I know all of you are wondering what I am doing this summer so I thought I would throw some words out to everyone , just to keep you up to date.
As most of you know, last year I was an usher at Macon Bacon games and I realized a few things about myself, the main one being that I was a very old man who needs to use his mind and not his body to make money.
So no ushering for me this year.
However that does not mean I am not at the ballpark each and every day the Macon Bacon play a home game.
My new title is trackman operator.
Yes I know an impressive title working on stats during the game, charting every pitch by clicking buttons on a computer.
You didn't really think I was that smart did you ?
Maybe my friends, I am not.
When I was approached about doing trackman for the Bacon , I thought of sitting in the air conditioned press box and being able to enjoy the game and up to game day that's still what I thought.
I was wrong. I actually sit in section 205 on the second row with a computer in my lap, having to track every pitch of the game.
I have learned many things this summer and I feel it is my job as a blogger to tell you what I have learned.
1. When one works at a ball park that offers all you can eat options, the traffic in the isles is huge. I am sure I am very comical as I stretch one way to see the pitch that is coming so I can , well , track it. One thing I have learned is that if you miss a pitch on this system you are screwed. If the count is 3-2 and you have it as 2-2 and the pitch is a ball, then the system is going to send the guy to first base and move on to the next batter. That's is not good so I dodge and weave with a computer on my lap for most of the day
2. The seats at Luther Williams are not comfortable. I mean they downright hurt like hell with no relief. I am sitting there for 3 or more hours and cant really stand up a whole lot because of my tracking, so sometimes I wish I still weighed 305 instead of 248 because my ass would be much more cushioned.
3.I get strange looks and questions all the time and everyone wants to know what I am doing. When I explain the next question is what team am I scouting for. I am sorry to say that usually just come up with a team and hope that they will move on. You see I have no time for idle chat because I am tracking every single pitch. I did tell one fan early in the year that I worked for the Indiana Pheasant Hunters from the independent Plain Name League and the guy seemed fairly impressed.
4. Trackman is a fairly impressive app. They have a laser beam hooked up at the top of my pole(yes its my pole) and the system tracks velocity, spin rate , and about six other things. It also track s exit velocity when someone hits the ball. Trackman is amazing because it can also tell you what each player had for lunch, as well as what kind of music they like. What is truly amazing is that it also tell you what kind of mood they are in that day and height and weight of each ones mother and father. I really am not sure how they do that.
If you are at a Bacon game please come and say hello and now you can avoid asking me all this awkward questions. I would love to see my fans, but don't be turned off if I only give you a second. Its hard tracking pitches while talking and sweating
Friday, June 21, 2019
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Why are people so mad
My oh my oh my, does this world need a pick me up.
It is not only in the sports world but I write about sports better than anything else, so as usual I will relate my feelings towards things that happen in sports.
I will truly tell you that I really just don't get people. Random acts of stupidity and violence are just running wild and yeah it bugs me. To me it comes down to living by mom and dads codes and just respecting others.
I don't even know if anyone knows where I am going with this but after Monday, I felt like I had to write because I saw three things just on sunday and Monday that bug me to death.
I want people to start living by the codes of people you have respected in your life. If it wasn't your momma and daddy then it was a teacher or a coach or a minister. You know what I am talking about, that person who could talk some sense to you and make you understand right from wrong.
I start with David Ortiz and the animal that shot this man. Ortiz was just hanging out at a night spot in the Dominican Republic, somewhere he is revered as a sports star and a celebrity. Someone walked up to him and just shot him. It was a damn miracle that he didn't die. Yo shooter, mom and dad would not just go shoot someone.
The overwhelming support that Ortiz has received is almost enough to make up for the one idiot that did the shooting. I am glad to hear that Big Papi is back in Boston, which is where he belongs.
So I am sitting at home last night watching the Braves and the Pirates pitcher throws a pitch that grazes Josh Donaldson's jersey and it gives Donaldson a chance to walk to first on a harmless hit by pitch. I mean if I was him I would have been excited because Josh and his 237 batting average dont get to touch first base very often. Nope Josh has to show that he's a tough guy and stares down the Pirates pitcher.When the pirates pitcher stares back Donaldson goes nuts and charges him. Anger issues Josh ? Mad because the only way you can get on base is a walk ? I just don't get the reaction unless he was mad before the pitch was thrown. I mean its a tough life for Josh, collecting that 22 million for doing nothing to help a team win. I am sure his mom and dad were even ashamed of him and I cant blame them. Its okay to be mad but seriously Josh ? What was that ?
So later on Monday night I am watching the playoffs and Kevin Durant goes down with a serious injury and the Toronto fans go crazy with joy. Do not let anyone tell you it wasn't most of the people attending that game cheering. I sat there watching and I just really couldn't believe what was happening. The fans cheered because a player go hurt. The Toronto players quickly held their hands up to stop it and kudos for them for doing that but it was really too little too late. I hope that makes every player that ever thought about going to Toronto turn around and say heck no. It was a pathetic performance by the city of Toronto. Those fans parents would have been embarrassed by that booing. The word classless comes to mind.
I feel like athletes are just aloud to react in ways that are not too appealing. What do you see a player scream when they strikeout ? The eff word. What word comes out when a pitcher gives up a homerun ? The Eff word. What is the first thing you hear when a manager or player is arguing a call ? That's effing bs you stupid mfer , that's effing terrible. This is every night at every game in every sport. It starts early too. I saw at least 40 high school games and it was pretty much a nightly thing. I am not saying every player on every team but EVERY team has a few.
I am not a saint and I have used many eff words in my life but I am trying to stop. I say lets stop it when they are young and teach people how to talk.
I will stop if you will stop and then maybe the 17-24 year old crowd will stop.
Except for Josh Donaldson
He will never stop
It is not only in the sports world but I write about sports better than anything else, so as usual I will relate my feelings towards things that happen in sports.
I will truly tell you that I really just don't get people. Random acts of stupidity and violence are just running wild and yeah it bugs me. To me it comes down to living by mom and dads codes and just respecting others.
I don't even know if anyone knows where I am going with this but after Monday, I felt like I had to write because I saw three things just on sunday and Monday that bug me to death.
I want people to start living by the codes of people you have respected in your life. If it wasn't your momma and daddy then it was a teacher or a coach or a minister. You know what I am talking about, that person who could talk some sense to you and make you understand right from wrong.
I start with David Ortiz and the animal that shot this man. Ortiz was just hanging out at a night spot in the Dominican Republic, somewhere he is revered as a sports star and a celebrity. Someone walked up to him and just shot him. It was a damn miracle that he didn't die. Yo shooter, mom and dad would not just go shoot someone.
The overwhelming support that Ortiz has received is almost enough to make up for the one idiot that did the shooting. I am glad to hear that Big Papi is back in Boston, which is where he belongs.
So I am sitting at home last night watching the Braves and the Pirates pitcher throws a pitch that grazes Josh Donaldson's jersey and it gives Donaldson a chance to walk to first on a harmless hit by pitch. I mean if I was him I would have been excited because Josh and his 237 batting average dont get to touch first base very often. Nope Josh has to show that he's a tough guy and stares down the Pirates pitcher.When the pirates pitcher stares back Donaldson goes nuts and charges him. Anger issues Josh ? Mad because the only way you can get on base is a walk ? I just don't get the reaction unless he was mad before the pitch was thrown. I mean its a tough life for Josh, collecting that 22 million for doing nothing to help a team win. I am sure his mom and dad were even ashamed of him and I cant blame them. Its okay to be mad but seriously Josh ? What was that ?
So later on Monday night I am watching the playoffs and Kevin Durant goes down with a serious injury and the Toronto fans go crazy with joy. Do not let anyone tell you it wasn't most of the people attending that game cheering. I sat there watching and I just really couldn't believe what was happening. The fans cheered because a player go hurt. The Toronto players quickly held their hands up to stop it and kudos for them for doing that but it was really too little too late. I hope that makes every player that ever thought about going to Toronto turn around and say heck no. It was a pathetic performance by the city of Toronto. Those fans parents would have been embarrassed by that booing. The word classless comes to mind.
I feel like athletes are just aloud to react in ways that are not too appealing. What do you see a player scream when they strikeout ? The eff word. What word comes out when a pitcher gives up a homerun ? The Eff word. What is the first thing you hear when a manager or player is arguing a call ? That's effing bs you stupid mfer , that's effing terrible. This is every night at every game in every sport. It starts early too. I saw at least 40 high school games and it was pretty much a nightly thing. I am not saying every player on every team but EVERY team has a few.
I am not a saint and I have used many eff words in my life but I am trying to stop. I say lets stop it when they are young and teach people how to talk.
I will stop if you will stop and then maybe the 17-24 year old crowd will stop.
Except for Josh Donaldson
He will never stop
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