- Mitt/check
- Cap/check
- Gum/check
- Knee Brace/check (new this week)
7:00 PM
- Took the field at 1B
- Missed a grounder; 2 throws in the dirt skipped by me (I had the scoop motion but not the ball)
- Dropped a toss over to first. Don't worry it's not my normal position
- Had a few pop ups just into the outfield. The Good News is I followed the track of the ball well; The Bad News is a few injuries make me hold back from doing what I want to do. Run, stretch, catch
- Slide to the OF. A pop fly I catch; Drop one; A few I can't really stretch for...damn, damn groin injury. I should just wear a sign...it's my groin injury, really. But, hey, most of those other guys are doing close to the same thing. See.
- Liner into center....I roam a bit...Need to go for it. Smack. In my glove. Nice.
- Two towering, mammoth flies to the OF. I split the pair...drop one, catch one.
- Oddly, it's starting to feel a little more natural. 35 years since I've been out here, am I crazy? Purge the thought. You're out here.
- Batting Practice....I'll start out batting RIGHT. First two swings are hard grounders down the 3rd base line. Decent. Don't strain the groin....OK, I'm being careful.
- Hey...couple of liners into the OF. Not bad. I can do this. Attitude is starting to surface. Bet I can go the other way, too. Wake up second base.
- The other way...sure a nice liner into right center; Sweet. A pop up to 1B....hey, I'm going the other way!
- That was so good a few from the Left Side....a pop up and a hard liner. .500...I'll take it!
- OK, no whiffs; No stinging like last week; My bat is coming around.
- Back to the OF. Shag a few flies; make a few catches; Drop one. Geez, what if I dropped one like this during a game at a crucial point? Purge the thought, dude.
- Hmmm...I can tell where the ball is going before the guy swings. Instinct. Now, if I can only lose the injuries so I can get that jump. Easy guy...stay within yourself.
- It's nice to be out here in CF. 70 F, I'm wearing a Tiger shirt with the Old English D, and I'm flashing leather circa 1975 Bernie Carbo, a mitt that I love more and more each time I put it on. Sometimes I just pound it with a clenched fist. I like the sound. I'm so lucky.
- OK, second week over. Survived. Hit better. Actually, got a better feel for fly balls which I'm good at judging. The adjustment is getting your body to respond in a natural way. It will come.
- On the scooter (Buddy 150). "Hey Guys...I'm building a Whiffle Ball Field. Let me know...."