Driller Baseball Dinner

Here Goes Nothing, Part II

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For those of you who don't know, I coach the Frosh/Soph baseball team at BHS.  This will be my second year coaching.  As practice gets set to start on Monday, I am looking back at the lessons I learned from last year.

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#1- Not everyone who tries out for the team has played before.

     Growing up I played a lot of baseball by the time I started high school.  I learned last year that some guys are ready to start their career during their freshman year of high school.  I must admit, I was not prepared to answer the following question, "Coach, can you teach me how to throw?"

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#2- At the frosh/soph level there are no easy plays.

     Every time the ball was put in play, there was a feeling (sometimes weak, sometimes very strong) that something might go wrong.  Lightly hit grounders right at someone (through the legs), back to the pitcher (thrown over the 1st baseman's head), high fly balls (you name it, it happened) were all adventures at times.

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#3- Throwing strikes is pure gold...no matter the speed.

     If you can throw strikes consistently, whether at 80 mph, 70mph...50mph, you will do well at the FS level.  I didn't have anyone who threw hard, but I had a few guys who could throw strikes.  It seemed that the slower the better...especially against good hitting teams.  They were so use to hitting faster pitches that they had difficulty adjusting to the slowness of our pitchers (at least a few times through the order, which hopefully wasn't after 2 innings.)

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#4- The mercy rule is my friend.

    After 4 innings the mercy rule went into effect in the first 7 games last year (twice in our favor), 14 out of 25 games overall.

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#5- There is no such thing as a single.

   Or a one base walk for that matter.  We had 277 stolen bases (in 25 games), while only being thrown out 8 times.  We threw out ZERO base runners (although we did pick off a handful of guys).  In one game we stole over 30 bases, while the other team swiped over 20.

Despite many challenges, I had a blast last year.  I'm living the dream...teaching/coaching baseball.  After home games, Jackson ran out on to the field and helped me drag the field (and by helped I mean he rode shotgun on the cart.)  We'll see how Brooklyn does this year now that she's mobile.  

So Monday the adventure begins.  We'll see how the talent is this year. 

Abortion, Gay Men, and oh yeah, Football

 

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With over a week to go before Super Bowl Sunday, we sure are hearing a lot about the commercials already.  By now you've probably heard about Tim Tebow and his mom talking about how the Pro-Life choice has worked wonders for them.  And you probably have heard about how some women's groups are up in arms over it.


"Women's Group Blast 'Divisive' Pro-Life Super Bowl Ads - Without Even Seeing It."

"An ad that uses sports to divide rather than to unite has no place in the biggest national sports event of the year -- an event designed to bring Americans together," said Jehmu Greene, president of the Women's Media Center. (click here for the article).

HUH?  "Divide rather than to unite"...last time I checked, we are not all united in who we want to win the Super Bowl.  The biggest sports event of the year is exactly about dividing.

From what I've read, it's not going to be a graphic display of the abortion process.  "Some people will be surprised when they see the actual content of the ad. It's anything but the way it's been described with that fiery rhetoric."

Another commercial that is up for consideration is an ad for gay dating website.   

Looks like the commercials might actual be memorable (for better or for worse).  They have been a let down over the last few years.

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As for the actual game, I'm on the fence.  I respect both teams and do not have a strong feeling one way or the other.  If I had to bet on the game, I'd bet on the Colts, but I wouldn't be that confident in that.  

I'm hoping for a 52-49 final score...you pick the winner.   

McCourt Gets Back in the Game?

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If you have been following this blog, even for a little bit, you've noticed that I am a fanatic of the Dodgers.  And you know that I have been riding the inactivity of the Dodgers this off season (as many baseball experts have been doing as well.)

But this article makes me want to vomit.

The title is "Dodgers' Frank McCourt gets back in the game."  What game is he playing?  It must mean he is dating, because the Dodgers are certainly cutting back.

In this article here are some interesting facts, followed by commentary.

"Season tickets are at the same level as last year."
     This is a good sign, money is still coming in.  The Dodgers were #1 in attendance last year.


"Mannion and General Manager Ned Colletti had consistently denied that McCourt would limit team spending because of the divorce case."
     You can say there are no spending restrains, but when you aren't spending money...forgive me for thinking otherwise...since...


"The Dodgers' opening-day payroll projects to be below $90 million for the first time since 2005 and the second time since 1999."
      What happened to all the talk about money not being an issue.  We can see money is still flowing in, but where is it going?  I'm not saying spend to spend, but I don't see why the Dodgers seem to be unable to offer Ben Sheets (Dodgers need another pitcher) or Felipe Lopez (they need a second baseman) a contract.  The Dodgers should have no problem having a payroll over $100 million.

So where is the money??

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"I'm very, very excited about this team. This is a team that almost got to the World Series last year and is basically coming back intact."
     Basically, except for a 2nd baseman and a #1 starter.  Those two spots are important.  There is still time left to fill those holes.  Time will tell.

Can You Imagine?

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Hugo Chavez has a great imagination and obviously is a big fan of Sci-Fi movies.  He believes the U.S.A. is responsible for the earthquake in Haiti.  Apparently we have a way to create earthquakes at will.  

Chavez points out that the U.S. has sent military personnel to Haiti with the guise of offering aide, but the real mission is to occupy the country.

This is the same Chavez that blames capitalism for the climate crisis.

So as you can see, he's pretty smart.

Chavez also points to the documentary of ABC on Wednesday nights that shows the U.S. has other mind boggling powers.  In the documentary it shows how the U.S. has the ability to move islands from place to place, which also enables time travel.  He admits to being "LOST" at times while watching the documentary.  

Speaking of LOST, I am a little nervous that in this final season that is it just going to get crazy weird and leaving us with something to be desired (that's what she said.)

 

As John Wooden Said

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The Dodgers have been busy lately.  They have locked up their young players to one or two year deals.  They have been "spending money" on guys they already had.  They signed Vincente Padilla today for just over $5 million for one year.  This did address one issue.

Unfortunately they still are short a legitimate major league ready second baseman and they need another starter.  Word is, though, that they are done spending.  I hope this is just a negotiation ploy because they really need another starter.

Despite all this activity, they still haven't really plugged many holes.  As John Wooden said, "Never mistake activity for achievement."

4 weeks until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training!

Father Knows Best

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There is an old remedy that I grew up with that can cure what ails you.  No matter the symptoms, there were three things you should do to get right back on top.  

Step 1: Drink lots of water.

Step 2: Take some Tylenol.


Step 3:  Get more sleep.


That is the magic potion that we were given for headaches, colds, flus, broken legs, severed finger, and the like.


For example, I had a cold and I followed the program and I recovered in about 10 days.  The next time I was sick, I didn't follow the program and got better in a week and a half.  


So thank you dad for the best way to recover from illness.  I'll be sure to continue to pass this along to my family and friends.


Here are some facts to help back up some of what my dad has been preaching:




DRINKING WATER.

The following will probably amaze and startle you. 

One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University study.

Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. 

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen.

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. 

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day? (No kidding, all of the above are true...)