A CONDENSED VERSION OF SPRING TRAINING...

BATS, PRACTICE and the FIELDS.

Captain's blog, stardate April 23rd, the weather outside, in this town, is not normal. Through the evening white fluffy precipitation has fallen and the ice cold winds are blowing it around. Yep, we actually had snow (not a lot), but still had a couple of centimeters last Thursday morning. And with the snow and all the rainfall we have had over the last week, I started to worry a little. I was  thinking that all precipitation may slow the drying of the fields and not allow us to get a practice in. 

I know the fields were looking pretty good last week.  Peter H. and myself were out on the Keogh diamond last week and the Keogh field was very playable. So good that we hit a couple of buckets of balls and loosened the shoulder and arm muscles with some throwing. It really felt great to be out on the diamond. I had some soreness the next day, but it was a good sore. 

The little practice session, with Pete, got me thinking about how important the preseason practice really is. Last season the Units didn't have a practice and when it came to opening night, I think it was revealed in our play. This year, I said to Mike that we really need to get on the field before the season starts. The problem is that weather and timing don't always sink up. There is also the issue of the Town not wanting players on the diamonds before they release them for play. I understand this to a certain point, but really, we are not on the diamond with motorcycles or ATVs, what damage could we really do? 

With the draft being later this year and there were only a few dates that we could get a practice in. Mike and I decided to pick a date and take our chances on the 26th of April. So when I saw the snow on the 23rd and felt how cold it was, I got a little nervous. 

I watched the weather forecast leading up to the practice date, there was no precipitation forecast, but the temperature was not looking great, but still good enough to get out on the field. The temperature, on practice day, was only 13 degrees and with 30 plus km/h gusts it seemed a little cooler. 

At practice time we had 8 Hurtin' Units players show up for the practice, 2 more than I was expecting. At the practice were: Jimmer, Mike O, Todd, Dave Mc., Bo, Mike C., Scott and Al. I also invited my buddy Peter H. to help run the practice. We all hit a bucket of baseballs (some a second bucket) and we shagged the hits. Peter also pitched a to some of the batters, which I was hoping he would. To finish the practice off, I asked Peter to self hit to guys playing the infield, they would make the play and throw to first to get in some throws and make it feel like a game situation. That worked out really well. I thought the practice went well. I'm looking forward to the start of the season. 

After the practice, we gathered around the bench and had a couple of beverages and talked baseball. All and all it was a good day for the new look Hurtin' Units. 

BAT DAY.

On Saturday April 25th, the league captains got together for bat day. Bat day you ask? This is where we get together and review the condition of the league bats, get the supply of baseballs for the season and any other equipment related items. This season there was enough money in the budget for the league to purchase 2 new bats per team. The bats are different (why would we buy 2 of the same bats), a little difference in price, but both are good quality. Teams are going to like the new bats.  

Bat Day was a decent day weather speaking, there was still a cool breeze, but at least it was warmer, the sun was out and and when we stayed out of the wind it was nice. This year bat day was held at Dave F.'s place, thanks for hosting bat day Dave.   

SPRING TRAINING DOESN'T TAKE PLACE ON THE COUCH BENDER!!!

HEY VINNY... DRAFT DAY SHE'S A HERE...

Bender, step in to my office... I have some bad news for you. 

After what seemed like a long, cold winter, we are back in the swing of things and are gearing up for the 2015 season. The Units are back for another kick at the can. Last season was a disaster and Mike and I are hoping that we do not go through another season like that. I mentioned in the last posting that if we were to pick the exact same team as last season, I think the results would be better. But as we all know, the draft doesn't work that way and we will be looking at a different roster for 2015. 

I was actually looking forward to the draft this season and I'm more excited than the past 5 seasons, maybe because of the way last season played out. When the draft had concluded on Saturday April 11th the 2014 season was officially a thing of the past and unless I keep rehashing it in the blog, it will quickly become history. I will probably touch on things that happened throughout the 2014 season, but only if they are relevant to the posting I'm working on. 

On draft day, you never know what you're going to get. 

So draft day has come and gone, and we have a brand new team, well almost brand new. In addition to Mikey Boy and myself returning, we only have one player returning to the 2015 Hurtin' Units and that player is Dave McGovern. I'm glad that Mike picked Dave for this 2015 edition of the

Hurtin' Units. I thought Dave was one of the most consistent players on the 2014 squad with a solid bat and glove and a cannon for an arm. Welcome back Dave, here's to a better season than last. 

In addition to Dave, we also picked up two players that played with the Units in 2013, Darrell Hager and Vinny Basacchi. So, if you're any good at math, that leaves 7 new players that will be playin' with the Units. Nice!! If you want to see the full 2015 roster, click on the roster link in the left hand column (it's there somewhere) or just click on ROSTER PLAYERS right here. 

This season, the entire roster was chosen by Mikey Boy. Over the last five seasons we would alternate picks, but this season we decided that things had to change. I think Mike picked an awesome team. I like the team, but as I have mentioned before, I also really liked last year's team. I'm keeping even keel for the moment. Mike picked the team, I picked the shirts.

In addition to our change of personnel, we are also changing our shirts. After two seasons in the black and yellow we are changing to a navy blue shirt with white lettering. The logo will be different (Bender you're cut) and the font on the lettering has changed as well. 

Going in to the draft we were even willing to change the team name, if we had drafted a certain #2 player. That player was the Big Kahuna, but we just missed out on our bestest buddy and had to step back from the name and logo change. We had the new logo and team name ready at the draft and if we had chosen Kahuna, the wheels would have been put in motion. Unfortunately, we missed out on the big guy and had to go back to plan "A". Here what the Kahuna Hurtin' Units team name and logo would have looked like. 

The Kahuna logo would have looked awesome on front of the 2015 team...Maybe next year big guy.  

So that's it, the draft is over the teams have been picked and it's time to get ready for the first pitch. Good luck to all the new teams and hopefully the 2015 Hurtin' Units can make the memories of the 2014 season a thing of the past. See ya on the field.   

WE HAD A WHEELIE BAD YEAR!

"We may lose and we may win,
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

would have said that we would end up in 15th place. Ya never know what you're going to

get.  

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. 

The Hurtin' Units would only play 4 games in The month of May...This should have been a sign of things to come. And it was, the Hurtin' Units would lose their first 11 games, and it wasn't until July 16th, 2015, game #12, that the first win came against the Dusty Cleats by a score of 20-16. The stink was off the monkey!!

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.

Off the field, the 2014 Units didn't do much team bonding; most the team lived outside of the Tottenham area and very few guys would stick around post game. We had 7 players who lived outside Tottenham, compared to the 2013 team which had 9 players from town and the ones that lived outside (including el presidente, Mr Jamie M. and Coxy) would find there way back to the Legion. These days very few responsible people want to have a few beers and drive home. 

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- Even more of a shock to me was when I received an email  from Steve R., informing the league, that the passed president of the T.O.T league and former Hurtin Units player Jamie McClean had suddenly passed away while out in B.C.

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.

This upcoming could season could very well be our last kick at the can anyway. At the end of last season, Mike and I had discussions about whether or not we would continue in to the 2015 season, but we both agreed that we could not go out this way with the worst record in our team's history. We also decided we should make a few changes for the 2015 season. One change we will make will be the colour of our shirts. We have been in black with yellow piping for the last 2 seasons and it has done nothing for us. This upcoming season we will be sporting a new look (anything but black). We are also in discussions about changing our logo, but no decision has been made on what to use, probably something bloggable.

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.

I'm looking forward to the draft and hopefully this years edition of  the Hurtin Units can compete for a title. I go into the draft with a more even keel this year, knowing that no matter what your team looks like, the true test is on the field. Welcome to 2015, welcome to the new Units.