Extra Inning....

Games called on account of rain

Empty clubhouse on Friday

Well there has been a lag since my post on Friday (let's call it a rain delay) -

Empty Trainer's Room (Arnie with Larry and Chris)

we have had some internet access issues at home over the weekend, but I thought I would still do a final post to add a few observations from this year's Ponce camp.  The rain outs on Thursday and Friday were the first days totally washed out in the 15 years that Ponce has had its Florida camp -- not a bad record even if the rain put a wet rag on the end of our week this year.  Still, there was a  lot to like.

Adrian Rosati - Team D Spirit of Ponce

Team D won the championship -- and the teams were more balanced this year than ever before.  Our key inning of the week was Wednesday against Team C -- we got out of a bases loaded, no outs, 5th inning with no runs scored against us while we held a slim 8-7 lead, which became the final score.  That margin gave us an edge on our head to head competition with Team C when we tied for best record.  And that gave us the championship.  Chris Clark pitched us out of the jam, which ended when our third baseman Paul Basken pulled off a third to first double play to end the inning (with a nice scoop by Kevin Bousman at first.)  Last year I noted that the defense on my team was particularly poor for the week -- this year the defense for Team D was the best I have seen by any team in the 8 years I have been going to Florida.  We completed at least 6 double plays during the six games (and I may have missed one or two more), and we made all the routine plays with a minimum of muffs.  Our bats went cold for two games - but picked up in time for the Wednesday clincher. 

At the awards dessert on Thursday night, Adrian Rosati was given the Team D "Spirit of Ponce" award and Jamie

Ironman Walt Lynch

Bell was our MVP -- both well earned honors.  Adrian was playing - and pitching -  in his third straight week of tournaments in Florida, having played at Play at the Plate and Baseball International in the weeks before coming to the Ponce camp.  Our catcher, Walt Lynch, was the ironman for the week -- catching every inning of all our games.
 
I felt I had a good week -- and ended upright and feeling good physically, although admittedly missing the last three games made the week less strenuous.   The winter workouts at the batting cages -- where I have been able to hit and throw since the beginning of the year -- clearly help prepare me.   I hit well (except for 4 atrocious at bats against very slow pitchers where I lunged at bad pitches.)  I was 7-12 at the plate with a double, two walks and 7 rbi -- but struck out three times.  I felt very good pitching -- pitching three innings each day -- being effective except for two very bad innings on Tuesday when my control deserted me (I am blaming being pooped after running the bases.)  I did strike out as many batters (5) as I hit - so I guess there is some justice in that!

Chris "Perle Mesta" Clark

Chris Clark, the manager of my weeknight team at home had a typically good week pitching, at bat, and in the field.  Perhaps his greatest contribution to the week however was the superb home cooked Italian feast he gave for some folks on Wednesday night.  He even taught me how to make guacamole (I know that's not Italian) - but don't tell Elizabeth and Elaine or they will expect me to duplicate the feat.

Frank McAuliffe -- back this year after a partial knee replacement and foot surgery -- had a good week, some great at bats, and was stealing bases!  Frank and I have been working out at a batting cage in Gaithersburg - hitting and throwing a couple times a week.  It is amazing what modern medicine can do for geezer baseball.  On a related

Frank McAuliffe - Travel Companion extraordiniare

note, our pitcher Bob Willoughby, who now lives in Florida, missed the Wednesday morning game because he had a court appearance.  He was protesting a ticket he got for parking his motorcycle in a handicapped parking spot.  He told the judge that he had a handicapped parking sticker - the officer said he followed Bob from the parking spot to the baseball field!  The judge showed no leniency.  To be fair, your honor, Bob has very bad knees, hobbled at best on the pitchers mound (while pitching very effectively) and did not bat because he couldn't run the bases.  Bob Ciunci, from Rhode Island originally, played first base for us and hit well and ran the bases -- but could not throw because he had hurt his arm in an earlier tournament.  If you put the two Bobs together we would have had a complete player.  Nonetheless, it is hard to explain that a key member of your championship team uses the handicapped parking space.

Some observations:  It really struck me this week how people who make baseball their profession are so far ahead in

understanding the game and how to play it than even the most ardent fan.  Several small examples spoke volumes -- at the pitching clinic on Monday, Stu Cliburn and Tom Brown had an extensive discussion about where to stand on the pitcher's rubber and why and the different theories that different teams have about that, followed on Tuesday about strategy for pitching when you are behind in the count.  The detail and considerations for such ordinary - but fundamental - aspects of the game were telling.  On Wednesday evening, Arnie told us about his

Victor Rodriguez telling Steve Liddle that he saw things on the playing field this week that he had never seen before!

normal day as a first base coach and as the coach who positions the outfielders defensively -- arriving at the park at noon for a 7pm game, studying film on upcoming opponents for 5 hours a day ("where do you want to play Longoria when he has two strikes; how does your defense positioning differ if you are playing in Fenway or in Tampa or Yankee Stadium; how does an opponent handle Lester's pitches differently from Dubront's, even though both are hard throwing lefthanded pitchers ......?")  The level of analysis and strategy is far greater than the most fanatical fan realizes.  In referring to this level of detail,  Bill Lee on Tuesday said that everyone should read Malcolm Gladwell's book 'Outliers' where Gladwell establishes the "10,000 hour rule" as the key for success in any field -- music, athletics, etc.   His thesis is that excellence depends on practicing a specific task for at least 10,000 hours.  You realize that professional baseball people meet that 10,000 hour rule - and that success depends on that commitment as well as talent.

For me, baseball is a great game to play and watch -- and it is best when you can share it with friends and family.  Of the 75 players here this week, I have played with or against more than 60 of them.  A nice feature since I started playing 9 years ago is that many of those players -- and more on the teams back home -- have become good friends.

Kathy, Jay, George, Flint, Elizabeth and Pat with Big Papi

There are shared interests (baseball the anchor one), you see them weekly, get to know them as teammates or opponents over the years, and enjoy your contact with them.  And this week -- and playing in Ponce -- is an extension of a lifelong connection of enjoying baseball with friends -- going back 60 years or more.  When I was moaning about my aches and pains (feeling my age) and whether or not I should go to camp this year, my friend
George wrote:  "If truth be told, Jay, we need you to keep on playing Ponce baseball for us as much as for you.  If and when you quit, we all get old (not that we aren't already, but the things we give up or can't do anymore tend to remind us of just how old we are.)  You are also a harbinger of spring and a connection to the coming season."  Inspiration from one geezer to another.  A highlight of the year for Elizabeth and me is our, now annual, baseball weekends with George and his wife Kathy and our friends Flint and his wife Pat.

Kevin Bousman, Bob Bousman, Elliott Sledd -- Champions!

And a real theme this week was baseball as a family activity.  It was a great pleasure to play with the three generations of the Bousman/Sledd family -- Granddad Bob Bousman, Son/Uncle Kevin Bousman, and Grandson/Nephew Elliott Sledd.  It makes the game timeless to see how the generations spanning 70 years enjoy -- and play -- baseball together.  You could just tell that Bob and Kevin love to watch Elliott play in high school -- and that baseball is a bonding experience in their family.  And it was easy to see how much Elliott admired and liked watching his Grandfather and Uncle play the game that he clearly loves.  Fathers and sons have played at Ponce before, but this is the first year for three generations of the same family.  I don't know of a camper who wasn't at least a little bit envious of that wonderful family experience this week.  I, for one, hope we see more of it in the future.

HedSox in Seattle - Doug, Ben, Bill, Mike, Jay, Scott, Kyle

For me baseball has always been a family game.  I learned it from my four older brothers.  Went to Fenway with my brothers, my mother, uncles and friends when I was growing up.  One of my favorite pastimes is watching

HedSox in Detroit - Kate and Mike get chased by a Tiger

the Red Sox every night with Elizabeth and discussing the game and the season -- who's pitching, how did the Yankees do, what new players do we need to learn this year?  And each year for the last nine years, my brothers Bill and Doug and I, along with a gaggle of nephews and nieces, have taken a 'HedSox' road trip -- Hedlunds following the Red Sox for a weekend series someplace in the U.S. (although Toronto is not out of the question.)  This year we will be going to Oakland in June for a four game series.  Serious Red Sox time, and quality family time.  Brought to you by baseball.

See you in Florida for Ponce again next year, George.