Morning Meeting

This morning was even rougher than the previous mornings. I tossed and turned all night with aches and pains. I forced myself to get up, and meet Ed at the bus at 6:30 am. Before I left the room, I grabbed a cold Heineken out of the fridge, deciding that this would be my morning advil. Got a few laughs and stares as I walked through the hotel lobby and took my seat on the bus. "Breakfast of Champions" was finished on the bus. Once at the clubhouse, I had a real breakfast of egg & sausage. I put on my home white uniform and did my morning "roam around the clubhouse with more than enough time to be ready" dance. Then I saw a couple of my teammates and they were wearing blue road uniforms. DOH! I had read the schedule incorrectly and had to change to my road blues. At least the Kangaroo Court was last night and I didn't have to worry about another fine.

The morning meeting highlighted the previous day's stars, some who were having a great camp. Both the gold rope and brown rope were handed out. Then off to our stretching, warm ups, and game #6. I did not feel even close to 100% physically but I felt fine in my head and heart and was ready to take on two more games today. I had to literally drag my body out to the field.

Coaches Bobby Wine & Mackey Sasser
Looking a little forlorn from our defensive play

GAME #6

I was so tired I did not want to throw catch and warm up, there was nothing left in my tank. I took my now usual spot in left field. We did not play well in the field and our lack of speed kept us from getting on base and scoring runs. We were now at 2 wins and 4 losses, out of the running for the Championship game. I really liked the make up of our group of guys. Joe King was our star, hitting two home runs and knocking in a camp high 13 runs. At first I struggled to remember my teammates first names, then as I got to know them all week, I was feeling fortunate to spend my first camp with such baseball warriors.

My first at bat I hit a liner to left over the third baseman, as I headed for first base I noticed the left fielder had comparable blazing speed as myself. Bobby Wine, coaching first, told me to stay right here at first, but in my head I heard my friend Jeff saying "You have to get at least a double". So I told Bobby I'm going, and blew through his stop sign and hustled/hobbled to second without a throw for my only extra base hit. I walked later and scored but popped out my last time up. I don't think I had anything hit to me this game in left field either.

Swinging on fumes

GAME #7

Another team loss and a final record of 2-5. My tank was empty, running on fumes, and the fumes were disappearing. I had no hits in three at bats. All were weak attempts. A pop fly straight up that as I froze in front of home plate, the catcher ran into me trying to grab it in fair territory. I was called out for interference. Then a comebacker to the pitcher that he leaped up and grabbed throwing me out by 30 feet. The last was a slow grounder to third base. Again I was out by a rather large margin. I did catch one fly ball in leftfield. Mackey Sasser kept asking me if I was OK, I'd reply "Yes coach, I'm good to go!".

Having too much fun

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I couldn't wait for the game to be over but I never wanted it to end.

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I have a lot of respect for this guy

Bobby Wine was very encouraging while having as much fun as we were. My favorite pro in camp. He told great stories at the team dinner and was a great base coach for me personally. He greeted me with a high five and a smile every base hit I got, complementing me on swinging the bat on the hard hits and getting lucky on the not so hard hits. Although the "Kenny Rogers" references were never welcome by me in the past [I hear it often], the way Bobby said it didn't bother me the least and I took it as an honor at the Kangaroo Court, albeit an embarrassing one.

Championship Game on Tradition Field

The championship game at Tradition Field was played under the light for the first time. The camp supplied food and beverages during the game. My friend Phil's team, Fab 3, was going for the Championship against my roommate Mark's team, Little Pigs. Fab 3 won 5-1. They will receive Championship rings modeled after the 1986 Mets World Series rings.