Sunday, April 13, 2014

PICKIN', GRINNIN' AND HOPEFULLY WINNIN'.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GO TO GET...

Draft Day...Sometimes you get a good player...sometimes you don't 
After a disappointing 2013 season, Mike and I are hoping to have great bounce back 2014 season. 

A disappointing season for me is finishing in 13th place in the standings and not playing on the Sunday of the playoff weekend. In 2013, I really thought we had the team to do better. 

From the day we drafted the 2013 team I really thought we had the makings of a competitive team. It was not meant to be and the signs were there early on. 

I remember Ricky Bobby was having problems with his hip/leg and on practice day he almost called it quits on the season. Mike tore up his other knee, Richard was having back problems, Phil had a sore shoulder most of the season, Ricky Lyon was fighting a bug and Woody injured his leg early in the playoffs. There were also other issues that really prevented us from really doing some baseball damage. On draft day every team looks good on paper, but looking good on paper doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be good on the field.  

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. To view the 2014 roster go to rosters or click link. 

When the teams are all picked and they are all juxtaposed on the tables at the front of the clubroom, most captains would say their teams look pretty good. We look over the top parts of the rosters, we compare the bottom parts of the roster, we start the wheels in motion as to where our new teammates will play on the diamond. The draft is a fun time, filled with hope and excitement, but until we get on the field we will not know what we really have. I think the 2014 Hurtin' Units are a solid team and I'm looking forward to see if I'm right.   

The Units have a lot of positive signs this season...Mike is back and lookin' lean, I'm going in to my 3rd year pitching with some new tricks up my sleeves (bigger strike zone too), Clayton, Don C. and Coxy have played with the HURTIN' UNITS before (they know what were all about), Bill is the most solid 12 rated player (in my opinion) in the league, Rick G. is going in to only his 2nd season, but knows how the league operates now, Clayton and myself played hockey with our rookie Art (he will fit in great with this group, might also bring snacks to the legion), Dwayne was the Most Improved Player last season (he also has high yellow socks to match our yellow and black shirts), I have never played with Kevin C. or Dave M., but I've seen them play and I'm glad to have them with us and I'm looking forward to meeting Esau, who I have heard many good things about. 

I'm not going to get too high on the 2014 Hurtin' Units yet, but I really think we can compete with the other teams that were picked at the draft. 

I'm looking forward to getting on the field with my 2014 teammates.