Sunday, April 28, 2013

Some Minor Differences

Thanks to Netflix, I have been watching lots of old Emergency! shows from 1972.  Spending my days in the medical profession, I was just noticing some of the differences in forty years.

Getting to the scene, I noticed how people actually took responsibility for what they did.  Drivers generally got out of the way of the emergency vehicle, and the emergency vehicle didn't even slow down for red lights.  Love the stock footage, over and over and over.  My kids would call the colors of the vehicles by the side of the road.

On the arrival at the hospital, it's interesting what happens when they arrive.  Cars driving up to E.R. doors, and employees actually helping get them in the building.  It's wilder than Dr. Brackett's muttonchops that ambulances take them to the exam rooms without any sort of registration procedure.  Treatment without signatures in general emergency situations.  Almost as interesting as Dr. Brackett, Dr. Early, and Dr. Morton being E.R. doctors, diagnosticians, cardiologists, and almost every specialty but radiology.  We get situations where patients think our radiology exams are read by their family physicians, who generally read our radiologist's reports.  Rarely heard of an E.R. doctor doing diagnostic work beyond the E.R.: these days that is the bailiwick of the hospitalist.

I am impressed by firefighters and their willingness to rush in when others rush out.  It is admirably portrayed in this series.  They also portray the professional way to handle people who are occasionally out of control.  We owe them gratitude for the job they do and the way they do it in real life.

It was a good series, if occasionally acted woodenly.  Brought back a lot of memories.  As a 7 year old, we played a lot of Emergency!  I was alway DeSoto, my best childhood friend, always Gage.  Just set up the IV, Ringers and bring it into Rampart.

So...am I off base?

Saturday, April 27, 2013

What Is That Thing in the Sky?

Saturday is go day in youth baseball/softball world.  My daughter has Little League Opening Day, but her team isn't playing for some unknown reason.  My son has a baseball tournament, which is where I'll be all day.

Unusual is the description for the weather: beautiful.

No sleet or snow.  No rain, just that...what do they call it?  Starts in the East, disappears in the West?  Makes daytime really bright?  Provides warmth?

Oh, yeah!  Sun.

The forecast calls for temperatures in the 60's and sun.  We have had precious little of that kind of weather in Northern Indiana.  Certain parts of the country call this weather cool.  We call it great.

Interesting is that I have seen good ball played already this year.  The best players make plays when they're being pelted by sleet just the way they will today.  The best players make no excuses for the error, even when the conditions dictate otherwise.  The best players get the job done when even nature is against them.  It's a mental toughness that comes from a love for what you're doing and the excitement from playing the greatest game in the world.  Every pitch, every play, every umpire's call, changes what happens next.

We'll see what happens today.

So...am I off base?

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Three Worst and Best Baseball/Softball Moments

A friend posted a blog comment this week about our Little League and the need for a Code of Conduct.  The Code needs to be signed by both parent and player, and pledges good behavior by all.  The need for it is because of "Little League Parents" who do things which should be prosecuted.  I thought I would share my three best moments and three worst moments on and around a ball field.  The contrast is amazing.  Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Worst Moment #3- Major Baseball and a dominant team having a struggle with another league's only representative team.  Their best pitcher had spent all his pitches, and they were within two runs, but there was no depth.  The umpire refused to change his strike zone which lead to a coach using profane language in front of the whole ball park.  Umpire throws the coach out, automatic.  Nasty words about meeting in the parking lot later.  Good thing the coach came after the game and apologized to all involved.

Best Moment #3- Minor Softball, and Desiree, a too young, no experience player.  A strong player hits a towering fly ball in her direction in left field, usually a good place to hide someone who can't catch a fly ball.  She stood in one place, held her glove out, and the ball hit it.  Nine hundred ninety-nine times, the ball hits the ground.  Desiree received the one.  The smile alone could have lit up Elkhart...heck, all five boroughs in New York City!

Worst Moment #2-  Minor Softball, All Stars.  Road game, road umpires.  Final score ended up Northern Section 33, Good Ladies 3.  Assistant Coach representing my daughter's team had chewed on the home plate umpire all game.  With my daughter right within earshot, Assistant Coach dropped the F-Bomb, and was promptly thrown out of the game.  Now that the reins were off, loud declarations of questionable parentage, more bombs, and threats on the umpires home.  Hope he is never allowed to coach again.

Best Moment #2- Coach pitch baseball. Final game of the season.  A young man, Ephram, had some special challenges involving autism.  He was learning and getting better throughout the season.  But he had been hit by a coach's pitch early in the season and was still afraid to hit.  I am throwing pitches that night, and made it easy, but he still kept jumping out.  The manager, Karrie, came out and whispered something in his ear that will only be known to the two of them.  The next pitch was a decently hit grounder that found it's way through the infield.  Both sets of stands exploded in cheers, and the smile on his face, the smile of someone who just found a lifelong love.  Karrie passed away this past winter, rest her soul...she left a great legacy.

Worst Moment #1- Minor Baseball.  An obviously drunk individual is next to the dugout, yelling a name of a player who was not on either roster.  He was not yelling positive encouragement, he was tearing down the individual and his parents.  Since, I had the scorebook, I asked who he was here to see.  He drunkenly gave me a name, to which I replied that the team he came to see was not playing that night.

Best Moment #1-Major Baseball, President's Tournament Championship Game.  One of our younger players, Nye, had struggled all season.  Facing a dominant pitcher, he struck out looking, not sure when to pull the trigger.  Chasing two runs, and looking at defeat for the first time all year, Nye came to bat with the bases loaded.  He produced a soft liner into right field, scoring two runs, and was heads up enough to take second.  Standing on second, he involuntarily jumped the jump of joy: hands over head, smile disappearing under the ear flaps of his batting helmet.  It was a reason to coach.

Even seeing the worst and the best, it is still worth it.  Remember, they are your children, not your meal ticket. You can learn as much from them as they do from you.  Teach them well.

So...am I off base?

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Never Ceases to Amaze

The world of baseball never ceases to amaze.  I saw it happen again yesterday, where hormones meet horsehide, the world of 14U baseball.

In the second five inning game of our doubleheader, we saw an interesting paradox.  Our opposing pitcher had good mechanics, but threw from on top of the pitching rubber, and at a very slow rate.  I would say coaches throwing batting practice were much faster.  Our starting pitcher has major league speed.  We have seen him top out at 89 mph in practice.  When he is on, nobody hits him at this level.

The first inning, as the visitor, we couldn't time the fast(slow)ball.  It looked like a beach ball, but we didn't hit.  He retired us without a run and on 17 pitches.  The major league prospect hit the leadoff hitter on a 3-2 pitch, and by the end of the inning had allowed three runs, without a ball even bein fouled off.

To defend our pitcher, he struck out the side in the second inning on 14 pitches.  We never really reached their pitcher, had a defensive meltdown and lost 13-6.   Weird is the first baseman only making one putout, which ours did.

Overwhelming talent can be beaten.  Something just slightly different can baffle the more talented individual.  The game is supposed to be a preparation for life, teaching lessons just like this one.  Make me proud to be a coach.

So...am I off base?

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Closure?

I apologize to all Second Amendment proponents for a statement made in my last post.  To clarify, I grew up with guns in my home and understand exactly why they were there.  I have crossed paths with some exceptionally vitriolic posts regarding Second Amendment rights, and it has tainted my vision.

I heartily applaud the efforts of the Boston Police Department.  The situation was handled well from the beginning through last night.  It is gratifying to see the people willing to give everything, including their lives, to protect us get some of the cheering they deserve.

For most people, the situation seems closed.  The wheels of justice still have yet to roll.  Should he survive, Dzokhar Tsarnaev deserves innocent until proven guilty.  It will be very difficult to achieve.  He is an American citizen, deserving of all the rights and privileges of a citizen.  He has graduated from a fine prep school in the Boston area, respected by peers and coaches alike, and even an athlete at the college level.

He has also become the face of an enemy we have fought since September 11, 2001.  It has been the lack of a defined enemy that has eroded public support for our War on Terrorism.  We knew what the Iraqis, VietCong, even Germans (if you remember that war) looked like, but a terrorist looks like us.  In this case, the story could even be admired as one of great promise.  That promise seems to have been wasted.  The why will be as compelling as the evidence of guilt.

The real story is still out there, most like known to more than the suspect.  Hopefully, the trail leads to the mastermind and full justice can be achieved.  We will need resolve for this to happen, something in short supply in our "sound bite" society.

So...am I off base?

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Eagle With A Tear

Thoughts and prayers are with all people affected by bombings in Boston.  Billy Casper, the longtime PGA Tour golfer, stated my sentiments exactly: "Chasing dreams should never end in tragedy."

A young man named J.J., a fellow camp counselor, was my first exposure to Bostonians, introducing the city as "The Hub", as in "Center of the Universe".  He was intelligent, friendly, and opinionated.   He wasn't shy about sharing knowledge  that would help you, and the roots of belief were deep and strong.  I can honestly say I haven't met an individual from the Boston area I totally agreed with, but I liked every one of them and respected them.

It is a great city with great people.  It deserves better treatment than was given Monday.

Resilient is another term I would use to describe these individuals.  The Red Sox are the perfect description: so close to World Championships in 1975 and 1986, only to lose in heartbreaking fashion, finally rewarded in 2004.  The city and it's inhabitants will rebound nicely.

Rumors of an arrest swirl.  I believe it was an individual from within our own borders, looking to make an impression.  Might even be a Second Amendment activist, looking to damage the Obama Administration.  A major terrorist organization would be crowing over this kind of success, even with the damage done to Al-Qaeda from their success of the last major American attack.

Boston will be back, and hopefully our response as a government and nation will be strong.  A city as strong as Boston deserves strong support.

So...am I off base?

#BostonStrong  #Boston Marathon

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Monday, Monday

It's Sunday night.  Millions of people dread Monday morning.  Some more than others.

A threat has been made in Elkhart County for Monday, April 15,2013.  Twenty school children at 5 different schools are threatened, with no idea of where, who or why.  The idea of children being threatened at school is nauseating for a country still thinking about Sandy Hook Elementary School, even after six months.

I considered leaving the children at home tomorrow.  My wife respectfully disagreed.  After some reasoned deliberation, the children are going to school.  We have two reasons for going to school.  First, fear should not rule our lives.  We should live in a spirit of victory, not fear.  Jesus' own words: Matthew 10:28 'And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Second, I'm not going to let a terrorist rule the thinking in my home.  A threat as given is terrorism.  Terrorists want you to change your life and what you do based on what they perceive they will do.  Not happening in our home.

My son wanted to stay home because he wanted to stay home.  My daughter says she was a little scared.  I hope they both learn to live going forward, not in avoidance.

So...am I off base?

Saturday, April 13, 2013

How Do We Count The Ways?

I have a full day in front of me.  My father-in-law is recovering from his open heart adventure, in fact, doing quite well.  Unless something unforeseen happens, he should be coming home in the next couple of days.  I thank you readers for your interest.

However, we have other business on a Saturday in Northern Indiana when there is no snow on the ground.  It is doubleheader day or tournament day, depending on how your scheduled. It is also practice day if you play Little League.  I should be on a diamond more than most jewelers today.  Doubleheader at 1 pm, Little League softball practice at 6 pm.  Forecast is "47 degrees, Cloudy, possible rain/snow mix through at least noon."  Just heard our Summer Team's tournament game is being snowed on as we speak.  Nothing says, "Frozen snot" like early season baseball.

It is possible to play good baseball in these conditions.  It is a matter of focus: focus on the mechanics of playing, not the fingers that can't be felt.  Focus on the ball and making the play, not the ice on your socks.  You have to really love playing baseball to play in this stuff.  I wonder what they were thinking last night at the Mets/Twins game in Minneapolis.

Makes me wonder how softball practice will look tonight.  While I was looking to leave the dugout, I was asked to step in and assist for my daughter's Little League team.  It will be my tenth year and fourteenth season on a Little League field, (nine baseball teams, five softball teams, three of each at the same time.)

While baseball is my love, softball has captured my heart.  Both games are pastoral, and have moments where speed is of the the essence, usually involving a pitcher.  The games are very different.  Baseball is patience, softball has to happen quickly: view shaped by the size of the diamond.  Baseball gives some time to react and execute, softball required immediate execution.  Baseball uses small ball as an alternate strategy, Softball has strategies basing entire teams on their ability to bunt and slap hit.  Speed can change baseball, but is a requirement in softball.

Coaching boys and girls is just as different.  Boys don't care what you know until they screw it up.  Girls need to know how much you care before they care how much you know.  Boys can be shown over and over in a drill, finally do it right once, and think they have it.  Girls will ask you to help them until they can't get it wrong.   If allowed, boys will ride a teammate into oblivion if the teammate fails more than once.  Girls will help the weak teammate get better.  

The boys who adopt some of the girl's traits become leaders.  Same for the girls who adopt some of the boys traits.  Getting to that point is part of coaching.  I love working with both.

By the way,  I hear sleet on my window.  If it stays this way, at least we'll stay dry.

So...am I off base?

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Did I Just See That?

Travel baseball can be a world of predictability.  The other 90% of the time, it is chaos with an umpire.

Last night, we opened our season.  The expectation was rain coming in during the game.  It was an overcast night, but very warm.  It closed in on 75 degrees and I spent the night in shirt sleeves.  Would have been nice to lay down a nice base burn on my arms and face.  Not happening this time.

We came out firing, scoring three runs in the first inning.  We got a couple more runs over the next two innings, and looked to be cruising.  It threatened to become a rout, and we still had two runners on base, one out.  A called third strike, a force out, and the strange things started to happen.

The last two hitters in their order produced a run on a single, steal, and long double.  We gave up two more in the fifth when we threw the ball around.  Made two errors, gave up a sharp single, mixed in a steal and the lead is 5-3.   We were still smiling.

We knew something our opponent didn't know.  We had a true closer.

We have a left hander who throws hard.  REALLY HARD.  Harder than Barry Zito.  Harder than Jamie Moyer.  A bunch of 14 year old boys shouldn't stand a chance.

My son, Robby, played first base.  The leadoff hitter hit the ball his way.  IN PLAY?  Off 88 MPH?  At age 14?   Pitcher covered a little late, second baseman a little slow covering, the ball just far enough off the bag, no one could cover it.  Leadoff runner scores 75% of the time...

Mr. 88 MPH missed the target.  Repeatedly.  Suddenly the bases are loaded, and one out.  Time for a mound visit.  Good thing I didn't go.  He found the corners on six of the next eight pitches and lowered our collective blood pressures.  The seventh was nine strikes on 14 pitches.  Thankfully.

Baseball can be variable, enough that major leaguers needed to play 162 games to make it fair.  Add in the joys of puberty, and major organs could be threatened.  It is joyful to see young men learn the skills that make the game possible.  Seeing the lights come on and find a new level of skills are why anyone coaches this age group.  To have a young man who throws in the upper 80's in the age group is special.  He threw a ball from the outfield that had so much movement, it almost hit the cutoff man in the back.  Very special.

So...am I off base?

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

A Tempered Celebration

Opening Day is here!  I know I am truly excited...to a point.

We got the news late yesterday that my father-in-law's expected valve surgery has now become a "2 for 1".  It now includes a bypass.  While the surgery is Wednesday, it puts a large carrion over Opening Day proceedings.

Living in Northern Indiana, we had a couple of scheduled games in the middle of March.  Snow had other ideas.  We have played a couple of practice games against our Summer Team.  A game is a game, but we told our pitchers to throw batting practice speed the game we "lost".  We ratcheted them up the game we "won".  No holding anyone back now.

We are finally to real baseball...weather permitting.  I know my son is excited about playing, but concerned for Grandpa just the same.  He is playing, Grandpa telling him to go play.  I work in the medical world, so perspective is never lost there.  Kids are playing baseball today and it is not life and death.  I am acquainted with those decisions.

Scouting is a premium most travel teams do not have.  Besides, all we can do is play our game.  If we execute, we will have an opportunity to win.  If we kick it around, we will not win.  We need to play hard, have fun, get dirty.  The winning will take care of itself.

Oh, game starts at 5 pm.  The rain should start around 6.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Rutgers and Respect

Ghastly!  A coach verbally disparaging a player for their lack of performance!  Calling him homophobic names for ignoring the coaches teaching!  How could he not care for the player's feelings and admire his skill and athleticism!

Good thing I wear a buzz cut.  My man card could be in danger for writing those sentences.

Coaches have yelled at and cussed out players since the first Olympics in Greece.  It's a dirty secret to most of the world, but from the inside, it was a way of life.  At one time, what happened in practice and the locker room stayed in there.  I've been yelled at and cussed out.  I've also been ignored by coaches.  I've had it coming every time.  I was young, arrogant and clueless.  I needed to be humbled.  I wondered why he was yelling at me: I was trying my best.

Find better ways to polish a diamond.  One way is to go back in time to an old school coach, John Wooden.  From the books on his coaching, to the lessons he taught in life,  John Wooden did it without a four letter word, crossing lines to disrespect, and with the intent to shape the individual and the team.  Using nasty nicknames running down another lifestyle is definitely not on the agenda because it shows no respect.

Respect is paramount in coach/player relationships.  The player should respect the coach for his knowledge and teaching ability.  The coach respects the skill and athleticism of the player or, at the college level, they wouldn't be there.  The coach has the responsibility of turning a program into a winner with the raw materials of the player's skill and athleticism.  The stakes are the opportunity for the coach to hold that job and all that goes with it.  Ideally, the player's opportunity is to get an education to earn a better living.

Mutual respect is required to make that work.  I've seen players change, primarily in that there is little respect for anyone; parents, school, authority.  Coaches have changed in that some will go to the most vile end of the spectrum to achieve, a lack of respect.

A long time ago, I told my kids that the worst thing a coach could do was not yell at you: it was to ignore you.  If they chew you out, it's because you have ability and are not learning.  If they ignore you, you aren't any good and not worth the time and effort to correct.

Mike Lightfoot at Bethel College in Indiana has reached 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 wins faster than any coach in history...and never used a four letter or derogatory word.  I'm proud to have served with him briefly, and still use those tactics in my coaching.  Of course, Coach Lightfoot is a disciple of John Wooden.

So...am I off base?

#bethelcollegebasketball  #espn  #rutgersbasketball #goodsports

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Anticipation

We have our first outdoor baseball practice tomorrow night.  It feels like Christmas Eve does for most people.

My son plays on a 14U travel team, his third year at the same level.  His skills have progressed a little, year by year, and I anticipate what he can do this season.  He's backing up some pretty strong talent.  He's good enough to hold his own among them.  It will be over before he wants it to end, by the first of June.  It's pretty intense until then.

I am excited for the upcoming season.  I was trying to get out of the dugout for this season and enjoy my children.  My hope was to administrate a travel softball program for my daughter's school, but the numbers were not there.  Lack of hands lead me back to the dugout for baseball.  I am so excited to see the improvement made just in the winter workouts.  I've got a group of boys who are already better ballplayers than they were when the ball dropped in Times Square.  Looking into their eyes, seeing them enjoy the game, and each other, makes the hours I spend agonizing over their play worth every minute.

I have never begged a player to work out.  At some point, it becomes the player's responsibility to work on their game, to ask for help, to try to improve.  I can tell you to do the sit-ups and push-ups, but I can't make you do them.  I will hit every ground ball and pop up you need to get ready, but I won't do them to someone who won't go field them.  I will sit on a bucket and catch every pitch you throw.  I can't will you to be better, it only comes from the sweat on your forehead, on your back, on your hands.

Northern climates are at a disadvantage for baseball.  Any player who has achieved the college level or above in an area where December, January and February are complete washouts shows a level of dedication Southern players can only dream about.  It's easy to play when it's 70 degrees and sunny: try it when it's 35 degrees and sleeting.  Sleet is better than snow.  You stay drier because the sleet bounces off; the snow melts and gets you wet.  How would I know that?

I've done it...on a golf course.  Seems I know something about getting to a higher level.

So...am I off base?
 

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