After a couple of days we figured out the routine. When they play at home he reports to the park at 8:00, has breakfast in the clubhouse, and is on the field by 9:00 for stretching and stuff. They head off in a charter bus at 10:00 to the minor league fields for batting practice and are back at the ball park by 11:30 for a light lunch. Games start at 1:00. It’s so neat to see him in the dug out with the “big boys.” They’ve all been great to him …very friendly and helpful. Yesterday he gave up his seat on the bench to a big leaguer who later put two bats in his locker as a thank you.
He’s only had one AB so far …2 outs, bottom of the 9th, two on base, tie game, full count …and he K’d. That’s baseball... spending a lot of time on the pines “paying his dues.” After the game they hit in the batting cages for about a half hour, lift weights, then leave around 6:00pm. He and his buddies go out for dinner every night and then back to the hotel for heated PS2 tourneys. He did take us out for dinner each night while we were there.
We followed him around everywhere …had to see it all. At the games we sat in a section with other players' parents. During one game it hit me that things really haven't changed that much for us through the levels of baseball. We're still sitting in the stands, meeting new parents, watching our sons play, and wondering where they'll fit in...same as when they were in Little League.
God is good!
