Major league baseball and spring training. The time of year that everyone, team executives, coaches, players and fans alike have high hopes for winning the pennant -- or at least vastly improving on last years standings.
I had a chance once again to see the game through the eyes of a 10 year old. My grandson, Kai has just been picked for his team. We went out a couple times over the weekend to toss the ball and work on his skills. Getting good at picking up ground balls, catching pop flies and getting a turn to practice hitting is all he can think about. We spent our time working on the fundamentals: how to grip the ball; the motion of the arm and wrist; fielding body and glove positions; and the hand / eye coordination of soft tossed balls being hit into the backstop. My grandson is starting to learn to focus on fundamentals and to achieve the extraordinary, he must consistently do the ordinary.
On the professional front, Seattle is all a twitter with the signing of our player. Ken Griffey Jr. Griffey is home. This is the first year in a long time that I can't wait to go see a game at Safeco.
Great quotes have come out of baseball. Here are a few:
That's the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on a ball. Bill Veek
"It's the fans that need spring training. You gotta get 'em interested. Wake 'em up and let 'em know that their season is coming, the good times are gonna roll" Harry Carey
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. Rogers Hornsby
No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are, you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference. Tommy Lasorda
During my 18 years I came to bat almost 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at bats a season. That means I played seven years without ever hitting the ball. Mickey Mantle 1970
I don't know why people like the home run so much. A home run is over as soon as it starts.... The triple is the most exciting play of the game. A triple is like meeting a woman who excites you, spending the evening talking and getting more excited, then taking her home. It drags on and on. You're never sure how it's going to turn out. George Foster 1978
Well, boys, it's a round ball and a round bat and you got to hit the ball square. Joe Schultz 1969
There are two theories about hitting a knuckle ball. Unfortunately, neither of them work.
Charlie Lau (hitting coach)
Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax. Mike Royko
What are we at the park for except to win? I'd trip my mother. I'd help her up, brusher her off, tell her I'm sorry. but mother don't make it to third. Leo Durocher
Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first.
Frederick B. Wilcox
And finally, Yogi Berra once instructed his players to "Pair up in threes".
Play Ball!
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