What a beautiful day for baseball!
85 Degrees, Sunny, with a sprinkle of clouds!
Started a "Big Stick" Tourney in Rapid City today against Sturgis, South Dakota. We won 9-2... the game wasn't that close though. The game however wasn't the "highlight" of the day.
In the top of the 4th inning, we had our second or third rally of the day in progress. Kid on third, Four hole hit's a fly to right, one of their kids come out and makes a pretty good over the head play on the ball.
My kid tagged up, waited till we knew the kid had caught the ball (typical... and difficult based on the angle. It was a good play mind you... I wasn't positive he made the catch and sent the kid once I was sure) He scored easy (don't let me forget that the umpire behind the plate was picking up our bat and not paying much attention to my guy tagging/scoring). Put us up 8-0, three outs and we end the game early.
There coach starts yelling at his kids from the dugout... "he left early, step on third." This is an old tactic, I've used it myself. Try and see if the ump was watching... heck maybe you'll get a call. In this situation I almost laughed... we had waited clearly past the kid having possesion of the ball... but whatever.
They throw it to third.
"Out"
"Huh?"
I jogged slowly to our dugout.
I admit I had a few words for the umpire.
Remember he was busy picking up a bat. I reminded him. It was a bad, bad call.
If you weren't watching don't make a call.
Whatever, we're up by 7. I was pretty sure everything would be fine.
I insert one of my young pitchers for the bottom of the 4th. As he's warming up Sturgis basically has their next kid to hit in the batter's circle. And most of their team out of the dug out taking practice swings.
The next batter is required to remain in the on deck circle. Not timing a new pitcher.
Common sense.
I've asked probably no less than 4 times for an ump to back up a player. Each has obliged. Even the players did so willingly.
I asked... and let me repeat EXACTLY what I said... "Sir, can you please back them up from timing my pitcher?"
I'm sitting on my bucket at this point.
He responded by asking me who was running the show...
I responded "Apparently their dugout"
He immediately says "One more word and you'll finish the game in the parking lot"
I respond, "Yeah, OK" (ZERO body language)
He responds, "That's it, your out of here"
At this point I picked myself up off my bucket, made my way to exactly 3" from his nose and proceded to get my money's worth! I got my money's worth... trust me!
What an ignorant OLD fool.
I would never imagine that I would get tossed sitting on my bucket.
Asking an ump for common courtesy, really?
This marks my second ejection this year. The first one it was 100% my intent after I was requested to let an ump have it.
I don't even know that I've exchanged negative words with an umpire outside of these two incidents. Silly stuff.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
When SLEEP becomes a productive activity!
What a busy couple of weeks!
I've been done with work for two weeks yet me schedule hasn't slowed down until yesterday.
Immediately after work was done we began a 10 game stretch of games. Most of which were at least 2 hours away.
I am often surprised by people not in athletics. Coaching is more than just showing up for a game. For example. If I have a game starting at 5 in Rapid City. It means that I'm unlocking the clubhouse at 12:30 and pulling out with my team at 1:00.
A two hour trip has us at the field at 3:00, two hours of batting practice and pregame prep means the game starts at 5:00. A typical double header at this level last's about 5 1/2 hours including your break between games. That means at the soonest games end at 10:30. After a post game wrap, and guys loading up to leave, we're usually on the road by 11:00. Now wait a minute... it's 11:00 PM... I've had the guys since 12:30. They haven't eaten anything since they left their house... HELLO TACO BELL!
YUCK.
After a thirty minute stop, we're off! Putting us into the clubhouse at about 1:30. Figure 15-30 minutes to unload and wait for the last guys folks to show up and I start home at about 2:00.
That means I've had the guys for about 13 1/2 hours.
Don't forget... I live 30 minutes south of Gillette. Hopefully I'm in bed at 2:45.
Ah... you think I sleep till 11 and start the whole thing over don't you?!
Class for my M.A. start at 8. Crap. I'm usually up at 6:30.
They continue until I leave... for the next road trip.
Home games aren't much better. I usually don't leave the field until 2-3 hours after the contest is complete. Of course I've only had 6 home games (3 dates).
Lately, my biggest need is sleep. Trying to recover from pnuemonia, be a dad, be a husband, be a student, and be a coach has had it's moments over the last few weeks!
Thank goodness for TBC. Or something like that.
I am in the middle of my only five day break from baseball. The guys are 19-11 and we're just beginning to play to our ability level. We've beaten several very mid-level varsity's over our last stretch. I've enjoyed working with them!
On another note... Samantha is growing quickly. She's put on 15 lbs since the beginning and is rapidly growing especially over the last 4 weeks. The Dr. triple checked her numbers. Looks like we're in for another big 'un.
I am now announcing my prediction for the baby. It will be 21" and low 9 lbs... like 9# 3oz or somewhere close to that.
Today we set up the tent and the kids and I will sleep out there tonight... for whatever reason pregnant Sammy has declined invitation. Hmm?
I've been done with work for two weeks yet me schedule hasn't slowed down until yesterday.
Immediately after work was done we began a 10 game stretch of games. Most of which were at least 2 hours away.
I am often surprised by people not in athletics. Coaching is more than just showing up for a game. For example. If I have a game starting at 5 in Rapid City. It means that I'm unlocking the clubhouse at 12:30 and pulling out with my team at 1:00.
A two hour trip has us at the field at 3:00, two hours of batting practice and pregame prep means the game starts at 5:00. A typical double header at this level last's about 5 1/2 hours including your break between games. That means at the soonest games end at 10:30. After a post game wrap, and guys loading up to leave, we're usually on the road by 11:00. Now wait a minute... it's 11:00 PM... I've had the guys since 12:30. They haven't eaten anything since they left their house... HELLO TACO BELL!
YUCK.
After a thirty minute stop, we're off! Putting us into the clubhouse at about 1:30. Figure 15-30 minutes to unload and wait for the last guys folks to show up and I start home at about 2:00.
That means I've had the guys for about 13 1/2 hours.
Don't forget... I live 30 minutes south of Gillette. Hopefully I'm in bed at 2:45.
Ah... you think I sleep till 11 and start the whole thing over don't you?!
Class for my M.A. start at 8. Crap. I'm usually up at 6:30.
They continue until I leave... for the next road trip.
Home games aren't much better. I usually don't leave the field until 2-3 hours after the contest is complete. Of course I've only had 6 home games (3 dates).
Lately, my biggest need is sleep. Trying to recover from pnuemonia, be a dad, be a husband, be a student, and be a coach has had it's moments over the last few weeks!
Thank goodness for TBC. Or something like that.
I am in the middle of my only five day break from baseball. The guys are 19-11 and we're just beginning to play to our ability level. We've beaten several very mid-level varsity's over our last stretch. I've enjoyed working with them!
On another note... Samantha is growing quickly. She's put on 15 lbs since the beginning and is rapidly growing especially over the last 4 weeks. The Dr. triple checked her numbers. Looks like we're in for another big 'un.
I am now announcing my prediction for the baby. It will be 21" and low 9 lbs... like 9# 3oz or somewhere close to that.
Today we set up the tent and the kids and I will sleep out there tonight... for whatever reason pregnant Sammy has declined invitation. Hmm?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
I ain't no chicken...
Another helpless deal as a parent.
We're currently about 7 hours from home in Central Montana and my son Tristan isn't feeling very well.
It all started with Samantha noticing a couple spots that looked similar to rash, several turned into several more which compounded exponentially.
As you can imagine, bunches of red dots lead to only one thing... chicken pox. Tristan is now covered in them. Poor little body.
Aundrea is most sure to follow in the next week or so. Great.
Currently I sit in Lewistown, Montana with Samantha and the kids and my whole baseball team. We're currently part of a tournament of six teams.
So there isn't much comfort for Tristan and all's he can do is be miserable. We're dumping Benadryl down his throat and dabbed his spots with calomine lotion to ease some of the itching.
Samantha has been masterful at creating the best environment for him as she can. She's just done so well at understanding that I have 15 guys and a schedule to be responsible for and she's stepped in perfectly.
It's been a lot of fun having them here with me. I was dredding that they wouldn't be able to come. They've even riden on the bus which has been nice for us to have 13-14 hours additional bonding.
My guys are now 2-0 at the tourney and 16-10 overall, including a six game winning streak. We have 2 very tough games left to at least get piece of the the championship. We're also very tired. I'll be up in about 4 hours, the guys will be up soon after and they'll play at 8 am and 10:30 tomorrow. I better head to bed.
We're currently about 7 hours from home in Central Montana and my son Tristan isn't feeling very well.
It all started with Samantha noticing a couple spots that looked similar to rash, several turned into several more which compounded exponentially.
As you can imagine, bunches of red dots lead to only one thing... chicken pox. Tristan is now covered in them. Poor little body.
Aundrea is most sure to follow in the next week or so. Great.
Currently I sit in Lewistown, Montana with Samantha and the kids and my whole baseball team. We're currently part of a tournament of six teams.
So there isn't much comfort for Tristan and all's he can do is be miserable. We're dumping Benadryl down his throat and dabbed his spots with calomine lotion to ease some of the itching.
Samantha has been masterful at creating the best environment for him as she can. She's just done so well at understanding that I have 15 guys and a schedule to be responsible for and she's stepped in perfectly.
It's been a lot of fun having them here with me. I was dredding that they wouldn't be able to come. They've even riden on the bus which has been nice for us to have 13-14 hours additional bonding.
My guys are now 2-0 at the tourney and 16-10 overall, including a six game winning streak. We have 2 very tough games left to at least get piece of the the championship. We're also very tired. I'll be up in about 4 hours, the guys will be up soon after and they'll play at 8 am and 10:30 tomorrow. I better head to bed.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Schools Out!!
School has officially ended in Campbell County. I should be a free man.
Why do I find myself back in my office on Monday morning at 7:40?
Put me up for employee of the year. Then slap me.
I actually have arrived at this hour for a couple reasons mainly to finish a paper that I've procrastinated on for my class that starts at 9. I guess I should be doing that instead of blogging.
We're on the back stretch of a 10 game set in 6 days. This is probably he most difficult time that I've had coaching in my brief career. Purely coaching. Obviously Trinity's level of difficulty will never be matched.
It's actually been a lot of fun to be challenged as a coach. It makes me feel like I'm actually able to coach. To balance 15 kids... ages ranging 14-17 isn't easy. For 90% of them, they played Babe Ruth last year, which consisted of abour 20 games. That means in these 6 days we're playing 1/2 of that schedule, and we've already played more games than they ever have previously.
I've found especially lately that some of the skills that I developed/learned while banging my head against the wall at TBC have been especially helpful. For instance, I've been sick for about 4 1/2 weeks. Wednesday or so last week I finally broke down and went to the doctor.
I have pnuemonia in my left lung. Which would explain the extreme difficulty in breathing, along with other wonderful symptoms. I knew I was sick... not admit to the hospital sick... but sick all the same.
I did talk my way through not going to the hospital.
During that time, I operated on little sleep and felt/proved that I could be productive.
The other side of my learning curve for the coaching has been the psychological approach to my team. SO much of coaching is psychology. I knew that at the college, but was just trying to develop it at that point. This team has allowed me to really implement what I want and the players have responded better very well.
I think everybody in the world knows that coaching and athletics has something to do with motivation. Yet the average onlooker knows little of the challenges of a coach when it comes to crafting motivation. I'm absolutely still learning, it's just been nice to actually see result from players you've cultivated for three months.
Back to the 10 game stretch. I talk about motivationg... we're 2-4 so far since Thursday. Ouch. In that we played a 19 year old team on Thursday and dropped two games by a combined 3 runs. Friday we played terrible and lost to Belle Fourche's varsity squad in two games that were only seperated by four runs. Most my kids are 15, one is 16 and two are 17. I also have two 14 year olds.
Yesterday we basically played a team at the same age. Won the first one 7-5 and it was BY FAR the worst game they've played all year. Motivation happened after that game. We won the second game 17-7 in a 5 inning mercy.
We play a really tough squad today in Rapid. Then finish this streak up tomorrow at home against another tough Rapid team. Then Thursday we head to Lewiston, Montana for a weekend tourney.
On my off day Saturday Samantha and I went to my parent's subdivision to hit up some yard sales. There's probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 houses selling their junk on Saturday. I'll post up some pictures later and talk about our purchases!
Why do I find myself back in my office on Monday morning at 7:40?
Put me up for employee of the year. Then slap me.
I actually have arrived at this hour for a couple reasons mainly to finish a paper that I've procrastinated on for my class that starts at 9. I guess I should be doing that instead of blogging.
We're on the back stretch of a 10 game set in 6 days. This is probably he most difficult time that I've had coaching in my brief career. Purely coaching. Obviously Trinity's level of difficulty will never be matched.
It's actually been a lot of fun to be challenged as a coach. It makes me feel like I'm actually able to coach. To balance 15 kids... ages ranging 14-17 isn't easy. For 90% of them, they played Babe Ruth last year, which consisted of abour 20 games. That means in these 6 days we're playing 1/2 of that schedule, and we've already played more games than they ever have previously.
I've found especially lately that some of the skills that I developed/learned while banging my head against the wall at TBC have been especially helpful. For instance, I've been sick for about 4 1/2 weeks. Wednesday or so last week I finally broke down and went to the doctor.
I have pnuemonia in my left lung. Which would explain the extreme difficulty in breathing, along with other wonderful symptoms. I knew I was sick... not admit to the hospital sick... but sick all the same.
I did talk my way through not going to the hospital.
During that time, I operated on little sleep and felt/proved that I could be productive.
The other side of my learning curve for the coaching has been the psychological approach to my team. SO much of coaching is psychology. I knew that at the college, but was just trying to develop it at that point. This team has allowed me to really implement what I want and the players have responded better very well.
I think everybody in the world knows that coaching and athletics has something to do with motivation. Yet the average onlooker knows little of the challenges of a coach when it comes to crafting motivation. I'm absolutely still learning, it's just been nice to actually see result from players you've cultivated for three months.
Back to the 10 game stretch. I talk about motivationg... we're 2-4 so far since Thursday. Ouch. In that we played a 19 year old team on Thursday and dropped two games by a combined 3 runs. Friday we played terrible and lost to Belle Fourche's varsity squad in two games that were only seperated by four runs. Most my kids are 15, one is 16 and two are 17. I also have two 14 year olds.
Yesterday we basically played a team at the same age. Won the first one 7-5 and it was BY FAR the worst game they've played all year. Motivation happened after that game. We won the second game 17-7 in a 5 inning mercy.
We play a really tough squad today in Rapid. Then finish this streak up tomorrow at home against another tough Rapid team. Then Thursday we head to Lewiston, Montana for a weekend tourney.
On my off day Saturday Samantha and I went to my parent's subdivision to hit up some yard sales. There's probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 houses selling their junk on Saturday. I'll post up some pictures later and talk about our purchases!
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