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"Field of Dreams" Moment...

observer44observer441,000+ posts
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Hey Ya'all...here is "A Field of Dreams Moment" I had to share....

....AcademyDad sent this to me about his son Karl who was drafted and is off to the world of Professional baseball..


quote:
Karl is in Clearwater, FL for Rookie Camp. He arrived Monday afternoon, and the first place they took him was the Clubhouse (lockerroom). He was blown away... wandering through he came upon a locker with his name (in brass plate no less), then in the locker was a red and a white Phillies pro uni top with his name on the back. Under Armour all with Phillies Logo on the front... Bolt on the back... #35. And a brand new A2000 1B's glove, hats, several sets of spikes, bats, etc.

He said they go all-out with the meals... served in the clubhouse....

He hit 4 out in BP y'day..... life is good....



Now, I don't know about you...but it really brought a tear to my eye...I can just see the young man walking into the clubhouse...

We should all be so lucky, just once, to have such a moment for our son(s)...


Cool 44
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Last edited {1}
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infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
quote:
And a brand new A2000 1B's glove, hats, several sets of spikes, bats, etc.


Congrats to Karl and his family. They are in for a lot of fun and a lot of hard work, but who cares about work right now. This is FUN!!!!!

It certainly is a great experience and the facility in Clearwater is a beauty..from the outside looking in, which is were I was always sitting.

However, unless the Phillies are different than every other MLB club, the items highlighted above came from a source other than the team. Could be Santa, could be an agent, could be a very generous rep., could be a high round pick with lots of leftovers, perhaps the clubhouse guys are huge AF fans(in which case they need a few $$$$$$$ from that first minor league check($$).
In general, the MLB club provides the uniforms and a field.
I will readily admit, though, that when you visit and see your son in those uni's with the name on the back, that dream sure seems real.
AcademyDadAcademyDad500+ posts
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We cannot elaborate on this question at this time... I'm sorry. It is just too sensitive and is on the desk of several very high ranking officials (more stars than in the constellation Orion).

Suffice to say, that OfficerKID#1 is extremely proud to be an officer in the United States Air Force, and that he has every intention of honoring any and all commitments to his Country. He is scheduled to become a Logistics Readiness Officer (we joke that he will probably be ordering the toilet paper for Kandahar... not so glamorous unless you are an airman in Kandahar...) and this is an eventual career path (Supply Chain Mgmnt) that he wishes to pursue (grad school... the whole thing...)

But for now, he is chasing something that so many millions of kids only get to dream about. He is currently on 60 Days Leave and we are confident that the PTB will come up with some equation which may allow him to continue, to the benefit of ALL parties.

In the meantime, 44, Woody, and a number of good friends on this site would love to continue to post stories of a kid who is living the dream... when he calls at night it's like living in the 50's... calls from a fresh-eyed youth in wonderment of what "life in the Big City" is really like. We all know that the roller coaster of highs & disappointments are right around the corner, but right now, as Karl says every night... life is good.

We thought maybe some of you would like to ride along....


In the meantime, please, no questions concerning commitments to the Military, pro Baseball, et al. When that is official, the cadFAMILY will let you know the details (if they'll let us).

For now.... PLAY BALL!!!


cadDAD


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Last edited by AcademyDad
AcademyDadAcademyDad500+ posts
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Today's update...

Just spoke with Karl and he said you can't believe how nice it is to be able to sleep until 7AM. And when you get up, not having to worry about that Astro-Physics paper that's due tom'row... just baseball, baseball, baseball. He also said that he wished he had learned a bit more Spanish before leaving home... seems there are just a few ESL (or not even) kids there.

He said they are breaking things down to the most basic of drills (says he loves it) and rep/rep/rep. And when they get done, they get to go watch "the older kids" play.

He is supposed to find out by Saturday if he's on a plane to Williamsport, PA or Lakewood, NJ on Sunday. Weather in Clearwater is VERY hot and muggy.

Play Ball!

cadDAD

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J JT1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by AcademyDad:
And when you get up, not having to worry about that Astro-Physics paper that's due tom'row...

Only that Astros-Phillies game that's due to be played today Smile

I enjoy the updates and hearing about one of the many special young men who play a great game...especially one who will also be serving our country. Please keep 'em coming.
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
quote:
Originally posted by infielddad:
quote:
And a brand new A2000 1B's glove, hats, several sets of spikes, bats, etc.


However, unless the Phillies are different than every other MLB club, the items highlighted above came from a source other than the team.


Paragraph XI: Clubs will select and furnish player with necessary baseball uniforms, excluding shoes, but including all numerals, emblems,logos or devices to be worn on the uniform or affixed thereto. Additionally, Club may, if it wishes to do so, provide SHOES or other personal equipment items or apparel, such as BATTING GLOVES or FIELDING GLOVES. Smile

Best of luck Karl!
Last edited by TPM
itsinthegameitsinthegame5,000+ posts
My version of "Field of Dreams":

Before the game - you walk into the clubhouse. You see your name above the locker. In your locker - you have a nice ball of soft mozzerella, a stick of hot sopressata and a loaf of Bastone Italian bread from the Bronx.

Then they hand you the contract:

Here is a clause:

Paragraph XI: Clubs will select and furnish player with necessary varieties of cannoli, excluding chocolate cannoli, but including all other flavors, balsemic vinegar soaked black olives, sharp provolone cheese and manicotta. All must be eaten and not worn on the uniform or affixed thereto. Additionally, Club may, if it wishes to do so, provide baked ziti or other personal pasta favorites, such as penne ala vodka or veal parmigiana over linguine.

Yeah - mangia!
Last edited by itsinthegame
AcademyDadAcademyDad500+ posts
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UPDATE.....

After going 0 fer 6 in his first Professional game y'day, OfficerKID came back today and got his first Professional hit of his career.


A two-run JACK to left center against the GCL (Detroit) Tigers.

Way to go Karl!!!


cadDAD

The roller coaster ride continues...

I remember complaining for years about how Gametracker "was like watching paint dry". What I'd give for a little Gametracker right now...

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Last edited by AcademyDad
AcademyDadAcademyDad500+ posts
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Tonight's update...

Karl called a little while ago, and told me about how so few of his teammates speak English. They are trying to bond as a team, and after his dismal performance at the plate y'day, one of the Venezuelan kids was "trying to pick him up" before today's game.

Conversation went something like this:

"you good swing...

you pitch choice bad..."


Again tonite... Life is Good.


cad/OffcrDAD

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Last edited by AcademyDad
itsinthegameitsinthegame5,000+ posts
AcademyDad

On-base plus slugging, or OPS, is a baseball statistic which is calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Both the ability of a player to get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented, making it an effective way of measuring the offensive worth of a player. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League Baseball puts the player in the upper echelon of offensive ability. Typically, the league leader in OPS will score near, and not necessarily below, the 1.000 mark.
AcademyDadAcademyDad500+ posts
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The Armed Forces have a traveling All-Star Team which is playing in Central Florida this weekend. These kids travel all night by van, (they were in The Cape two weeks ago), spend daytimes in local hospitals visiting sick kids, in retirement homes, and evenings playing baseball. Most of them are deployed Active Duty, home to recharge, before heading back to "protect our hindsides". Here's a link on them:


http://www.usmilitaryallstars.us/pressrelease1.htm

Make sure you watch the video...



Karl got to see a number of his old teammates and good friends at their game last night. He was embarrassed, as they all treated him like he was someone special, while it's these kids that are doing the "heavy lifting" (Karl's words)...

God bless all of them...

today... just proud to be... DAD



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Last edited by AcademyDad
observer44observer441,000+ posts
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quote:
These kids are America's finest. I hope some of you get to see them play. Their uni's are desert camo with TEAM USA on the shirts.








quote:

Karl got to see a number of his old teammates and good friends at their game last night. He was embarrassed, as they all treated him like he was someone special, while it's these kids that are doing the "heavy lifting" (Karl's words)...







Cool 44
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Last edited by observer44
AcademyDadAcademyDad500+ posts
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For all of you have been trying to contact me the past few days...

cadMOM and I picked up Karl's car in Denver on Thursday night, and are driving it to Florida.... basically the National Lampoon Summer Vacation from h*ll. Currently speeding along I-10 outside Tallahassee using my global internet connection... cool...

Antelope, super storms in Dallas, 38 hours of driving... or something like that. But we get to see OfficerKID play this week!

What we do for our kids...

cadDAD

C09... haven't forgotten you. I will respond. Too tough to type and drive...


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Last edited by AcademyDad

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