James Cameron is Brandon Webb's ex-roommate.

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James Cameron usually arrives first and leaves last when the Tucson Sidewinders play at Tucson Electric Park.

As the team's clubhouse manager, his tasks include laundry, cleaning, cooking and running errands. He slices fruit before the players show up, brews coffee and makes sure equipment — such as screens and pitching machines — are on the field before batting practice.

"Pretty much being the mother is what it comes down to," Cameron, 29, said.

Cameron, a graduate of Mountain View High School and the UA, has been involved with Tucson baseball since he was a Tucson Toros batboy in 1993 at age 13. He recently discussed the joys of his behind-the-scenes job.

When Cameron served as the visiting team's clubhouse manager, the New Orleans Zephyrs played a series at TEP and one of their players struck out five times in one game. Zephyrs manager Tony Peña ordered Cameron to find an inflatable goat for the player to carry around until another player struck out five times.

Cameron has become friends with players over the years and has played golf with some during the off-season. He lived with Arizona Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb during spring training of his rookie year in 2003, while Cameron was working at the D-backs' minor-league complex. "Hang out in the aura of baseball every day (and) knowing the players off the field is kinda cool," Cameron said.

As for the current Sidewinders, he said macaroni and cheese is prized prospect Jamie D'Antona's favorite dish.

"If we had that every day, he'd be happy. I don't think everybody else would be," Cameron said.

Cameron doesn't join the Sidewinders on the road often, so he'll work a homestand — typically four or eight days long — and be off until the team returns. But he joined the team for its last trip to Tacoma, Wash.

"We fly out six hours after the first pitch, so they want me there as insurance so everything gets on the flight," he said.

Cameron first served as a batboy for the Toros from 1993 to 1997. He then attended the UA and worked as an equipment manager for the Arizona Wildcats baseball team. In 1999, while a student, he took a job with the Sidewinders as clubhouse manager for visiting teams.

He also has been clubhouse manager for the Sacramento River Cats for a season and the Portland Beavers for three seasons. He returned to the Sidewinders last year.

"Opportunities just kept coming along," he said. "This whole time I thought I'd eventually get to the big leagues, but that's probably not going to happen. There's only so many big-league teams.

"There's the visiting guy and the home guy, and they have their assistants. Once someone gets (a job) they don't give it up."

Cameron said he hopes to join the team when it moves to Reno, Nev., for next season. He is also considering becoming a police officer in Scottsdale, and owns a bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in business.

"One of the unfortunate things is there's no benefits or retirement (as a clubhouse manager), so basically I'm on my own for getting that," he said.