Team assignments

There was a pre-camp dinner tonight to get team assignments and general instructions. I am on a team managed by Stan Cliburn, the manager of the Minnesota Twins AAA Rochester team. We play at Terry Park in Fort Myers, a county owned facility that has four fields -- and has in the past been the spring training headquarters for the Pittsburgh Pirates and other teams. There are approximately 72 players on six teams for the week. The daily schedule: 9-9:15 stretching; 9:15-9:20 announcements; 9:20-9:30 throwing; 9:30-10:15 either batting practice by team or specialty instruction (pitching, catching, infield, outfield); 10:15-10:30 pre-game warm-up; 10:30-12:30 6 inning game; 12:30-1:30 lunch; 1:30-2:15 batting practice or specialty instruction; 2:15-2:30 pre-game warmup at game field; 2:30-4:30 6 inning game. After that, major icing down and multiple pain relievers. Sleep should come easy.

Don Buford, formerly of the Orioles, is here for the week for individual batting instruction; and Jose Cardenal is also here. Other managers are: Victor Rodriguez, Red Sox minor league hitting coordinator; Arnie Beyeler, Red Sox AA Portland Sea Dogs manager; Rick Knapp, Detroit Tigers pitching coach; Darrin Garner, a coach in the Seattle Mariners minor league system; Eric Rasmussen, pitching coach in the Minnesota Twins minor league system.

More tomorrow after the first day of games (weather permitting.)

Ponce de Leon Baseball Week in Fort Myers, FL

I will be one of about 100 senior league baseball players from the Ponce de Leon Baseball League in the Washington DC area who will be spending this week -- January 31 to February 5 -- in Fort Myers, Florida for a week full of baseball. My friend Flint Taylor, a crafty left-hander from Brown, suggested I do a blog about the week. So for those who are interested, here it is.

I am leaving 7 inches of snow and temperatures in the teens in DC and expect weather in the 70s (with some rain forecast in the week) in Fort Myers. We are scheduled to play nine 6 inning games, Monday through Friday with skills instruction, and batting and fielding practice each morning and afternoon as well. It is not a fantasy camp run by a Major League team with their former players. This camp has players from the 35+ and 48+ Ponce de Leon League in DC -- mixed into a single division of 6 to 8 teams for the week. The Camp Director is Steve Liddle, the bench coach for the Minnesota Twins, and the team coaches are all professional major or minor league coaches. I will post more information this evening after I get to Florida.