We Make the Best Story Tellers

The idea of this blog post formulated while I was showering after the day’s events.  For some reason, I tend to do some of my better thinking in the shower, but that is another story all together.  This brings me to the realization I had that throughout the day: baseball players and coaches tell stories.  A lot.  I do not think I could identify a 20-minute window throughout the day where I did not listen to, or tell a story regarding a past baseball event.

There are recollections of plays, follies, speeches, road trip highlights, and pretty much any other things you can think of that occur during a season.  It is funny how homeruns always seem to be farther, the weather that night worsens, and the situation gets direr each time the story is retold.  As if the seasons were not long enough, we are always the first to go back and relive the experiences.  This is one of the reasons we play.  We get to do things that only a handful of people in the population will ever be able to say they did.  This fraternity has its own set of rules, and with that is the folklore that goes with it.  Some of these stories make for interesting conversations with outsiders, but there are some stories that do not belong in the public’s eye. 

It is not that we are trying to keep things a big secret.  There are just some things that the general public does not need to know about.  During the long season, there are many things that are said and actions that are taken that may not be the best things to say or do at the time.  These may be viewed poorly in the public’s eye.  Conversely, there are motivational words said and experiences that are very positive in nature.  While these occurrences may seem like nothing to hide, there is a bond between players and organizational staff that may dictate this information is best to be kept in-house.  Everything that goes on “behind closed doors” and not discussed in public are not all negative things.  There is a social stigma that if someone does not want to talk about a situation or a conversation that something is trying to be hidden.  This is simply not the case.

Some may be wondering what provoked me to write about this topic.  Anyone following the Angels closely (or maybe even minor league baseball in general) is aware of a recently published book that was supposed to provide an inside look of a minor league baseball season.  I have been asked many times what my feelings on this book are, and this will be the only time I discuss it.  I am not going to name the author or the book because this “misfit” does not need any more undeserving publicity. 

I have not read the book, and have no intentions of reading it.  However, I have read excerpts and spoken to individuals surrounding the stories told within the covers, and have formed my opinion that this work was an attempt to hurt people for personal gain.  Many things discussed in this book, whether true or not (and much evidence is piling up suggesting the latter), occurred in the inner sanctum of a clubhouse or related team functions. 

Everyone has heard “what happens in the clubhouse, stays in the clubhouse.”  We are not trying to hide everything from the public’s eye.  There are just some things behind these doors that warrant them to remain “classified.”  Do you see the military disseminating all of their classified information to the public?  Absolutely not.  Why do professional athletes have to be held to different standards?  Yes, we are looked at as role models by kids and have an obligation to be quality citizens and set professional examples.  However, this does not take away our right to share experiences with each other that deserve to stay within these close-knit families.  This book violated the inherent trust shared among individuals in these organizations and attempted to mar the reputations of many innocent people.  This proves that in order to know the whole story, you just had to be there.

“Ninety Percent of this Game is Half Mental”

It is understood that spring training is part of the grand cycle ongoing process of player development.  During March, this is accomplished by repetition of individual defensive, pitching, and hitting drills, as well as team defensive drills of picks and rundowns, first and third defenses, bunt defenses, cuts and relays, and pop fly communication.  These drills are performed over and over until they become force of habit, which are then reinforced in games.

However, as much as physical acts are a part of the game, the mental aspect of the game can be paramount.  Optimal physical performance begins with preparation and a plan.  Focusing on a plan and developing a routine to achieve the plan’s objectives is how players are most successful.  To aid us in developing this part of our games, we have had several guest speakers.  Last week, the pitchers listened to a discussion presented by former California/Anaheim Angels pitcher, Chuck Finley, who spoke about a variety of pitching topics.

A few days ago, Mickey Hatcher, former Big Leaguer and current Angels hitting coach spoke to hitters about the importance of having a plan when going up to the plate, and sticking with it.  He stressed that all of the mechanical drill work is done in the cages and batting practice, and that once game time rolls around, you need to trust what you have on that given night.  This echoes what last year’s hitting coach, Damon Mashore, was always stressing: ‘your swing for that night is what you have, trust it.’

Yesterday, former Major League utility player and current Angels color commentary, Rex Hudler, spoke to all players about a variety of topics.  In his twenty minute talk (which is one of the best speeches I have listened to), the main message was to “sense the urgency.”  In the scheme of life, our professional baseball careers only make up a small timeframe.  “Hud” stressed the importance of giving it everything you have every day, because nothing is guaranteed.  Someone is always ready to take food of your table and win your job.  This motivational discussion was admirably presented and very well received by the players.

Getting After It

Full squads have begun, and the controlled chaos called spring training has become even more hectic.  At any given time, all four fields are now being used, forcing grassy areas outside of the fields to be used for some exercises and drills.  The monotony and repetition of pitchers and catchers week has given way to team defense drills and live batting practice.  We still go through the defensive drills we had been for the first week, but less time is spent on each activity.

Games begin on Wednesday, and along with that starts early work.  As mentioned in a previous post, early work is drills that are done by as few as one or as many as several players, before practice that day.  Early work occurs both in spring training and during the season, and normally lasts 15-30 minutes.  For me, this involves hitting drills and catching drills.  The catching drills are either extra work on things we put the most emphasis on (bunts, blocks, and transfers), or on things we do not have a chance to work on as much (such as pop ups).  Some other early work examples that other players do are infielders working on their double play transfers, and outfielders working on throws to bases.

During the season, hitting early work is usually mandatory for all position players.  Defensive early work is prevalent when the respective rover is in town, but is also done throughout the season on a semi-frequent basis.  These sessions are generally initiated by players wanting to work on things, but can also be scheduled by a coach or manager.

With days generally starting around 9:00am, early work will begin sometime a little after 8:00am.  While this may seem like overkill and that our days are long enough as is, these are just additional steps we take to pay attention to detail and perfect our craft.

It’s a Small World (After All)

After a few more days and the completion of a “Data Quality Issues in Multinational Companies” paper (scintillating, I know), the fourth day has come to a close and things are progressing in a very similar manner to that of the first day.  With the exception of moving on to plays at the plate instead of bunts, bullpens increasing to 10 minutes (12 minutes Friday and Saturday), and starting weight workouts yesterday, the routine has been pretty much the same.  Aside from some expected aches and pains, I am holding up pretty well.

I have entered my third year of professional baseball, and the scores of people I have met, both in person and online through my blogging endeavors, seem to always be on the rise.  I have interacted with many people on road trips who have brought up the blog and some things about my personal life (where I went to school, my hometown, etc.).  I am always amazed at the research some people do on incoming teams, just for the satisfaction of getting to talk to us for a little and usually sign a baseball card for them.  That is very humbling to say the least. 

Playing these past few years has introduced me to many strangers who have become very dedicated supporters.  One such person is Lee, an usher at Diablo Stadium (where the Angels play their home spring games).  Lee is around our complex before Angels home games and during afternoons for Angels road games, and he observes the daily activities and talks to the players.  I have gotten to know him quite a bit over the last year and his support of our efforts continues to be well received.

The reason I began thinking about the people I have met over these years occurred yesterday after practice.  Our clubhouse manager, Eric, told me that there was someone that wanted to see me in his office.  So I walk in, and there is a man wearing a ridiculously big straw hat that was not quite a sombrero, but was not your typical sun hat either.  His eyes lit up when he saw me and I could tell this was just a genuinely happy guy.  His bio, in short (as I remember it), is that he used to be vendor outside of Diablo Stadium and somehow knows Eric. 

Anyway (here comes the “it’s a small world moment”), he is the cousin of a restaurant owner (Jim Casey) in New York where my family has been going for many years.  My family has been going to Casey’s (now in Rensselaer, formerly Jimmie Casey’s in Schodack) for as long as I can remember.  How Freddy connected my parents knowing Jim Casey to me, and that I was with the Angels, is beyond me.  He might have actually explained it during our conversation, but I was so caught up in how happy he was to meet me that I was not listening intently.  After a picture with him, I went on my way, still shocked at these circumstances.

Today, when I came inside from practice, there was a package in my locker from Fast Freddy.  It turns out that he makes kettle corn (which happens to be one of my favorite snacks) under the brand, Fred’s Frozen H2O.  Encounters like this can really shrink the world and make you amazed at how small it really is.

When in Doubt, Run

Day one has come and gone.  There were no surprises, which is a very good thing when players rely so heavily on routines to keep their wits about them.  I took the 7:00am bus from the hotel (there is also an 8:00am bus, but with the day beginning at 9:00am, I would not have the prep time I need to get ready for the day).  After arriving at the complex, I changed into workout clothes and got on the bike to warm up, and followed this with a stretching program.  I had a little more free time today than I would some days after finishing this warm-up because early work has not yet started.  I will delve into those sessions later this spring.  So, I donned the uniform for the first time since September, and headed out to the field for the 9:00am meeting.

Today’s meeting was a lengthy introduction so we could meet the minor league coaches and support staff, go over rules and regulations, and discuss objectives.  The main takeaway from the objectives discussion is that our goals are not to merely make a certain minor league club or make it to the Major League team in Anaheim; rather, our goal is to make it and stay in Anaheim.  While we are all still fighting the odds that 5 percent of minor league baseball players will ever play in the Majors, if you do not have the goal in your mind, why are you here?

After our orientation, the day pretty much flew by.  Stretching (30 minutes).  Run.  Long-toss (10 minutes).  Run.  Bunt drill (10 minutes).  Run (you might be sensing a pattern).  Blocking drill (10 minutes).  Run.  Transfer drill (10 minutes).  Run.  Hitting factory (30 minutes of bunting, fungo, curveball, and tee stations).  Run.  Batting practice (hit for 15 minutes and shag for 30 minutes).  Run.  Bullpens (45 minutes – I caught three, 8-minute bullpens).  Conditioning (eight sprint-jog-walks).

Correct, we run on our way to everything.  These are not all-out sprints, but we are expected to get to our next destination on the move.  So, if you are in doubt, run.  Somewhere.  Anywhere.  Even if you go to the wrong location, at least you will not have wasted as much time trying to find the right location than if you were walking.

After finishing the outdoor activities around 1:15pm, it was back inside to change back into workout clothes so I could do my cool down and flush the legs.  I grabbed a soup and sandwich (which be will lunch almost every day of the spring-good thing they are good sandwiches), and quickly ate the soup while I put the sandwich away for later.  I went to do a cool down on the bike for 15 minutes, and followed that with some stretching (yes, I stretched three times today) and ab work.

So, with the work over, it was time to flush out the legs in the hot and cold whirlpools.  The idea behind alternating two minutes in the 102-degree hot tub and one minute in the paltry, 55-degree cold tub is that the muscles relax and expand in the hot tub, then the cold tub causes everything to tighten and the lactic acid is basically squeezed out of the muscles.  From experience, I can definitely say that things tighten up while soaking in 55-degree water.  It is a good thing I spent quite a few summer vacations in the chilly water off the Cape Cod beaches growing up, although this water seems much colder than it was there.  After doing three cycles of soaking, the day was finished and it was time to head back to the hotel.

Today began with me getting up at 6:30am and leaving the complex a little after 3:00pm.  It is spring training for a reason, and days are only going to get longer when we start full squad workouts.  But, everything we do during these days has a purpose: to get us prepared for this season and help us to make it to Anaheim.

Quick Note

My blog was recently picked up by MLBlogs.  The address for that is
http://angelsprospect.mlblogs.com
.  I am still going to administer both blogs, as this site has my posts from Season One.  The content on both blogs for this season will be the same.

And So It Begins

I have reported to Tempe, AZ for Spring Training.  A long and productive offseason culminated this morning with an early flight through Indianapolis to Phoenix.  The first day in town tends to be quite a process as there are many things that need to get accomplished.

Setting up the locker is the first task.  This process is started by putting out cleats, turfs, running shoes, and shower sandals, followed by undershirts, sliders, and other apparel.  After arranging these items, placing the batting gloves and other miscellaneous items in the locker happens next.  Checking out the new catchers gear soon follows, and then the arduous task of adjusting the many straps on the shin guards, chest protector, and mask is completed.  It is imperative that everything is adjusted and ready to go 9am Monday morning.  The last task was to tape up some new bats (ironic that I happened to do this last, as hitting is the skill valued least by Angels catchers).

Having arranged the locker, it was time to check in with the training staff.  This check in involves filling out the injury and general health questionnaire and the emergency contact card.  A baseline arm range of motion measurement was then taken; this appears to be new for this year (at least among position players).  After all of this was taken care of, I was given my physical time tomorrow morning of 8:30.  There is nothing like getting up early to be poked and prodded by orthopedists.

While these things were going on, I kept running into past teammates, either from Rancho Cucamonga, Cedar Rapids, or the Tempe Angels (from when I was on rehab assignment).  Seeing the guys that finished the season in Cedar Rapids brought back feelings of déjà vu, as it seems like not so long ago we were cleaning out our lockers after losing in the playoffs to Burlington six months prior.

After finishing up at the complex, it was off to the hotel.  We stay in a Homestead Suites, which is designed for extended stays.  I am rooming with Efren Navarro, and even though he is a position player (most of whom report March 13), he was invited early to get some extra work in.  We have been good friends since the time we spent in Orem, and it is better to have your rooming situation planned to avoid getting a random roommate.

Now I am off to track down some dinner.  Until I can get a ride to the supermarket from one of the guys who have a car here, that is probably going to be at the Sheraton’s restaurant which is a short walk from here.  My frequency eating there last spring training led to me developing good ties with the servers, yielding valuable discounts to make our $15 spring training per diem go a little farther.