Off to a Familiar Start

Unfortunately, not a good one, but one we’re familiar with.

We’ve lost our starting QB again, this time before the season even started.  Injured on the last play of our first scrimmage.  A few years back we lost our QB in the first game (in fact, same injury if I recall).  It was a little tough to overcome.

I’m not sure of the plans for that position but no matter what they do it will have a ripple effect at other positions.  In the AA level it always does.

It’s Time to Go

I made a difficult decision tonight.  After more years than I can exactly remember I resigned from the Shallowater Little League board of directors.

I originally got involved in Little League years ago, first umpiring, then coaching, then serving on the board.  I’ve seen the makeup of the board change dramatically over these years to the point where it is now a vibrant, active board with good participation and honest debate on the issues, all focused on helping our kids have a healthy baseball program in Shallowater.

Some of the people I have first met via the little league program have become very good friends who’s company I enjoy and friendship I treasure.  I’ll miss working with them on the board but hope to still be involved as a volunteer enough to get to continue “hanging around” with them.  Although I won’t be on the board any more I expressed my desire to the rest of the board to continue to volunteer and help where I can….you don’t have to be a board member to help.

Thanks to each and every person I’ve served on the SLL board with over these years.  I have truly enjoyed my time with you and I think I leave at a point where the board is as strong as it’s ever been.  I know not everyone shares my point of view, but I think youth baseball in Shallowater is in great shape and headed in the right direction.

Laying Turf

Man alive.  Putting down sod is not as easy as it sounds.  Getting everything prepped, especially one day after a huge rain, is a drag.  The dirt does not work easily.

A group of guys got together and did just that, though, this Sunday afternoon.  Some of it was real work.  All of it was appreciated, and though I’m sore I really had a good time.  It looks a little lumpy to me but the guys who do this type of work all the time tell me it will be no problem to level it out and get it ready by next spring.  I think it will look great.  As much as I love the look and play of the dirt infields, this was the right decision given all our circumstances.  I think we managed to fill in some of the depression that made a horseshoe shape around our mound, and we cut down some of the dirt behind home plate too (though not as much as I would have liked to make it drain).  We’ve put some serious money into the field this year and that’s where it belongs because kids for years and years will benefit from this work.

As much as I thought I’d collapse at home after this, I’m doing all right.  Tomorrow morning may be a different story. 

Let’s Win Two!

It might be!  It could be!  It IS!

A Cubs home run?  No.  A Cubs double header sweep.  ON THE ROAD!

How sweet.  I talked recently of the need for this team to begin to drive nails in the coffin.  I liked what happened today.  It’s August 13, yep, I have a calender.  But still, you gotta like what you see from this team at this point.

For once, I think the pitching staff just might be getting handled in a good way.  Harden’s durability is a concern.  I don’t think he’s gone more than six since he’s been with the Cubs.  But the way he is pitching (see ERA) and the way the Cubs have been generating runs, you don’t NEED to go more than six in a lot of his games.  I like the logic of pitching him that much, not pushing it, and having lots left in his tank for the stretch run.

Woody is coming back at the right time.  Marmol seems to have some of this mojo back.  Samardzija has done well and may get a taste of starting at the end of the week.  Marquis is workable.  Lilly is solid.  And though Big Zeke is the hoss of the rotation, I think we take Dempster for granted.  For my money, Dempster is the heart of this pitching staff.

Kosuke is perhaps awakening from a slump?  Soriano is healthy.  Center field with Jimmy Ballgame and Reed Johnson - I like it.  D Lee at first.  Ramirez at third.  And what Dempster is to the pitching staff, Theriot (THE RIOT), Derosa and Fontenot (yes, Fontenot) are to the infield.  Gamers.  Give me those kind of guys every time.  They LOVE TO PLAY THIS GAME. 

All-Star game starting catcher behind the plate.  As a rookie.  Geovany Soto brings game, and his backup Blanco is a vet.  I like it.

Some of the guys the Cubs will be able to bring up from AAA when the rosters expand will be good.

Don’t jinx ‘em, but THIS COULD BE THE YEAR.

A-J: I Don’t Get It

My wife and I noticed two guys hawking Lubbock A-J newspapers on the street this weekend, sort of like the school boy used to do in days of old on the sidewalk (only in this case from the center median of major street corners, causing not just a little traffic concern - but I digress).

The thing I don’t get is that newspapers all over are in a death spiral.  Subscriptions (and thus advertising) are plummetting as other sources of news outlet and advertising take the lead over printed paper.  Newspapers have been very slow to adjust to the “new media”.  They’ve got to adapt or die.  I think the classic newspaper of old is headed the way of the buggy whip, but most newspaper companies seem intent to bury their head in the sand and ignore the reality.

Assuming the A-J hired these guys, is this a reasonable response to the problem?  Jack up your overhead even more by hiring more labor?  I suppose this was an effort to increase distribution?  Even if you could do that, even if it wasn’t a money losing effort given the labor expense, it’s temporary…you’re increasing distribution of a medium that is going to die.

I just don’t get it. 

Then again, maybe these guys hawking papers on the streets came up with this idea on their own, in which case I don’t think they get it.

A Step in the Wrong Direction

Our Grays took one on the chin tonight.  That’s ok.  The team we played is talented and well trained.  I’m not disappointed in losing.  I was honest with the kids when I told them that’s definitely not the only thing I look at.

But tonight we had some kids just not want to be there.  It affected those that did want to be there.  I’m talking about some kids who would not try to make plays, got dejected when coaches tried to remind them where to be and what to do, and who sulked when bad things happened to them.

In short, three of the things high school coaches are going to pick up on IMMEDIATELY and put kids on the cut list for.  They won’t waste their time with such kids and will not risk that attitude infecting their team.

This is still youth baseball, but it’s the equivalent of junior high athletics now.  Baseball is one of the few sports that don’t have junior high teams.  The other junior high sport teams these kids try out for are going to give some of them a rude awakening.  Not everyone makes it.  Not everyone plays that DOES make it.  It takes some work and some dedication and some desire.

I didn’t see much dedication or desire tonight.  I thought we had turned a corner last week, but apparently not for some of them.  They are still in the mode of wanting accolades when they “feel like it”, but don’t want it brought to their attention when they don’t “feel like it” and are wasting other people’s time.

I don’t know how to put it more bluntly than that.  Some of these guys are just wasting our time.  I don’t want to be around that any more.  I want to be around some people with desire, who will put out sincere effort.

I didn’t get it tonight.  And I am disappointed in them.

Buy Weather Radios

Judging by the performance of digital television where I live under even the most moderate rain or thunderstorm, I’d suggest those of us who are concerned about keeping up with severe weather conditions invest in a weather radio.  Digital television performance with any weather in the area is, in a word, horrendous.

Living out in the country on the southwestern edge of what is known as “Tornado Alley”, interest in the weather is keen particularly in the spring time.  We’ve grown used to checking with the local television stations to keep abreast of severe weather development but that appears to be a losing proposition with digital television.  The signal is not good enough to view or hear in moderate weather.  In severe weather it’s worthless.

So, maybe a weather radio is called for, as is perhaps an investment in companies that would profit from a boom in weather radio purchases? 

Baseball Will Break Your Heart

If you don’t believe it, you didn’t see the finals of the 2008 Little League Southwestern Regionals.

Two fine teams playing their hearts out in front of their moms, dads, relatives and fans.  Goes to extra innings.  Passes 11pm curfew.  So many tough situations were overcome in that game by players on teams that had been well drilled, knew what to do in each situation.  High drama.  Home runs to take leads.  Home runs to come back.  Big defensive plays to save the game — more than once.

This game had it all.  If you missed it, you missed out.

And it ends on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh by a kiddoe that really gave his all.  Looked like a real 12 year old, too, didn’t he?  Not one of these beard growin’, Danny Almanza Lying’-Fake, cheatin’ dudes.  A real, live Little League kid.  I don’t know that kid from Adam, but I can tell you here and now I love that kid.  I’d take him on my team any day.

Great baseball game.  Heartbreaking baseball game.  Many times, as today, they are one and the same.

Beware Mother Mockingbird

I sometimes walk outside the building our offices are in, if it’s not too hot.  The last two days I have strolled along the front walk which takes me by some small trees and bushes where there is apparently a nest of young mockingbirds.

Those of you that have been around such a nest know that mother mockingbird can get quite defensive if you get too close to the nest.  Even if only while walking down the sidewalk….

Mother mockingbird has swooped at me multiple times.  Attacking from behind (smart bird), she has whizzed by my ears three times and attacked my left shirt sleeve twice.

Reminds me of a time when we lived in Lubbock and Justin was just learning to walk.  He had one of those walking toys with a handle the toddler could hold onto while gaining confidence walking.  I was video taping him walking down the sidewalk in front of our house when another mother mockingbird swooped and attacked him from behind, too.  Buzzed his head.  He was not amused.  Neither was I, then, although it seems a lot funnier now.  That’s been a few years back now, but the lastest “mother mockingbird attack” brought back that memory….funny what you’ll write up in a blog sometimes, isn’t it? 

7th Grade Football

I expect my youngest son to be playing in his first 7th grade football game in five weeks.  Heh.  That should be fun.  He’s come up with a workout routine to do at the house.  It consists of agility drills, endurance running, speed training and weight lifting.  Mind you, he came up with this all on his own.  You think this kid wants to play?