17 January 2013
Quite the day, I must say.
Today we had our first day where we had nominations for the brown rope and gold rope. The respective ropes are awarded to the top performer from the previous day(gold) and most dubious performer (brown). Along with each the winners both receive a small plaque which can be displayed on the wall at home, or not, if the award is for something stupid.
We ended the meeting and headed over to the main ballpark. The stadium, formerly known as Tradition Field then known as Digital Domain Park and now not known as ANYTHING because the name was removed about 2 weeks ago. Ahh, the perils of corporate sponsorship deals on stadiums.
Today's first game for the Jackson 11 was against The Titans, coached by Tim Teufel. I was actually tabbed as the starting pitcher for game 1. I don't much like pitching, nor am I very good at it, but we have limited viable pitchers. I breezed through the first inning, retiring the side on 7 pitches. The second inning went well too. By now my teammates are wondering why I didnt pitch yesterday. We scored a couple of runs in a long half inning and when I went back out to the mound I apparently had run out of talent. The width of home plate is 17". By the time I was six hitters into the inning it felt like it was 17cm wide. We were down by 3 runs when I was removed to the third base position.
I was going to get ice on my arm from one of the trainers but when I told the trainer I had never iced in my life he told me to get out of the training room, so I did.
We didn't win that game as we lost 11-6. In the afternoon we played Wine and Dine, coached by Bobby Wine. I was sent to play right field, even though I specifically told my coaches that I was an awful outfielder. Our first 9 batters all reached base and they changed pitchers to a guy who was best pitcher in camp in 2012. I was the first batter he faced. I knew this prior to getting into the batters box. I was ready. With the count at 0-2 I hit a ball down the third base line past the third baseman. I'm pretty sure that it was foul but the umpire called it fair and I reached base. I faced this guy three more times and went 3 for 4 with 4 runs batted in.
During the game Dwight Gooden arrived in our dugout. Dwight. Freakin'. Gooden. The guy I was mistaken for when I played softball in Tampa in the mid-80s? Partly due to the fact that Dwight was raised in Tampa and that I was an above-average softball player at the time. We also shared a fashion trait in that we both sported the popular jeri-curl on our heads at the time. I hadn't seen him in person in years. He will be with us at camp until Sunday. Maybe I will get to hit off of him on Sunday. Who knows?
I got to the plate each time and hit the ball hard. The one out I made was as I hit a frozen rope to the third baseman. I hit that ball "on the screws", as they say. I had a great hitting game and my teammates were very cool about their accolades. I was pleased with my effort. It was fantastic. Best baseball game, for me, in many years. We won the game 12-9 and are now 1-2.
Following the afternoon game we had a bull session with all of the pros. We could ask questions of any of them. One funny moment was when someone asked Joe Pignatano to tell a story, any story, about Casey Stengel. At that point all of the pro players got up and walked out of the meeting, as a joke, of course. But a very funny sight.
So I lit it up in game 2 today. Hopefully I can continue the streak tomorrow in game 1. I'm gonna probably get tabbed to pitch again, so I need to find that 17" plate again. Right?
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed today. It was an amazing feeling to be on the field, in full uniform, great weather and atmosphere. Priceless moments to be sure. I was 10 years old again today. That is until I had to drive to get dinner. I wasn't driving at age 10/ Funny how life gets in the way like that sometimes.
If I wasn't so tired I would be too wired to sleep.
Quite the day, I must say.
Today we had our first day where we had nominations for the brown rope and gold rope. The respective ropes are awarded to the top performer from the previous day(gold) and most dubious performer (brown). Along with each the winners both receive a small plaque which can be displayed on the wall at home, or not, if the award is for something stupid.
We ended the meeting and headed over to the main ballpark. The stadium, formerly known as Tradition Field then known as Digital Domain Park and now not known as ANYTHING because the name was removed about 2 weeks ago. Ahh, the perils of corporate sponsorship deals on stadiums.
Today's first game for the Jackson 11 was against The Titans, coached by Tim Teufel. I was actually tabbed as the starting pitcher for game 1. I don't much like pitching, nor am I very good at it, but we have limited viable pitchers. I breezed through the first inning, retiring the side on 7 pitches. The second inning went well too. By now my teammates are wondering why I didnt pitch yesterday. We scored a couple of runs in a long half inning and when I went back out to the mound I apparently had run out of talent. The width of home plate is 17". By the time I was six hitters into the inning it felt like it was 17cm wide. We were down by 3 runs when I was removed to the third base position.
I was going to get ice on my arm from one of the trainers but when I told the trainer I had never iced in my life he told me to get out of the training room, so I did.
We didn't win that game as we lost 11-6. In the afternoon we played Wine and Dine, coached by Bobby Wine. I was sent to play right field, even though I specifically told my coaches that I was an awful outfielder. Our first 9 batters all reached base and they changed pitchers to a guy who was best pitcher in camp in 2012. I was the first batter he faced. I knew this prior to getting into the batters box. I was ready. With the count at 0-2 I hit a ball down the third base line past the third baseman. I'm pretty sure that it was foul but the umpire called it fair and I reached base. I faced this guy three more times and went 3 for 4 with 4 runs batted in.
During the game Dwight Gooden arrived in our dugout. Dwight. Freakin'. Gooden. The guy I was mistaken for when I played softball in Tampa in the mid-80s? Partly due to the fact that Dwight was raised in Tampa and that I was an above-average softball player at the time. We also shared a fashion trait in that we both sported the popular jeri-curl on our heads at the time. I hadn't seen him in person in years. He will be with us at camp until Sunday. Maybe I will get to hit off of him on Sunday. Who knows?
I got to the plate each time and hit the ball hard. The one out I made was as I hit a frozen rope to the third baseman. I hit that ball "on the screws", as they say. I had a great hitting game and my teammates were very cool about their accolades. I was pleased with my effort. It was fantastic. Best baseball game, for me, in many years. We won the game 12-9 and are now 1-2.
Following the afternoon game we had a bull session with all of the pros. We could ask questions of any of them. One funny moment was when someone asked Joe Pignatano to tell a story, any story, about Casey Stengel. At that point all of the pro players got up and walked out of the meeting, as a joke, of course. But a very funny sight.
So I lit it up in game 2 today. Hopefully I can continue the streak tomorrow in game 1. I'm gonna probably get tabbed to pitch again, so I need to find that 17" plate again. Right?
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed today. It was an amazing feeling to be on the field, in full uniform, great weather and atmosphere. Priceless moments to be sure. I was 10 years old again today. That is until I had to drive to get dinner. I wasn't driving at age 10/ Funny how life gets in the way like that sometimes.
If I wasn't so tired I would be too wired to sleep.
18 January 2013
A number of years ago, I'm not sure of how many, I heard Vin Scully say on a baseball broadcast, "Every 24 hours the world turns over on the guy who was sitting on top of it yesterday". I'm sure that this quote is attributable to someone, but I know not whom. Today was a good day to remember this phrase though.
My day started well. I was nominated for the golden rope for my 3 for 4 yesterday. I found out that after yesterday's games I was leading my team in hits (6) and batting .550. It felt so good to have my name called, I stood up and had a bunch of people applaud for me.
Game 1 started well as we scored early but gave the lead away slowly and surely. I had a single in my first at bat but that would be my last hit of the day. We struggled to prevent it, but it proved to be futile. I was moved to left field. Only once did a ball get over my head for a triple. I did make one catch out there. We lost and went to 1-3 on the season.
The playoffs were set to begin this afternoon but the Jackson 11 would be outside of the playoff schedule. We played the tenth place team in the afternoon. We were the 9th seed. We played on field #2, which is the furthest field from the field which is closest to the stadium. It has artificial turf in the infield. There are very few major league teams who have artificial turf on their home fields, but I imagine that it's helpful for the minor league players who play on that surface in their travels. I made a brilliant play at second base in the second inning, diving to my left, and throwing the runner out. But later I made a play with the game tied which didn't pay off and I felt badly about it. I couldn't shake it for a while, especially when we started to come back in the last inning. We ended up losing 11-9. My walk back to the clubhouse, from the field located the FURTHEST from the clubhouse was quite long.
Tonight, after the games we had the Kangaroo Court where many campers were picked upon for making mistakes on the field, saying stupid things on the field or anything else like that. It was an hysterical time led by "judges" Doug Flynn and Bobby Wine, each wearing those old-timey wigs from ye old England. I managed to escape getting fined myself. I did have to pay a fine as one of my teammates, a kindly chap named Tom Mapes stated that he tried to take his team photo with a team other than his own. When he was asked why, he said it was because we "sucked". Okay, we're not very good, but that's kinda extreme. But I've gotta give him credit, because Tom is chasing 70 years old and is moving out there as fast as he can. All fines collected will go to the Gary Carter Foundation this year.
And that takes me back to the quote which started today's post.
We have two more games tomorrow even though there's a possibility of rain. I can't really feel like the guy who has has the world roll over on him today. I certainly felt like I was on top of it yesterday. But even if I'm not back on top of it tomorrow, the fact that I can play this great game at this age and this location far exceeds winning or losing.
I once asked someone if they could imagine a world where everyone had a chance to have the feeling I had after yesterday's games. Think about that for your own life. If it doesn't bring a smile to your face and put a warm feeling in your heart, then maybe you need to find something that will.
My day started well. I was nominated for the golden rope for my 3 for 4 yesterday. I found out that after yesterday's games I was leading my team in hits (6) and batting .550. It felt so good to have my name called, I stood up and had a bunch of people applaud for me.
Game 1 started well as we scored early but gave the lead away slowly and surely. I had a single in my first at bat but that would be my last hit of the day. We struggled to prevent it, but it proved to be futile. I was moved to left field. Only once did a ball get over my head for a triple. I did make one catch out there. We lost and went to 1-3 on the season.
The playoffs were set to begin this afternoon but the Jackson 11 would be outside of the playoff schedule. We played the tenth place team in the afternoon. We were the 9th seed. We played on field #2, which is the furthest field from the field which is closest to the stadium. It has artificial turf in the infield. There are very few major league teams who have artificial turf on their home fields, but I imagine that it's helpful for the minor league players who play on that surface in their travels. I made a brilliant play at second base in the second inning, diving to my left, and throwing the runner out. But later I made a play with the game tied which didn't pay off and I felt badly about it. I couldn't shake it for a while, especially when we started to come back in the last inning. We ended up losing 11-9. My walk back to the clubhouse, from the field located the FURTHEST from the clubhouse was quite long.
Tonight, after the games we had the Kangaroo Court where many campers were picked upon for making mistakes on the field, saying stupid things on the field or anything else like that. It was an hysterical time led by "judges" Doug Flynn and Bobby Wine, each wearing those old-timey wigs from ye old England. I managed to escape getting fined myself. I did have to pay a fine as one of my teammates, a kindly chap named Tom Mapes stated that he tried to take his team photo with a team other than his own. When he was asked why, he said it was because we "sucked". Okay, we're not very good, but that's kinda extreme. But I've gotta give him credit, because Tom is chasing 70 years old and is moving out there as fast as he can. All fines collected will go to the Gary Carter Foundation this year.
And that takes me back to the quote which started today's post.
We have two more games tomorrow even though there's a possibility of rain. I can't really feel like the guy who has has the world roll over on him today. I certainly felt like I was on top of it yesterday. But even if I'm not back on top of it tomorrow, the fact that I can play this great game at this age and this location far exceeds winning or losing.
I once asked someone if they could imagine a world where everyone had a chance to have the feeling I had after yesterday's games. Think about that for your own life. If it doesn't bring a smile to your face and put a warm feeling in your heart, then maybe you need to find something that will.
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