though we may never be here again,
So open up I'm climbin' in, so take it easy" - EAGLES
TOTTENHAM- When the draft concluded last April 5th, I was excited about the team Mike and I had picked. The team looked solid from top to bottom. We thought we had picked the higher players with respect to where each player was rated. This was what I wrote on the blog following the draft ..."On April 5th, 2014 the T.O.T baseball league held it's annual blind baseball draft. The teams were picked and the Hurtin' Units should change their name to the Bandits. I think we came away with a really nice looking team (when I say nice looking, I don't mean how the players look). We have a great mix of solid players and it should be a fun season." This is really how I felt when I looked at the roster we had chosen. I don't believe anyone
I went back and looked at the teams that finished last over the last 5 seasons. The Hurtin' Units were not the worst of the bunch, at least as far as wins/ losses is concerned. When it comes to plus/ minus that's a different story.
On the field, last season did not start off very well. For the first time in the Hurtin' Units history, we lost our season opening game. Maybe, just maybe, it was because we were so discombobulated from the way the season got started...or should I say, didn't get started.
If
everyone can recall, the start of the 2014 season was a disaster. The
lights at Keogh Park were disconnected over the winter and were not
reconnected until it was brought to the town's attention. Even after
the town remembered the problem, after it was brought to their
attention, it took a couple of weeks to get the problem rectified.
In
addition to the light problem, there was the torn up outfield on
Coventry diamond # 2, which was supposed to be fixed by the
knuckleheads who torn it up, but for some reason it didn't get done.
This left only Coventry #3 for actual play.
These problems would see
the T.O.T executive to make a decision to reduce the number of games in the schedule to 22 games per team. The schedule (which had already
been produced) was completely revamped. And when the lights and
diamond conditions were resolved, the weather would slow the number
of games we would get in.
During
the first 11 games we had our chances to win, but then we would have a
bad inning defensively or our bats would go ice cold with quick outs
to put us back on the field. If you string enough bad games together
the confidence of everyone seems to wane; I believe that's what
happened to the 2014 Units team. I think that if the same 2014
Hurtin' Units had a do over, the results would probably be quite
different.
There were many-o-nights when it was just Mike and I at the Legion. Mike with a big jug of barley juice and me drinking a soda. Art did spend some nights in Legion with us, probably more than any other player. Our chances of winning the keg party were pretty slim in 2014. I don't believe that guys didn't come back because we were losing, I think most guys knew they had a bit of a drive home and didn't want to chance having a few barley pops and driving home.
THERE WERE MORE LOSSES OFF THE FIELD.
Since the end of the 2014 season the T.O.T league has lost two very special people that were loved by everyone. Esau Lewin and Jamie McClean both passed away within a month of each other. These guys will be missed for a sportsmanship, friendships and their contributions to our league.
Esau - On February 14th, I received an e-mail from Jeff D. Informing me that Esau had passed away. I was shocked to hear this this; I knew about his illness, but had not realized it had progressed so quickly. I remember sometime last fall, I had received an e-mail from Esau informing me of his illness and that he was going to begin treatment in near future.
Off the playing field, I didn't know Esau very well, I knew he had a farm and dealt with horses, but other than this I really didn't know much. Esau didn't come back to the Legion very often, so most of getting to know him was on the field.
On the field, Esau was fun and always
very upbeat. Even when the Units were at their lowest, I recall receiving emails
from him telling me how patient I was, and that things were going to get
better.
Things didn't really get much better,
although we did manage to win 3 games and tie another, so maybe things did get a
little bit better. Esau always seemed to bring a positive energy to the park and
when he was in lineup there was a warm feel around our team. Maybe it was that
contagious smile or that soft tone in his voice. He always played hard in our games.
I believe Esau was our 11 rated
player. I remember Mike and I saying we probably got the best of the 11s. That
discussion wasn't that far off, Esau was a solid player. He had a cricket player
swing, but he could hit the ball hard and spray it all around the diamond. One thing I
noticed early in the season was how strong his glove was and how he could snag the hard shots. Over the past couple of seasons, I had only seen him playing catcher, but it wasn't long before I had the young fella over at first base. He seemed to really like playing first base and I liked having him there. Esau will definitely be missed by everyone in the league. Forever in our hearts, rest in peace my friend.
Jamie played for the Hurtin in 2013,
his last season as president. I really enjoyed playing on the same team with
him. A solid baseball player and teammate. He was also a good athlete. I know
he loved cycling and on a couple of occasions I played squash with him at the
Nottawasaga. He kicked my ass all around the court, but I still enjoyed it. Who doesn't like a good ass kickin' every once and a while; after last baseball season you'd think I'd be used to it.
Jamie was the second T.O.T president to play for the Hurtin' Units;
in 2010 Chris Ross played on the Units. We will probably draft Steve R. (current Prez) this
upcoming season...lol.
Off the field, I spent a little more
with Jamie, than I did with Esau. When Jamie played with the Units, he would
always come back to the Legion and usually he would have beer and be available
for any league concerns or issues.
Jamie was really a good guy, on and off the field, and he will
be sadly missed.
Draft Day She's a coming.
The T.O.T draft is scheduled for April
11 this year, a week later than most years, this is because of where the the
Easter weekend falls this year. Mike and I are looking forward to this year's
draft and going in thinking we can not have a worst season than last. If we do,
that's it, we are out of here.
When the season concluded in 2014, two
teams announced that they would not be returning. The Blues Brothers and the
Brew Jays. As I have mentioned on several occasions, the Brew Jays came into
the league the same year as the Units and we almost went out in the same year,
if hadn't been such a bad season for the Units, we probably would have called
it quits.
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