So football season is officially over. What are we going to do now? Easy. Time to get ready for another baseball season, and perhaps another title run for a certain team that plays south of NYC and north of Maryland? But we can't start a new season until we finish the previous one. And with spring camps set to open in a few days, I saved the final UFR for this week. Honest, I planned it this way all along. (Got to tip my hat to the UFR Marketing and Research team for that one.) Plus, those of us in the northeast need something to remind us what warm weather is like. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J05GItzHKvQ)
On a personal note, I'd like to thank those of you who have taken the time to read these over the last 6 months. OK, 10 months. Wow, I really know how to stretch out a good thing, huh? I've enjoyed receiving comments from many of you and welcome others to do so. Let me know what you think. Entertaining or a waste of time? Who am I kidding? In the age of facebook and twitter, is anything a waste of time anymore? Oh, and while I'm waiting for that book deal or Disney to buy the movie rights to all this, I'm available if anyone is looking for a private baseball instructor. (See, more marketing.)
Week 10, June 12, Playoffs round 2, vs Tigers, Central Park
In addition to winning, as a coach you want to see improvement in your team. Especially with kids at this age, getting better is more important than getting victories. All we can ask of our players is that they listen, work hard, and show a passion and respect for the game. But of course, nobody wants to lose. That's no fun. And baseball is supposed to be fun. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeiYnVScg7w)
Another picture perfect day in Central Park and we were all a little jumpy for the tilt. Especially the coach from the Tigers. While Jeff and I were looking great in our full uniforms, this guy was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt and a team hat. Even an hour before the game started, he started asking us to flip a coin to see who was home and visitor. He wouldn't stop talking either. We kept telling him, we'll wait for the umpire to do it. A few minutes later, he kept going.
"I have to prepare my team. Let's do it now", he said.
"The ump has to do it, coach. Let's just wait for him. Keep it official," Jeff replied.
"I don't want to wait. I have to prepare my team. You guys want to be home?"
"Uh, yeah, if you're giving it to us, sure."
We were more than happy to be the home team. Hey, anything else you want to give us? How about the win? Fine by me! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veTVnroZ7OQ) We'll take any advantage we could get. Afterall, it's the playoffs. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYeRDCWU1HA) And not only do the playoffs bring face painting, added excitement and pressure, but apparently, they bring the cameras too. After winning his age group in MLB's Pitch Hit and Run contest, the Association wanted to do a feature on Ned for their website. So a camera man was there to shoot the game and get some sound bites. Pretty cool for Ned by the way. He won a couple of local competitions, then was invited to be recognized at Yankees Stadium, representing all 12 year olds. I wish I can take credit for it, but the kid is really talented, which clearly means I had nothing to do with it. He's a good egg.
Overall, the boys probably played their best game of the season. We trailed the whole game, but never more than a couple runs. Everytime the Tigers would score, we'd fight back and score. Once again, we had chances to really take control of the game, but just couldn't get that timely hit. It killed us all year. The guys got out of some potential big innings with great pitching and defense. We were hanging around and felt we would break through. After getting out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the 6th, we had the momentum in the bottom half. Down 4-3, we ended up loading the bases ourselves and had Fred coming up. Fred had some big hits this year, but I knew he was nervous as he walked up to the plate. He had told me once earlier in the season that he was nervous in a similar situation. I thought about calling time out and talking to him quickly, to settle him down. Maybe, I thought, I'd tell him if he got a hit, I'd be his friend on Facebook, since he had been bugging me so much at the high school game the previous week. He was a little like this guy. (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP9gSfXgir0&feature=related) But then I figured, why put more pressure on the kid. I mean, getting a hit in that situation is tough enough, but the prospect of becoming my friend might be too much for anyone to handle. So I decided to sit back and see if he could get through it on his own. I should have called time out. He struck out swinging on 3 pitches. Again, we're all learning here, including me. Damn.
Tough way for the season to end. But they all must end, and only one team can win it all. Meeting as a team in shallow left field, we told the boys how proud we were of them for battling hard all year, especially today. Nobody likes losing, but in a transition year like this one, there’s no need to focus on the scoreboard. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEUSyVjQH6g) I told them that their level of play dramatically increased from the beginning of the season to the end and they should hold their heads up high.
Jeff and I were presented team photos signed by the entire team (and a nice unexpected monetary tip from the parents). Jack’s father, our scorekeeper, offered some nice words on our behalf. It meant a lot that our efforts were so appreciated by the parents. I certainly felt a level of responsibility coaching these boys. When you’re paying close to $750 for your son to play on the team and the coach is receiving a paycheck from the Association (albeit a very small one), you feel as if you’re working for the parents. And in a sense, you are. They trust you with the development of their child as a ballplayer for one, but also that you will be some sort of a role model for them. I take great pride in carrying that trust and responsibility. And as I told the parents, in all my years involved in youth baseball, as a player, umpire, and now coach, (just past 30 years) I’ve never seen as much support from the parents as I had from this group. It made me even more appreciative (if that is possible) of my own parents, who made sure I made every practice, and attended every single game when I was a kid. That’s what made my first season of coaching all worthwhile. It was one of the greatest decisions I’ve ever made.
Final record: 5-10-5. One playoff win.
Go Phillies!
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