Still Upright

January 31, 2008

I’ve been around baseball for awhile, but here was a dugout line I had not heard prior, courtesy of roving instructor Marv Foley in reference to the opposing pitcher:  "Let’s cloud up and rain all over this guy."

The day began with Kangaroo Court in which fines were doled out to the campers.  It’s always interesting seeing grown men and women fined for offenses like leaving equipment on the field or, believe it or not, forgetting their wallets in the clubhouse.  That’s not to mention the funny and sometimes unbelievable stuff that takes place on the field.  I know I'm going to get significantly razzed in our banquet Friday when they play the camp video.  The cameras unfortunately caught my “slide" into third on a triple...well, it started as a slide, till I caught a spike and then it became a tumble of sorts.  Hurdle will enjoy that one to no end - nothing misses the commissioner’s eyes.

Run production is down in this, the 11th Rockies Fantasy Camp.  Reason number one, two and three is wood bats.  Professional players hate the 'ping' sound that aluminum bats make.  Quite frankly, though it’s much easier to hit with the aluminum, in the interest of the purity of the game, wood is the way to go. After all, fantasy camp is supposed to closely replicate the big leagues.  Suffice it to say though, the old bat budget is being shattered (pun intended).

One of the great features of Rockies Fantasy Camp and usually a very entertaining time are the "Bull" sessions where the campers can ask the staff of Clint, the coaches and big league players anything that’s on their minds.  This is a place where quite a few stories that would normally be either untold or “off the record” seem to materialize.  One bit of humor last night that can be retold was Mike Gallego recounting a game he played in with Oakland.  Now Mike has a great deadpan delivery, almost Steven Wright-ish.  He's also very self-deprecating about his offensive ability as a player.  "One night in Kansas City, I got a rare chance to start and I'm having a great evening at the plate - I'm one for three with a single."  And before Mike could continue amid the laughter, Jamie Quirk jumps in with, "You meant to say 'great week' at the plate"...more laughter.

I will sleep well tonight.  I need a quick recovery of my slightly strained hamstring.  But I speak for most of us when I report that we are still upright, moving a little though a lot slower than two days ago.  The training room at the end of the day now resembles a Manhattan noon-hour deli counter!  Keith Dugger, Scott Gehret and Scotty Murayama provide the TLC with a smile. It’s like athletic triage for them. Rockies Fantasy Camp fact of the day:  the trainers go through more ice in five days of fantasy camp then they will in nearly 50 days of spring training!

Gotta go, grabbing an ice bag and heading to the park for another doubleheader and hopefully that elusive first "W."