Wow

Wow! In a just a few short days MLB will begin the 2011 season. We spent this weekend at the ballpark, not to see son play but just as fans of the game. It was a great weekend, great weather and the park was packed. I don't know how other teams do it, but the Cardinals allow fans to watch pre game batting practice and we also got to take in pitcher's batting practice, that was neat. A long walk over to the red fields (some of you have played PG events on those fields) you will find the minor league games going on, so the place is just bustling with activity. Saturday was fun as I got to watch my Marlins beat my Cardinals...lol. Today the redbirds played the Mets, not as many Met fans as I thought would be in attendance. It's been a tough spring for Met fans. I sat with a very successful business person today, I was impressed, yet all he could talk about was baseball and thought how neat it was that we had a son that played baseball. That really struck me as ironic, hopefully my son will be as successful in his career choice as this guy was in his. It's been a tough week and will be another for some players, as they set the MLB 25 man roster, and send guys back down, players are released, it has already happened for some, that's tough, that's business and sometimes that is just why decisions are made, no other reason, business is business. Son is still just tossing, and will be for awhile, so there isn't much to report, I ave afeeling he will be placed on a roster and remain in Jupiter until he is ready , it could be for awhile, have no clue, neither does he.

Sidelined

Sorry been away for a bit, haven't had much to report. A few days after son was optioned back to Memphis, he threw a bullpen, and he felt pain in his shoulder, the area where he had his cortacoid impingement surgery.

Ugh. Actually turns out he has been struggling with it since he got to camp, blaming on trying to do too much too soon. So they shut him down, put him on a cortisone dose pack (yes legal steroids) and maybe he will begin a toss program end of this week.

This kind of leaves all up in the air where or when he will begin his season, and he has been bummed out for sure but making the best of it. The way I see it, there are a lot worse things in the world that have happened recently, so we try to stay positive for him. We'll see how it goes, and as soon as the season gets going I will be here, thanks for stopping by!

ML camp is over

Sorry about not posting, there really hasn't been much to report. We went to our first spring training game last weekend, we watched Dave sit on the bench with the other Cardinals, and I watched my other favorite team, the Marlins. Did a little shopping in the team store, went to dinner.
As much as son has had some great stuff to tell, lot of it is personal, team stuff, and that wouldn't be fair. It's his perspective, and this blog is about mine.

I am not sure whether I really like spring training. It is an interesting contrast, the super stars vs the youngsters looking to impress. I know my son has had a blast, unlike milb camp, he has enjoyed his experience. The other day he and another pitcher talked their way onto the ESPN bus. He forgot to take pictures he was so excited, it's been one of those things, he forgets to take pics. There's always something going on. One of the highlights has been sitting in the dugout with Lou Brock. There is a constant stream of famous faces, all friends with Tony. Baseball people, football people, basketball people, you name, it they come to Cardinal spring training.

Today Dave pitched to live batters, first time since end of last season. He rotated with Chris Carpenter, who is on rehab for a hammy strain, and because of that there were about 30-40 people watching. He had to have been nervous. This is what people do, they stand around watching pitchers throw bull pens and batters taking batting practice, this is BIG stuff at spring training. He also was awarded for being an all star last season, then he was told to pack up his stuff and move to the milb locker room, he was optioned to AAA Memphis.

Busy day.

My Bad

I heard yesterday that one of the guys that signed a milb contract and in spring training has been really very nice to son. Sometimes it's hard to find a real friend (other than your milb teammates) who has been there several years when you get to the place you always dreamed of being (in the ML clubhouse).

Let's be honest, I am going to suppose that until you make the 25 man roster someday you are considered the enemy. This is especially difficult (I would imagine) if you don't know these guys well and this isn't like kindergarten where the teacher is going to force everyone to be friends. So some teams, take on older vets who have been there and done that, near the end of their careers but still have something to give. That something can just be helping a younger guy learn about "stuff" you need to learn about.

So my son has a few of those, one of them being Miguel Batisita.

Now last year I posted a picture of him on the HSBBW, with crown and banner saying Miss Iowa. Yeah, he is the guy who made that crazy statement. He is the player booed by his own fans because he showed up and Strasburg didn't. He made a remark, it was taken the wrong way. I made fun of him.

To be honest, I didn't even know who Batista was until that remark, it was then that I found out that he was a recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award in 2009.

I am going to assume it is part of his nature to reach out to help others. Giving back. He's done that with son, I am assuming, to help him become a better big leaguer someday, and in return my son will learn to do the same.

It's not right to make fun of others, ever. I posted that picture, I feel bad. My bad.

BTW, I told my son about Batista and he knew absolutely nothing that I was talking about!