I took a round of live bp at the Uptown Sports Complext hitting cages in the Bronx on Saturday afternoon. It was a humbling experience–my mind remembered how to hit but the body wasn’t so willing (I lunged all over the place). I came away with blisters on my left hand, having worked up a good sweat swinging the bat for half-an-hour. It was a reminder of just how hard baseball is to play, something I thought of again watching Old Timers’ Day this afternoon.
Baseball is not meant to be played by old men. (The same cannot be said about Golf, as Tom Watson nearly became the oldest man to ever win the British Open; a great story, Watson fell short, proving that no age is too old to experience the agony of defeat). Sure, some former players can still swing–Jesse Barfield had a couple of good hacks, Lee Maz knocked a Ron Guidry pitch deep but foul before Gator came back and stuck him out on a slider–and a couple can even move–Jeff Nelson shagging a fly in left, Mickey Rivers turning it on and legging out a double, but mostly, old players just look old trying to play.
Mariano Rivera, yeah, he’s old, but he’s still got the Midas Touch. Rivera saved a game for the third consecutive day as the Yankees completed the sweep of the Tigers, winning 2-1. Joba Chamberlain threw a nice game–hitting the upper 90s on the radar gun–going 6 2/3 strong innings. He worked out of a trouble in the fifth; five or his last six outs came on strikeouts (he had eight in all). Phil Coke threw one pitch to get out of the seventh and Phil Hughes mowed ’em down in the eighth setting the stage for Rivera, who worked around a two out walk (only his fourth base on balls of the year), to earn his 26th save of the year. Rivera lowered his ERA to 2.25.
Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira hit solo home runs and that was the difference. Roy Halladay and the Jays beat the Red Sox and the Yanks are now just one game behind Boston.
In all, a swell start to the second half, wouldn’t you say?
Yes, pretty swell, Alex.
You hit baseballs in a cage for half an hour? No wonder you have blisters. I do about five minutes, sometimes eight minutes -- 60 or 80 pitches from the machine -- and I can feel the friction, the pre-blister areas on my palms and fingers. I gotta go do that again soon. It's a good activity for a hot day, just standing there in the heat, with your head cooking in the helmet.
I dunno, it was actually kinda fun to watch. I think it's because of all the well-known people we've been losing recently (including Irish writer Frank McCourt today); baseball and the people who used to play it for a living is a breath of fresh air right now. I tried to live-blog it earlier; hey if no one else but thelarmis and OK Jazz enjoyed it, it was quite worth the effort. And I didn't make the Banter explode! >;)
[0,1] Wow..since I had a little experience with Mr. Slipped Disk in my back 2 years ago I havn't been to the batting cages..would love to go again and try to hit at least a few liners!
[2] Chyll, just saw your last post on the other thread, will reply to that in detail soon.
Halladay just struck out Ellsbury to end the game..I know we can't give up prospects for him but..damn, the guy is just an awesome pitcher. Gave up ONE hit and zero walks after the 3rd inning!
One game out. I'd like to see them surpass Boston this week and stay that way for more than a day.
Hey Alex,
http://www.msblnational.com/main.aspx?action=leag_info&league_id=209
The blisters and lunges will disappear soon enough. All you have to do is wanna.
I played in that league for about 10 years -- five of them after moving from WCty to the UES. Now I'm in my second MSBL season here in N.C. Only a couple of hours ago I was in the batter's box, in uniform, with a wood bat in my hand. I'm 41.
Go for it --
J
A couple of very worthy posts up at RLYW. Take a look.
If you have blister or dry open crack problems on your hands, fingers, or feet, get some "Zim's Crack Creme Liquid Skin Care" at your local drug store in the wound care section. It sure beats Super Glue to close cracks and will prevent future blisters and cracks with regular use! Where I live, it comes in a small 2.4 ounce spray bottle. It's an oil-based liquid spray and really works!
Trust me on this as blisters and cracks on finger tips around the nails are a common result from overdoing it at the driving range or batting cages or even from cold winter conditions.
Zim's Crack Creme Liquid Skin Care*
Learn it! Live it!
* This product is no relation to Don Zimmer.
: )
http://www.crackcreme.com/products/skincare/index.html
[7] I am ready and willing to purchase a bottle of Zim's Crack Creme Liquid Skin Care! Do they export??
Joba has now pitched 95 2/3 innings.
Six more starts, maybe seven, and they have to think about shutting him down, right? For the rest of the season?
Or what's the plan?
Could it be, by letting Joba be Joba, he pitched like Joba?
[0] I never hit without my batting gloves. You should carry a pair with you cause you never know when you'll need them.
[12] Yeah. I know for a fact there's a guy who woke up in a dark alley one night and said to himself, "Yo! Those were some nice gloves that guy hit me with!" >;)
[12] I've been referencing myself a lot lately and I don't know why.
[8] I don't know anything about them exporting OK Jazz, sorry. If they do not, perhaps you could get a family member or friend who lives here to ship you some.