Opening Day

The News Headlines read, "Defenders Off to a Slow Start" following a 10-0 loss at the hands of the New Jersey Jackals Friday night. While I personally wouldn't call losing the first game of the year a "slow start", I will admit that it was not the result we had hoped for. The Jackals had a 1-0 lead going into the top of the 3rd and then proceeded to hang a 5 spot on the board and that would be all of the support their endless array of lefties would need. Offensively we never really threatened and they tacked on a few insurance runs late in the game. The opening day highlight for me was playing behind a former high school teammate in a professional game. Seven years removed from our final game at St. Mark's (a 7-2 loss to Brandywine in the state semi's 2002), Mark Romanczuk and I are once again wearing the same uniform. I don't think two guys could have taken more different paths to arrive at the same point, but here we are. I always had a feeling that we would either play with or against each other at some point again, I just was unsure of where and when. I just hope that we both can match the success we had with the Spartans this season with the Defenders.

May 30th

Anyone who closely follows baseball knows that most double headers end in a split and ours tonight was no different. We took game one 4-2 and were defeated in game two by a score of 10-6 or something like that. It would have been a much larger margin in game two if it weren't for Chris Weakley's grand slam (his first pro hit!). Game one was a well pitched, well played game by both sides. We used our former big leaguer, Juan Padilla, to close the game and he did not disappoint. He struck out the first two hitters he faced and then induced a routine grounder to 2nd to give us our first win of the year. In game two, the Jackals jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. On a personal note, I was able to get the first base hit of the season under my belt. I had some good swing previously, just couldn't find the holes but in my first at-bat in game 2, I lined a 1-1 fastball up the middle. I also played my first game of the year in left field. Last year I got my first taste of playing out in the pasture for the Roadrunners and now it appears on my baseball resume as another position I can play. The coaches here have said that I am going to play out there every once and while which is fine with me because it allows me to stay in the line up.

Playing outfield tonight leads me to one bit of unfortunate news. After the game I was signing autographs and catching up with an old college teammate who lives nearby when I noticed that my outfield glove was no longer where I had put it. I had it on the dugout railing rather than holding on to it while signing and apparently some kid walked off with it. This is pretty upsetting. Not just because I lost a good glove, but mainly because some kid (who I probably signed for) stole it. The organization invites fans to come down onto the field after the game to get autographs and be around the players - which is fine. I love signing and meeting some fans but I think stealing players' equipment is taking the privilege a little too far. What is the expression?? Give them an inch and they'll take a mile...case and point tonight. I guess that is what I get for being a good guy and staying after the game to sign for a few kids. They all come down and all they really want are bats and balls and now apparently gloves. I don't know who the first player to give a child a broken bat was but he opened quite a Pandora's box when he did so. Perhaps the most disturbing element of this heist is that it is very possible that a kid got into his mom's minivan proudly displaying a glove that was not his and as of yet, the parent has not intervened to returned it. The kid of course, when asked, would lie and say, "the player gave it to me" and if the parent falls for that one, my only advice to that parent would be to purchase a polygraph machine for when the kid reaches the ages of 13-18. The resolution of this will likely be me getting a new OF glove from our sponsor, Nokona, and the kids no longer being allowed to get close to the dugout after the game. Secretly I'm hoping that the youngster returns to scene of the crime with the stolen glove so he can feel the wrath of Chris Hall, our GM.

Tomorrow we play the Jackals in the final game of this four game series and it would be nice to send them home with an L to think about. Judging from what we have seen thus far, my guess is that they will throw a lefty....they have a million of them. It's no problem really, they still have to throw it over the plate. 12:30pm stretch tomorrow so I'm going to call it a night. 'Til next time...

Hurry Up and Wait

Anyone associated with outdoor athletics who hails from the northeast region of the country knows that the weather is NOT something you can control. The American Defenders have fallen victim to the weather and have had to postpone opening day due to rain. After all of the preparations, on the field and off it, everyone will have to wait one more day to see this great experiment as our general manager has called it. This of course is the worst nightmare of the front office people, having the game cancelled. They have arranged for all sorts of pre-game festivities including a one inning T-ball game, a visit from the mayor and the Governor among various and sundry displays of patriotism. Although I have not heard, I assume that these festivities will be carried out at some point during this first weekend home stand. I just hope they don't last as long and are executed more smoothly than the Memorial Day ceremonies. So tomorrow we will do it all over again and with some cooperation from mother nature, we will be able to get the season started.

An Open Invitation

Today was the final day of spring training and while we had planned on having an on-field workout, the weather conditions had other plans. When I stepped out of the house I was greeted by a rainy 48 degree morning. Just lovely....this may be the one of the few places on Earth where one day you'll be playing in perfect conditions and the next you'll have no interest in being outdoors for any purpose. The day's workout was moved to Extra Innings, a very well conceived indoor facility on the outskirts of town. The goal of the day was to "get locked in" before opening day. After the workout we had a team meeting where we learned that our pitching coach was let go and replaced by what is being referred to as a "roving pitching instructor". There is a veil of secrecy over the circumstances of this move but from what I could tell it did not seem well received by certain members of the staff. This is a common theme among independent league ball clubs....There are certain personnel decisions made and no one ever hears anything specific about them. One day someone's locker is empty, a coach doesn't show up or whatever the case and you just go about your business like nothing happened. One thing you never forget as an independent league ball player is that your job is ALWAYS on the line and that EVERYONE is replaceable. The best advice I ever received regarding this phenomenon was to approach every day like a tryout. There aren't any jobs that I can quickly think of that have this level of NON-job security.

Now that we have spring training behind us it is finally time to get into the routine of the regular season schedule. Routine is something us ball players truly cherish. It is very comforting to know that you will be doing the same thing, at the same time for the next three months. Aside from the baseball related preparations for opening day, there have been a few other preparations made by members of the Defenders. Most of them are due to the relationship our team has with the US Military All-Stars. While no one is quite certain what the exact nature of this relationship is, one thing has been made very clear, personal appearance is one of, if not their only priority this season. Everyone must have short hair and be clean shaven all of the time. For those of you who know me personally you know this news has not exactly been embraced with open arms by yours truly. All argumentation and objection aside, I have complied with these rules and am excited to be a part of this organization. One thing I can't help but wonder is that if our ownership was asked to choose between winning a championship with long haired, beard wearing hooligans (like I USED to be) or finish last with a team full of guys who appear to be heading to Camp Lejune, which would they choose?? For now, we'll leave that one as a hypothetical question for you all to ponder.

In less than 24 hours I will take the field in an official, meaningful game for the first time since last August. After months of training, it is finally for real. With this comes the usual nervous, anxious feelings about starting a season. There are so many questions and the answers all seem to be in the very distant future. I always wish that I had a crystal ball and could look about 3 months into the future to find out what will transpire but in the meantime I will be taking them one game at a time. I cordially invite you to experience this journey with me. Warning -It will be filled with ups and downs, home runs and strike outs, good, bad and ugly but my goal throughout will be the same....to provide an in-depth account of the rigours of a minor league baseball season and to also shed light on some things that most probably don't know about this strange life we have chosen (or did it choose us, who knows?).

You Know the Time is Now

First of all, my apologies to any of you who may have been eagerly awaiting a 2nd "DROP" from this Lemon. Since I last blogged to you all I have spent several days at a rugged camp outpost with no wireless internet access and then upon arriving in Nashua I was striken with a computer virus which has now been remedied. So let's see, where to begin....

After an uneventful drive north, I found my way to what is known as the "Dan Douquette Sports Academy". You may be envisioning pristine fields, immaculate facilities, an all around wonderful experience...let me assure you, it was not. The "academy" is actually an old, run-down christian camp retreat yet what you will now find there seems like something devised by Satan himself. Me and my new teammates ALL shared a common room with about 15 sets of bunk beds. The room came complete with your choice of bunk bed matress or collapsed couch(I actually choose the latter). Most nights were spent tossing and turning and most morning were spent walking off stiffness of the neck and low back. Despite the adverse living conditions, the camp was equipped with what I would consider an above average mess hall and all the baseball you could handle. We practiced during the day and played night games at Historic Waconah Park (built 1892) in downtown Pittsfield, Mass. The most unique experience of this trip, aside from the military style living arrangement, had to be the sun delays at Waconah. Yes, you read that correctly, sun delays. I can now say I have had games delayed by rain, snow, hail and believe it or not, sun. That darn, pesky sun sets every night and wouldn't you know it, it sets right in the batter's face. So EVERY night at Waconah, expect a 40-50 minute sun delay. During the sun delays we were treated to an unorganized game of T-ball played by the youth of Pittsfield and if you are lucky, you'll get to see 35+ year old men reliving their glory days on the ball field by chasing down and tagging out 7 year old girls. It was truly something I will never forget.

After a few days at camp we left to return to the safe confines of Nashua, NH. First order of business...take a shower in an actual bathroom. Once this task was completed I got settled at the host-family's home in picturesque Amherst, NH and spent the remainder of the off day recovering from my camp experience. My host "parents" Gil and Marlene Hulme are very nice. They have five grandkids and are avid Boston Red Sox fans. They actually remind me a lot of my grandmom and grandad, so I have felt very much at home here. Their house comes with a few features I am not accustomed to, most notably a brook with a small row boat. I am not one for adventure on the high seas but I think I may be able to master this body of water. My first time at the brook, I saw 2 ducks and 1 turtle, a far cry from the stray cats and dogs you encounter on the streets of Philadelphia. Another comfort of home I was not expecting is that I am rooming here with Mark Romanczuk (SMH class of 2002). As some of you may recall Mark attended Stanford University and signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005. After some unfortunate injuries, Mark finds himself on the indy-ball circuit trying , like all of us, to get a shot at the affiliated minor leagues again. Mark and I were constant workout partners in high school and throughout the off-season months in college. While I wish he was still with the D-backs, it is great to be playing with him again after a 7 year hiatus.

We have been in Nashua since Thursday and have been hard at work prepping for the season. A sad part of that preparation is the cutting or releasing of players. We have let several guys go and it is never fun seeing a guy pack up his locker. These moments all start the same way. The player arrives at the ball park ready for the day's workout. He has likely spent months preparing for this season and essentially years preparing for the chance to be called a professional. Then a coach or clubbie (equipment manager) says the five worst words you could hear, "skip wants to see you". Now, in pro ball, there are rarely times when the manager, or skipper, calls anyone into the office for a reason other than to cut them. Once you have been summoned, your fate is all but sealed. It usually goes like this, "this is the worst part of my job.....there's is no easy way to do this.....we have a tight roster.....blah blah blah". Bottom line is, you got cut. For most guys, this is the first time in their lives they have been told that they weren't good enough to play for a team and it is a bit shocking. The worst part is having to return to the clubhouse and pack your things with all of your former teammates looking on. The usual cliches are spoken to the released player, "good luck", "keep in touch", etc but the fact of the matter is, very few of them will be heard from again.

Today the last of these cuts were made. This years American Defenders roster features players from around the corner and around the globe. A few have played for years and some have spent years hoping to play. The backgrounds of the 21 other guys are unique as my own and we have each carved our own strange path to arrive at this small New Hampshire town but for the next 3 months we are teammates. After the summer of 2009, who knows where the baseball life will send us but for now, we must listen to the words of John Fogerty, " We’re born again, there’s new grass on the field." Born again....that is what every baseball season gives you, a chance for new life.

Blogger's note:Above are several images of camp Douquette. We occupied the 2nd floor of that large barracksy looking building.

A Fresh Start

The last part of my preparation for the '09 baseball season was having my brother throw me batting practice in the cage at our former high school field. He is the coach of the Freshman squad and actually threw a much better BP than I remembered. It's always good to have someone who knows your swing watch you hit before you begin a season and so I was grateful for this opportunity. Following the brief batting practice session at my high school alma mater, St. Mark's High School (Wilmington, DE), I was treated to a going away dinner at the house of the Ogden family. They have been among my most dedicated supporters throughout the trials and tribulations of my baseball career. Don't expect anything fancy at the Ogden household but you should expect a lot of conversation and good food. This time the conversation centered around the start of the summer baseball season. Mr. Ogden will be the skipper of the Pro Therapy franchise in the famed Delaware SemiPro league and I will be heading to Nashua, New Hampshire to play for the American Defenders of New Hampshire of the Can-Am league.
This will be my second stint in the Can-Am league. My first experience was short lived. I was released by the New Haven County Cutters due to an injury after only a few days of training camp. I spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons in St. George, Utah playing for the St. George Roadrunners of the Golden Baseball League. I am excited for this new opportunity to be playing back on the East coast in a new league. The best part of being in the Can-Am league will be that my family and friends will be able to see me play for the first time in a while. I am also very excited about the challenge of playing in a new league. I think it always beneficial to embrace the the wealth of experience that can be gained from making a fresh start.