Yes! If I recall, there was a HR derby before the game that was Indians vs. Sky Sox, which was basically (or may have simply just been) Luis Medina vs. Albert (think it was still Joey at the time) Belle. It's awesome that you mention the Skinners, because Joel Skinner was on deck when the Indians made their final out (Sky Sox won!); I was crouching by the visitors' dugout to ask for any cracked bats, and when the last out came I didn't have to ask because Joel Skinner turned around and handed me the bat he'd been warming up with. He and the other Indians were not gonna waste any time hanging around there, that was sure. Great memories.
Do teams still do that anymore, play an exhibition against a minor league affiliate in the middle of the season? That was supposed to be a day off, and I sensed that the Indians weren't all that pumped to be there. With their salaries these days and the extra injury risk, I just can't see it happening anymore outside of ST.
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