Baseball Begins...Inside, As Usual

I am so very happy that Little League baseball has started up again here in the Soo. I do wish, however, we were playing outside in the warm and sun, which we probably won't see up here for another month or so. I'll be the head coach of Brian's tee ball team again, and assistant on Trevor's team due to my work schedule. Until we get outside, though, Brian is having fun at the clinics, though there's not too much kids in Trevor's age group can do.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Brian's rendition of 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame'

Rain Out In BC

So much for the kids first game in Battle Creek. It only rained for a little while, but it poured so much it flooded the field at C.O. Brown Stadium, that the game had to be canceled. I was pretty disappointed in missing a ball game, and my chance to throw out the first pitch. The Bombers were great about it, though, still giving me my birthday cake and a signed ball by the team. Maybe next year we can get this to work. The kids still had a good time travelling and seeing some family.

'Almost' Like Real Baseball...

Well, Monday we had a real good practice as a team. Only six kids showed, but, hey, it's late in the season and it's only a practice, right? We did need to get ready for Wednesday, which was our first 'real' type game. All the players were so excited...that only FOUR showed up. Yep, we played 4-on-9, and lost 10-1. Lily did well at the plate, going 2-3 including a triple in the second. Trevor went 1-3, but had the RBI single that drove Lily home from 3rd for our only run. In the field, Lily played first, and I put Trevor at the 'hot corner'. Both made some good plays, and kept the ball in front of them. Before the game, a league official asked how my attendance had been. I told him we've had nine consistently. I know my assistant coach was out of town with his son, and another had a tooth out, so I was aware we'd be a couple short...but only four? Oh, and the other team had four coaches, too. One at first and third while they were hitting and one even helped us out catching. The kids that showed really work hard and were given double snacks after the game. Hope next week we have a better turn out.

Beatin' The Heat With Baseball

Rough week up here in the Sault, as the temps were reaching the upper 80's. Hard to get the kids motivated, but we're trying our best anyway on the baseball field. Lily and Trevor complain, but in actuality have played their best ball of the summer this week. Both kids had two great hits in Monday's game. Each of them hit a liner over third base, which are solid hits. We only had a handful of players since it was the day after the 4th, so each player got to bat around three times. Wednesday, I must have had a target on me, as Trevor hit a shot right at me on the mound, and Lily hit one right up by me, too. In the field both did well. Trevor is fielding the ball nicely, but just has to work on his throwing accuracy. Lily keeps impressing everyone with her all around play. Not too many games left, and next week we'll start playing with stricter rules and outs. It will be harder for them, but they both hit the ball within the first few swings, so I hope it goes well.

Also this week, we had the 4th parade again and took Brian to the park. He was more interested in running around on the baseball field next to it than playing on the swings and stuff. That's my boy. Left is just a gratuitous pic of Lisa just to get her on the site a bit...cute pic though...

Kids' Team Dodges Rain Storm

Luck was on our side Wed. night, as we dodged a couple of rain storms to get our baseball game in. Papa and Nana were going to come visit and watch the kids, but thought it was going to rain. Hopefully they'll come up on Monday for the game. Lily and Trevor both did well at the plate. Lily got a hit on the first pitch, and had a good line drive toward third. Trevor hit a monster foul ball, but was able to get single on the next pitch. His second time up he hit a solid ball to first. In the field they are making some really good plays. Lily still gets frustrated when the person she's throwing to misses the ball, though. Busy the next few days with a hockey game on Fri., car show on Sat., and another game on Mon.

Bumming Around TC

On our way home from Cadillac last weekend, we took a detour through Traverse City to check out the Beach Bums. We've hit at least one game here since they started playing ball in 2006. The kids have a good time in the park and we just enjoy watching the games together. Trevor was really tired out from camp, but still had a good time.

Not a lot of people, so we were able to move around a bit and the kids enjoyed meeting the mascots and getting ice cream. Our next game will either be in Battle Creek or seeing the Whitecaps in Grand Rapids on Star Wars night. Either way, you know it will be fun for us. I'd like to get Brian to a game, but he's just too busy being 2 right now...

Playing With Bri-Guy

Just a way of exploiting Brian's undeniable cuteness. This kid is great, and Lily and Trevor love playing with their little bro. Lily really takes a lot of pride in helping him and teaching him how to do things. She's a great big sister. Brian does pretty well at riding his bike, but his feet are just a tad short, so he can't always get around all the way. By end of the summer I'm sure he'll be unstoppable. Trevor is more likely to teach him how to get into trouble...boys for you. Can't say I wasn't the same (or worse) at that age.

First Little League Game of 2010

This year's Little League games got off to a good start on Monday. Despite only having a few practices, and only one as a team, Lily and Trevor did very well. They both did well at the plate, scoring two solid hits a piece. Lily played third base in the first inning, and made some really good plays. She covered her base well, and made good throws to first. The second inning she played center field, and did a great job of backing up the infielders. She actually was getting frustrated because they kept letting the balls get by them and she had to chase them down. Trevor played both innings at catcher. This was a new experience for him, and he handled it well. He made some good stops and covered the plate when he needed to. He realized it's the toughest position, though. Only one game this week, as we have practice tonight, which we need. I'm real happy with how they both played the first game, though.

Kids Meet Tigers Legend Jim Northrup

Yesterday the kids and I met Papa and Nana in Gaylord for a nice little baseball card show. At the show signing autographs was Detroit Tiger legend and 1968 World Champion Jim Northrup. Mr. Northrup was very nice to the kids as he was to all of the fans that came to meet him. I think it was hard for Lily and Trevor to grasp the fact that this guy had been a big league ball player. I guess that comes from being little. I think the older players really 'get' the whole thing with the fans and what they used to do for a living. They didn't make millions of dollars and are more grounded than some of the bozos who play these days.

Last Game of the Season

Finishing up our last fun weekend, we hit the Traverse City Beach Bums game. We had a good time, but a long ride home after the game. It was Brian's second baseball game, but the kids spent more time on the playground than they did watching the game. Papa and I had a chance to watch for a bit and had fun. The kids got free baseballs at the gate and got some autographs before the game.

Birthday At The Ballpark

It doesn't get much better than spending your birthday at a baseball game with your kids. We headed down to Cadillac, and Papa took Lily, Trevor, and I to the Whitecaps game on Friday. First we went to Chuck E. Cheese's for the kids, and no, I didn't have a birthday party there. We got to the ballpark and met Barbaro Garbey, who played on the Tigers 1984 World Series team, and who is now a coach with Peoria. He was nice enough to sign some cards for the kids. Also on hand, was former Tiger John Wockenfuss. He also signed some cards for the kids and was very nice to them.

The game itself was great, as the Whitecaps pounded Peoria 9-0. We saw some great plays and a home run. It would have been nice to have Brian and Lisa there, too, but Brian is a little too rambunctious to have at a game, so Lisa took him to meet some family in Mt. Pleasant. Spending time with my family at a game was the best present I could get.

First Baseball Game Of The Season

Getting a baseball game in here in the Soo in May is a great achievement. I think last year we were barely able to practice at this time. It was pretty hectic tonight, though, as we've only had one practice as a team. We're just trying to get the kids out of their bad habits and getting them to play the right way. At this level, the coaches pitch to their own team and sometimes the kids use a tee. Trevor is the youngest on the team at six. He hit a couple of foul balls his first at bat, and hit a good one off of the tee. Lily hit live pitching both times, and really had a good rip at her second at bat. The kids just spread out in the infield like last year, but we're getting them to throw to different bases and teach some better knowledge of the game. I'll be heading out of town for two weeks of training, so will miss a bit of the season. One of the other dad's is covering for me, which is nice. He seems very patient with the kids and has a good feel for the game at this level. I'll try to have Lisa e-mail me some pics of the kids baseball and soccer games while I'm gone to keep this updated.

2009 Baseball Trip

Tues. May 5-South Bend, Indiana: Our first trip to Coveleski Stadium in South Bend pitted the home Silver Hawks against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. We fought off the rain all week, and it started here with some drizzle, but the rain actually held off and we got the whole game in. Trevor made the trip with us this year, and he was successful in getting two game balls. The stadium is a little plain, but cut into the ground which I like and had good seating. We had good seats right in the front row. The Silver Hawks fans were good to us, and probably in a good mood because the Hawks won.

Thurs. May 7-Indianapolis, Indiana: We experienced out first rain out Wednesday, but if one of our games was to be missed, that would be it because we planned on returning to Victory Field on this day for a morning game anyway. The Indians played the Scranton/WB Yankees in a double header starting at ten in the morning. Again, rain threatened us, but it turned out to be a beautiful day. The home town Indians got beat both games, but this is a great ball park and we would love to back here again. Pictured is me and Trevor in the upper deck. Trevor got a foul ball here, too.

Louisville, Kentucky: Heading to Louisville Slugger Field for a night cap, gave us a record setting three games in one day. We did it, though, and enjoyed every second. As nice as the park is in Indy, this one is just amazing. The facade is build into an old rain road warehouse and it's just another great place to watch a ball game. The Bats beat up on the visiting Rochester Red Wings, too. We got another foul ball, as I took Trevor to the play area, it just happened to bounce in there to me. We've been having lots of luck with this. This is another AAA ball park I would love to visit again. Pictured here is Trevor from the outfield, but out seats were front row down the third base side. Not a bad seat in this house, though.

Friday, May 8-Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum: This was just awesome seeing how these famous bats are made. We got to hold unfinished bats of some of the best players in the game today, and saw older bats swung by the likes of Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio. The factory tour was interesting and we each got a souvenir mini-bat when it was all over. Lots of stuff for kids, so Trevor had a great time, too. I highly recommend this to anyone in the Louisville area. A ballgame and the museum are a great combination. I dropped a little coin at the gift shop here, too.

Fort Wayne, Indiana: We can at least say we were at Parkview Field during it's inaugural season here in 2009. The newly named TinCaps also helped by beating the Peoria Chiefs, too. This is a beautiful park, and maybe the class of the single 'A' circuit. Really nice sight lines around Fort Wayne, too. As you can see by the pic, we were right next to the TinCaps dugout and got a game ball here, too. Still lucky on the weather front, as it rained when we got here, but actually cleared up for the game. Trevor got to run the bases afterward which made it even more special for him.

Sat. May 9-Lansing, Michigan: Ending our trip in our home state. Like most of the days, it rained all the way up to Lansing, so we dreaded that we'd get this far and miss some baseball. The 'baseball gods' must have been looking out for us, as is cleared up as we got to Michigan State. In probably the best ball game we saw, MSU beat Prudue 6-5. Oh, yeah, you guessed it, Trevor got a foul ball at the newly remodeled McLane Stadium also. Our trip finally ended at Oldsmobile Park featuring the Lansing Lugnuts and the Beloit Snappers. The 'Nuts got beat and it was a bit cold, yet we're happy it didn't rain and we got the game in. This is the only game we got shut out on getting a foul ball. We were all pretty tired by this time, but stayed for the post game fireworks, which seemed like and fitting end to our trip.

This is the first year we missed a game in Grand Rapids watching the Whitecaps, but we'll be down there later this summer. Next year we're looking into heading to Iowa or maybe the other teams in Ohio we haven't seen. It's never too early to start planning.

Practice Makes Perfect Fun

Baseball practice for Sault Little League has started up for this season. So far, we've been stuck inside as we're still getting rid of our last bit of snow and now dealing with rain. The kids are having a lot of fun with it and I've been pitching in when I can. I'm moving Trevor up this season from t-ball to Minor 1(7-8 yrs) to be on the same team as Lily. This solves a lot of problems in determining which team I was going to coach. Also, having them play on the same night at the same time is a lot more convenient. Both kids are handling the move up nicely so far. Lily still gets a lot of recognition for her talents the last two years. It will be tougher for her this year, as it looks like she'll be the only girl on the team as most moved over to the all-girl softball program put into place last season. I'm keeping her in baseball basically because I want to coach both of them, and she can handle baseball just as well as the boys with no problem. We should be getting outside soon as the weather clears up, and Trevor will be starting soccer at the first of May, too.

RIP Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych

Yesterday in a tragic accident, former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych lost his life while working on a truck on his farm in Massachusetts. The details of the accident arn't as important as the fact that he was only 54 years old, and left behind a wife and daughter. Our prayers go out to his family and friends.

I was actually only four years old when he made his major league debut. I can still remember how much fun he was to watch as a kid. I went to my first Tigers game in 1977, a year after Fidrych won the Rookie of the Year award, and made baseball fun again for so many fans. Due to injury, I never did see him pitch live, but that didn't stop him from being my favorite player back then, and even now. One of my most prized possessions is an old baseball card of him that my mom cut off the bottom of a Twinkie box. The price guides will tell you it's worthless. It's bent, beat up, and doesn't fit the mold of a 'mint' baseball card. To me, though, it represents a part of my childhood. I used to carry that card in my back pocket everywhere I went when I was in gradeschool. It was as important to me as my Star Wars toys that I cherished at the time.

I did have the pleasure of meeting Mark in 1995 at a card show in Mt. Pleasant. He was great with his fans and signed a card for me. I have always wanted my kids to meet him, too, but that isn't going to happen now. I did actually send him two cards in the mail to sign for Lily and Trevor (before Brian came along). He was nice enough to sign them and send them back. Mark is Lily's favorite player, too, basically because she's heard all of the stories from me and has seen all of the things I collect of his. All I can do, I guess, is keep telling the stories, showing the pictures, try to keep his legend living on.

RIP Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych. You will be missed, but never forgotten. In my opinion, the Bird is STILL the word.

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/mlb/news/tributes/obit_mark_fidrych.jsp

Spring Training in January

The kids and I started spring training over the weekend, going to the college and getting a pretty good work out in. We were able to play some catch and the kids got to practice some hitting. Lily will be hitting live pitching this year (coach pitch) so we did some soft toss drills to work on her hand-eye coordination. She also got to use her new purple baseball glove she got for Christmas. Trevor is still hitting off of the tee, and picked up where he left off last season, as you can see in the video. He also is sporting his new batting glove. We'll be alternating doing this and going skating probably until April or so.