I would imagine that most posters here are on their 'final countdown' until the first game of the season. Since we are blessed to live in a part of the country that allows for early baseball, many in this forum are only a couple of weeks before first pitch (or hit, bunt, walk, catch, or field). My question is -- what are you doing to prepare?? Either yourselves, to be an appropriate athletic supporter (metaphorically, of course), or for you players, to make sure that you are ready to go both mentally and physically. Frankly, while I'm interested in both, I am particularly curious as to how you are preparing from the 'mental' side of the baseball season. Any thoughts or tips that you can share?
***************************** 'Progress always involves risk. You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.'
Posts: 1121 | Location: Northern California | Registered: August 26, 2003
Originally posted by URKillingMeBlue: Frankly, while I'm interested in both, I am particularly curious as to how you are preparing from the 'mental' side of the baseball season.
Starting to drink heavily again. Looking forward to the left field line at Evans and the parking lot at Sunken (hiccup).
---------------------- Go Monarchs!
Posts: 3639 | Location: California | Registered: June 22, 2003
First game is this Friday. Road trip. Made hotel reservations and broke out the winter jacket as it was 35 degrees last night and our first game is a night game. Not much to do for my son, he is ready.
RHP05Parent - I'm really looking forward to hearing all about your season. Hope it's a great one for you and particularly for E. Keep us posted please and have fun in SLO!!!
By the way, a great store for gifts, etc., is Hands, which is in downtown SLO. Used to get a lot of Christmas presents there....
***************************** 'Progress always involves risk. You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.'
Posts: 1121 | Location: Northern California | Registered: August 26, 2003
Thanks URKMB Driving down tomorrow for the season opener. Can't wait for my baseball fix. It's been toooooo long. Will be following son's buddies at Cal too! Good luck with your season!
Posts: 1691 | Location: Northern California | Registered: December 26, 2002
Good luck to your son this week-end ... am sure you are all excited.
And don't know how many night games you may have been to in SLO but all I can say is TAKE LOTS OF BLANKETS, GOVES, SCARVES, AND WARM SOCKS ... it does get a tad cool there in the evenings, especially with the breeze/wind. Have fun.
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
How exciting and good luck to your son and his team. Let the games begin.
Just found out this evening that my son will be the starting pitcher for the alumni game on Saturday. Yikes! So I guess in a small way, I'll get my fix this weekend too.
Posts: 286 | Location: Northern CA | Registered: October 01, 2004
Do those good wishes go out to the pro guys as well?
Hope to see you at the Cal series ... I will be there either Fri or Sat ... need to work out some things with URKMB first.
And best wishes to Little Bull this season ...
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
I'll be the Dad that looks like a cross between Brad Pitt, Danny DeVito and Orson Wells.
Hmmmmmmm ... I am trying to figure out what the best features are on each of those gentlemen, and so far I have come up with: Brad Pitt's good looks and Orson Wells voic3e. But unfortunately, I can't think of one good feature or attribute for Mr DeVito
I'll be the mom who looks like someone who quit smoking 11+ months ago and put on the weight to prove it
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
Well, son made his first college pitching appearance on Sunday! What crazy emotions to go through. He’s been fortunate to be a starter in his HS career, so being a bullpen parent was a new experience. You’re sitting there cheering for the team and hoping everyone plays well and the pitching is solid …. but, you also know that if the starter does well your son may not get an appearance! It was like having the comic devil & angel sitting on your shoulder. One is telling you to cheer on the team and the other voice is saying “…would giving up a few runs really be that bad right now?” Talk about conflict! Well, on to the game. The team won the first 2 games. Lots of excitement, grand slam in the first game, 5 HRs total in the series. In Sunday’s game we did have some pitching challenges. At the top of the 6th inning we are down 4-2, there is 1 out and bases loaded. Time called. Their #2-4 hitters are looking for their next victim ... pitching coach comes out, signs to the pen and yep, you guessed it, son gets the call!
Blood pressure immediately rises and an “Oh my God” escapes my lips. So, here goes. 1-0 count and son gets a pop up to right field. Good right? No,not really. Since this hitter always pulls the ball, they had a serious shift on. RF can’t get back in time. One run, bases still loaded, still only one out. THEN, #3 hitter comes up, strikes out swinging, 0-3 count. #4 comes up, strikes out swinging 2-3 count. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Crowd goes wild and I take my first breath since son stepped on the mound. The bats stay quiet, so son comes out again for the 7th now down 5-2. He looks calm (unlike Dad & Mom ) and gets to work. Good stuff, ends with 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 errors, 2 LOB. Bats now come alive and we put 5 runs on the board to go up 7-5. 8th inning, 3 up 3 down!!! Whoopee we go into the top of the 9th with the lead …. just 3 outs away.
Wish the story had ended here..... But nope, more fun to come. I expect to see one of the closers coming out to finish the game …… instead I see son jogging back to the mound! Starts off with a hard ground ball to second, but wide throw leaves us with a runner on. Next batter takes son’s first pitch for a double! Son leaves to make way for that closer with a 7-5 lead. In all, a good start and two very proud parents!
What happened next was exciting but not pretty. We went into the bottom of the ninth actually trailing 8-7 having just given up 3 runs on 3 hits and 1 error. But the story has a happy ending. Our #4 hitter leads off with a walk and #5 comes in to hit a monster walk-off homer. Priceless.
(Disclaimer: The above story was told by a pitcher's parent. Not to be taken as a complete account of the game nor of all those who contributed! )
Posts: 1691 | Location: Northern California | Registered: December 26, 2002
RHP05Parent - I know ALL of those emotions...very, VERY well. But you survived it! And more importantly, it sounds like EMass did quite well. A very sincere CONGRATULATIONS!
---------------------- Go Monarchs!
Posts: 3639 | Location: California | Registered: June 22, 2003
Let the games begin! 
Driving down tomorrow for the season opener. Can't wait for my baseball fix. 
It's been toooooo long. 
So I guess in a small way, I'll get my fix this weekend too. 
Talk about conflict! 
The bats stay quiet, so son comes out again for the 7th now down 5-2. He looks calm (unlike Dad & Mom 
Son leaves to make way for that closer with a 7-5 lead. In all, a good start and two very proud parents! 
We went into the bottom of the ninth actually trailing 8-7 having just given up 3 runs on 3 hits and 1 error. But the story has a happy ending. 
