Let the season (08) begin ...

quote:

I met Brad Furnish tonight, guess he and Matt played against each other.

Yep, in summer leagues, and they played on the same team at the PG event close to you, in high school, and, again in college.

Brad's high school team in his senior year lost 2-0 on a one hitter by him to my son's high school on a two run dinger by Matt.

He has always been an outstanding pitcher and competitor.

Hard to keep up with all of them now..........

Spring training has been an interesting process.

Didn't really get to know that many players after the draft last year and just playing for one team the rest of the summer.

Was talking to Matt today about the young man from the Naval Academy that I mentioned earlier in this thread.

Has he left yet? Did you meet him?

"Dad, I just spent a month with him in AZ"

Fascinating to watch these young men on their journey................

I really enjoy this topic. So many players we have seen as young kids now playing professional baseball, many talked about right here in this thread.

Having been a parent of baseball players I have an understanding of what might be going through other parents minds.

TPM, I just happened to see the Palm Beach roster this morning. It surprised me how many kids I know from old PG days. Don't know how, but somehow I just seem to remember nearly every one of those players.

Same thing for the Lugnuts and other teams. Liuzza, Mastroianni (Who's he?), Justin Jackson, Tollisano, Joel Collins, Aherns, Pettway, Crowell, and a few others I have had the pleasure of watching them while they were young.

I can't tell you how much fun it is to hear everyone talk about these kids.

So if anyone feels like hesitating because of wanting to be humble. Please don't, this is great stuff.

PG,
Lots of past PG players on the PB roster. Lots of players who played with and against each other for may years and met up years ago on the backfields of Jupiter. Also lots of players I know on opposing teams, including some HSBB websters sons.

BTW, everytime we are there, I think of the history DK has with that complex. Fall ball, summer league, USA tryouts, PG woodbat tournies, and for me, meeting up with many websters including yourself.

DK was matched with Kazmir today (he's in rehab). Now that was very strange, after all these years of you mentioning him as one of your fav players.

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Latest update on the young Lt. Not playing as much as he would like (has played in 12 of 18 games) and without playing everyday, has "lost his edge" as he puts it. Problem is he is one of 3 1B's, and he is playing 4th out of 3 OF'ers. Today was hopefully a breakout day as he solo homered in the 2nd (his first of the season and according to the guy on the radio, he hit it to the 420 mark in LCF, over a 15'fence, over the scoreboard and out of the stadium on to the street... he said it was one of the biggest he had seen). Then in the 4th he came up with bases loaded and hit one to the warning track in LF for a SAC and an RBI. In the 7th he hit another monster shot, just a couple of feet foul and then fisted a broken bat single for another RBI. Lakewood won 4-1.

He's living in Lakewood, NJ, which is an enclave of Hassidic Jews (supposedly the largest concentration of Orthodox Jews in the world... think Fiddler on the Roof), but is also 15 minutes from the Jersey Shore which if they get any time off should prove for some 20-something fun this summer. He's living with a host family out in the country and complains that the rooster wakes them up every morning (something about a future WalMart purchase of a BB gun). But it's a great bunch of kids from Australia, Stanford, Clemson, UCLA, O*r*a*l* Roberts, and basically all over).

Just spoke with him a few minutes ago, 5 hours into an 8 hour bus ride from Hagerstown, MD to Lexington, KY. The glamorous part of it all he said.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/...80423107/1002/SPORTS

Go Air Force!
Go Navy!

cadDAD

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I love this thread! Thank you to all who are letting us peek at the day-to-day life of a minor league player. Really interesting to read.


cadDad,

That sounds like a great day at the plate for cadKid #1, and hopefully just one of many to come. Very funny comments about the rooster and WalMart purchase.

An 8 hour bus ride...I know that is probably common in MiLB, but when you stop and think about how 8 hours in a bus feels, it makes you wonder how they can play their best when they get to their destination!

Best wishes to Karl,

Julie

quote:

according to the guy on the radio, he hit it to the 420 mark in LCF, over a 15'fence, over the scoreboard and out of the stadium on to the street...

Don't 'cha just love that.......................

regarding the bus trips, on the last day of the series remember they have to check out of motel rooms by 11,hang around until the go to the field... practice,play the game, get on the bus travel 8 hrs, go home,get up and report to the field for the next game.... I think this generation grew up spending so much time traveling in cars they don't seem to mind.

A day ride is easier than a plane.

Bus picks them up at the field with their bags and takes them to the hotel or field.

Much easier than the airport.

"Couple of movies and you are there"

Longest bus ride for our son in the Southern League is Mobile to Carolina Mudcats' which is 14 hours and that is all interstate. I am not sure any of them get used to it no matter how strong their desire to 'make it' ... just thinking about 14 hours in any vehicle makes my bum sore.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:

Same thing for the Lugnuts and other teams. Liuzza, Mastroianni (Who's he?), Justin Jackson, Tollisano, Joel Collins, Aherns, Pettway, Crowell, and a few others I have had the pleasure of watching them while they were young.

PG - You thought I missed that?

Here he is:

its,

Sorry, I didn't realize they traded him to the Phillies. Or was it the Yankees?

It's never easy but our son called and told us that his best friend on the team and in the organization was released today after their game. (He has another best friend who used to be with the Dbacks but was picked up by another team in a Rule 5 draft couple of years ago ... they stay in touch and have even 'vacationed' together with their wives.) Anyway, it was a bit of a surprise because even tho the player had been struggling at the start of the season, he seemed to be getting better with each appearance. So, altho they all work with that shadow of doubt over their heads everyday, it is never easy to see one of their friends get his pink slip.

Wow,
April 2008 gone for proball. It is actually mine's first season of proball. Son has had some teammates move up already, others let out of extended to cover positions needed. Injuries (already) create movement.

Everyday is the same, report certain time, either get there earlier for a bus ride out, or 4 hours before a home game. Dinner after the game, wind down, get to bed, get up to do it all over again. It's not glamourous, however, in South Florida some players find it to be. The weather has been great, but I understand some already dreading the heat and humidity to follow, it's tough to play in, pitchers have to adjust due to humidity and team is already on those not used to it for drinking more water now.
There are some players older than son who have had injuries or not performed who were top prospects when drafted. They know their time is limited, if they don't move to AA by this summer, they could be gone next year. That creates a lot of pressure.

Every league is different, FL is a pitcher's league played in ML spring training facilities. Beautiful, but big. Those pitchers moved up stuggling a bit at the next level in a different type of league. Line up changes often, pitcher has to adjust each game on defense. You don't always have the same guys behind you, the same catcher. You have to throw what they want you to that day. If you are a FB pitcher, one day all of a sudden you have to work on the CB or slider. If you are told to gently plunk someone to move them back, you got to do it and be willing to do so without reprecussions (ER for the walk) If you are told to come inside and hit the batter at the hands, you got to move forward and shake it off. This is one thing you have to learn as you go, you have to be able to adjust or adapt or you can't move forward. It's not HS and not college ball.

For those of you hoping that someday your player may get the chance to play proball at the highest level, the possibilities are more against you than for you. My hats off to anyone who has reached that goal, those players are special and we all have no clue what it took them to get there.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
its,

Sorry, I didn't realize they traded him to the Phillies. Or was it the Yankees?

The Yankees?

Never!!!

Do they still have a team?

Son got his first 'save' of the season going 3 innings. He did give up a run and several hits but they were ahead 8 to 3 before he came in so he had room. He threw 2.2 his last time out and did well ... threw around 5+ scoreless innings till today ... he is just happy to get in and contribute.

Life is good !!!

Some of the spice of playing in the minors this season ---

Catching Mark Pryor

Talking the '06 WS with Jim Edmonds

...and the most recent. Omar Vizquel is doing a rehab assignment with the Giants' affiliate. Aeden has been struggling at the plate. First AB, he scorches one to the left side, Vizquel makes one of his diving stops & throws him out. So Vizquel comes up to bat the next inning and Aeden says "Nine guys on the field and I have to hit it to the one with ten Gold Gloves" Sly smile from Omar, "Eleven."

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando:
So Vizquel comes up to bat the next inning and Aeden says "Nine guys on the field and I have to hit it to the one with ten Gold Gloves" Sly smile from Omar, "Eleven."

That is great !!! I just love the way so many of the big leaguers treat the minor leaguers as 'some of the guys'. I realize some can be jerks towards the younger players, but when a gold glove winner can banter with a 'young guy' like this, it makes so much of the drudge of it seem worth it.

That was good, Orlando........

Very good.

I love the baseball on field etiquette.

Things you do and don't do.

And, the related penalty, etc.

I was proud of my son after he told me this story, I think.

He said a player "stroked a homer on 'em and kinda 'pimped' it outa the box pretty good."

So, on the next batter up, he put down "the middle finger", the batter was plunked, and the pitcher routinely ejected with the accompanying suspension and $150 fine.

He told me that since he had made the call himself, rather than the coach, he paid 1/2 of the $150 fine.

Thought it was the right thing to do.

FO,
"AIM HIGH" and hope you miss.

Dog days of summer tonight, let's see how many "barks" the pitcher gets.

A few weeks ago there was an act going on during warm ups, he had to wait about 5 minutes for it to end before first pitch, sometimes for pitchers the entertainmanet is distracting.

They usually enjoy it more on their "off" days.

Well 106 dogs in attendance and not a bark, just this very loud lady yelling all night Go Devil Rays.
It wasn't a great night for Palm Beach.

Before the game, a Memorial Day tribute to our veterans and those serving overseas. How very touched we were that those guys go defend our country while mine can play baseball.

Regardless of whether they belong there or not, never forget it's those men and women defend what we stand for.