Two wins are better than one

Rusch Hour has started

Day 3 started like the first two. A little brekky in the morning and then we broke to go to the fourplex for photos. We took a couple of the entire group and then we did individual pix with the coaching staff. Our first game was played on the turf field. The field is entirely turf except for the pitchers mound. All of the base paths and the areas around the there bases and home are turf as well. This didn't deter us from putting up a very good effort in a game which saw Seth Carini wheel and deal us through the first six innings of a game which we dominated from the start.

I had two hits myself in the game, a wristed liner to center and solid line drive to right. The hit to right felt better to me because it was the result of my plan when I went to the plate. Lenny Harris taught me years ago that when you get to the place you need to "have a plan. If you get to a place where there are two strikes on you, scrap the plan and try to get a base hit without it. "Scrap" was not the original term he used when he explained this theory to me, but I got the point.

So I went 2-for-4 on the game as in my other two at bats I hit balls which traveled a combined distance of 9-1/2 feet. So it was kind of an all or nothing situation to say the least. 

Game 2 was on field 1. Field 1, which used to be field 7, is made to the same dimensions as Citi Field in New York. The field re-numbering was done by current Mets manager Buck Showalter last year. Kinda makes sense in that the four fields that you come to as you leave the clubhouse used to be numbered 4-7 for some reason, not 1-4. 

We got off to another fast start in this game. Everyone contributed. Top to bottom. My new glove has even worked pretty well this week. I had a bit of an issue with my fielding in 2019 when I was also coached by Figgy. We turned in some very nice defensive plays today. A double play that was major-league caliber from Sean Gagnon and Paul Isserles. I even got into the mix as I stretched far to my right to lasso an errant throw to end an inning when the game was still very much up for grabs. I followed immediately by leading off the bottom of the inning by hitting a frozen rope off the glove of the third baseman. I later scored another run. I think I reached base 5 of the six plate appearances I had in game 2. Seth Carini hit a ball toward the left center field alley that missed clearing fence by 4 feet. It must've traveled about 380 feet. 

I decided that since we were wearing our stark white jerseys for game 2, I'd wear my "old school" stirrups (not the ones sewn onto the white socks) and along with my vintage Reggie Jackson Puma cleats I was stepping back in time. I'm not sure if they had anything to do with our results in game 2, but I'm not going to give them a little credit.

But the biggest thrill I had was seeing Justin Vogt pitch a complete game with his father catching. When the final out was recorded they each ran towards each other and embraced as only a father and son could as adults. Never having kids of my own and never having a similar event with my own father, I was enjoying seeing this moment from a distance. I know it will be talked about by each of them for a long time to come. I'm glad that I was a part of it. 

Tonight was Casino Night at Clover park for the campers. They set up poker, blackjack and roulette tables and we spend "Monopoly money" which can be used toward coupons which will let us bid on as many as around 20 autographed items. As I did last at last year's Casino Night, I broke out my Mets polyester suit. The guys thought is was great. Those who know me know that wearing such a piece of clothing is not like me whatsoever, surprising a bunch of people.

Those of you who were in high anticipation about my gold rope nomination need to slow your roll a bit. I sat up from purposely in order to be close to the awarding location. But the brown rope actually went to a pitcher who gave up 8 runs on 1 base hit in the game in which I played yesterday afternoon. I believe he hit a couple of batters, one of whom was yours truly. So it wasn't the result I'd expected. But trust me on this, Judges Bobby Wine and Doug Flynn will be on my case tomorrow in Kangaroo Court.

Tomorrow's games? Who knows right now. There are many different scenarios which would give us a bye in the first round of the playoffs. But even Figgy didn't know what time we might play tomorrow. So we're just gonna "wing it", I guess. 

We've won 3 of our first four games and we are 'hittin'and stickin' like Mama's fried chicken" right now. We're edging closer to our goal.

To all of you players who have told me how much you enjoy these daily blog entries, I appreciate it.