoya scattered three hits to lead the N Yuma Yankees over the Ft Myers Brewers 11–1 via a ten run mercy rule. Tafoya struck out 10 and did not walk a batter. The lone Brewer run was unearned.

Yanks Marvin Horn led a 14 hit attack with a 3–5 performance, while former Albuquerque Duke and Dodger infielder Larry See had two hits, including a double that was inches short of the 330 left field wall.

In their three games in the Sunshine Classic, the Yanks have yet to give up an earned run, while the hitters have scored 28 runs in the 38-and-over wood bat tournament.

2012.01.10 — Brooklyn Dodgers Receive NABA National Team Ranking for 2011 Season
My 18 and over travel team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, were recently ranked #3 nationally by the National Adult Baseball Association (NABA).

In 2009, the Dodgers (formerly known as the Brooklyn Patriots) won the NABA World Series 18 Over A-Division over the Cerritos Yankees in Goodyear, AZ.

In 2010, the Dodgers returned to the national championship game, losing to the Long Beach Dirtbags.

The Dodgers are comprised of local talent from the So Cal area and are coached by player/coach Robert Williams.

In my five starts with the Dodgers, dating back to 2009, I am 5–0 with five complete games, including three WS semifinal victories.

2011.12.07 — Fuego tryouts set to warm up cold Santa Fe
Santa Fe's new indie league team is holding open tryouts this weekend.

Since the Fuego already has its eyes on Santa Fe resident Rodney Tafoya, a 47-year-old left-handed pitcher, [Pecos League President Andrew] Dunn said he'd like to see the area's top young talent give pro ball a shot.

Read the story in the Santa Fe New Mexican.

2011.11.03 — Spring Training Invitation
Santa Fe, New Mexico—47 year old lefthanded pitcher Rod Tafoya received a spring training invitation from the Pecos League of Professional Baseball today.

The Pecos League, an Independent professional baseball league, recently granted Santa Fe a minor league franchise.

On November 9, 2011, city council members voted 5–4 in favor of baseball in the city different. The team will be called the Santa Fe Fuego and will take part in the league's 70 game schedule starting on May 8th.

The team's spring training schedule has been set for May 1st. The Fuego will sign a total of 30 players to their roster, including 10 players to be assigned the their taxi squad.

Tafoya, who had 23 complete games this past summer, is the all~time career winner in the Men's Adult baseball League with 266 victories. In his most recent outing, he pitched a complete game victory over the Puerto Rico Yankees, winning 3–2 in Ft. Myers, FL.

Other Pecos League teams include Alpine, Texas, Las Cruces, Roswell, Santa Fe, White Sands, and Trinidad, Colorado.

The team will be managed by Bill Moore.

2011.10.25 — Win #266
Fort Myers, Florida at Terry Park—Rod Tafoya scattered five hits through nine innings for a complete game over the Puerto Rico Yankees, 3–2. Tafoya took a 2–0 shutout into the ninth inning, but a leadoff walk followed by two infield singles ruined his shutout hopes. A North Yuma Yankee run in the top of the ninth inning preserved win no. 266 for Tafoya, who was helped by a Marvin Horn second inning solo homer. The Yuma Yankees, two time defending Roy Hobbs champions, have won 18 games in a row.

2011.10.21 — Loss to CA, Dawgs
Tempe, AZ—Rod Tafoya pitched brilliant in defeat, losing 2–1 in the bottom of the 11^th inning in a playoff game here that ended the Stanislaus Indians hopes of returning to the championship game in the MSBL's >35 World Series Mountain Division. Tafoya gave up an unearned run in the first and trailed 1–0 through eight frames until the Indians tied it 1–1. Tafoya threw nine straight shutout innings until he walked the leadoff batter in the bottom of the 11^th frame. The Dawgs scored on a base hit with one out—ruining Tafoya's bid for win No. 266. He scattered four hits while striking out seven in a 129 pitch effort. Both Dawg runs were unearned.

2011.10.08 — Win #265
Scottsdale, Arizona—47 year old lefty Rod Tafoya and the Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the #4 seed Manhattan Beach (CA) Sharks 17–2 in a five inning, fifteen run mercy rule game. Tafoya scattered only two hits in five innings, with five strikeouts and no earned runs allowed, walking only one. It was Tafoya's 265th win against only 50 defeats. Tafoya's Dodgers are participating in the >18 National Adult Baseball Association (NABA) World Series held in Phoenix, Arizona.

2011.09.18 — Win #264
Last Sunday I pitched a complete game (my 20^th complete game this year) playoff victory over the Albuquerque Cubs at La Cueva Field, winning 8–6. I scattered eight hits while striking out 11 batters. The victory was dedicated to my Mother (Maude), who passed away a day earlier, succumbing to her battle with cancer. She will be dearly missed…

2011.09.12 — Mound Heroes
I share my thoughts on the players whoʼve inspired me.

2011.09.01 — Win #263
Last Sunday I pitched a complete game victory (my 18^th complete game this year) for the Brewers over the Expos, 9–4 in their last regular season MABL game. I scattered eight hits, four earned runs, with two bases on balls, while striking out 12 batters in my 263^rd MABL/MSBL victory spanning 18 seasons. Brewer Rob Gonzales had two two-run homers in the win. The Expos fall to 16–8 on the season.

2011.08.18 — No Hitter
New article in the Santa Fe New Mexican about the no-hitter I pitched last weekend against the Albuquerque Desperados!

2011.08.05 — Welcome
Read a sample from my upcoming autobiography: Ageless Arm…My Passion Lives in the Core!

Stay tuned for more updates!