Back to the Batting Tee, Merry Christmas

Due to Holiday Festivities I couldn't attend batting practice sessions this past week. So out came the batting tee in the garage. I want to take this time to wish all my fellow campers and their families a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Less than 6 weeks to Goodyear!

Santa visits Wendy's/Sad practice balls predicament!/Huge Baseball Memorabilia Score!

Another stellar batting practice session was held at Miami Lakes on Saturday. Sadly though it was determined my practice balls have seen better days. The decision was made (By Steve Ritchie) to retire them. Well I can still beat the crap out them from the tee! I will miss throwing the eggs to batters!

Steve wear red next time ok?

On a more positive note, Santa made a surprise visit to Miamitown's Wendy's for lunch. We campers couldn't resist having our picture taken with the Man! Thanks to Cheryl Summe for the pic.

On a even bigger positive note. I have obtained now a cherished possession! Satch Coletta gave me his 2013 Camp baseball card! My Bar just got better!

What could have this team done with this 3rd basement inserted into this lineup?

My latest item for Mike's Bar

A victim of Campers relentless pursuit

 

of "Raking"!

December/Redsfest Update

I can't believe it's December already 2 1/2 weeks until Christmas and most importantly 54 days until Fantasy Camp! Early December brings RedsFest to the convention center. My wife Karen has never been to RedsFest. My Man Satch Coletta via Doug Rigenour set me up with some passes. Thanks guys! We had a good time. Looking forward to playing in the reunion wiffle ball game next year.

 

The Big Five O!

Yesterday I turned 50. As I posted earlier in this blog it's the main reason for going to fantasy camp. I even chose the number 50 for my uniform to embrace the fact I'm a half century old. Ten years ago if someone said to me by the time you turn fifty you will be somewhat concerning yourself with such things as "maintaining a level swing", or "Hey rookie stay behind that screen" or breaking in a new glove and shoes, I would of said, "What the hell are you talking about?" There are times here these last few months when I've said to myself, "Am I really going to this camp?"
I'm sure that Sunday morning February 2nd as I enter the Reds complex go into the clubhouse and see my uniform hanging in that locker, I will have goosebumps to say the least. I will be like every kid (my wife says I still am) on Christmas morning! Anyway I said the 50th birthday is the reason to go to this camp, actually it's my lovely wife Karen. She has been  on board for this since last spring. Although now her biggest concern is  for me now wanting to attend camp every year. We shall see. Yesterday afternoon a had a celebratory lunch with some of my work cronies. My wife couldn't attend. So I had to make due with these fine ladies.

Veteran's Day weekend Update.

Happy Veteran's Day. Yep I served 6 years in the U.S. Navy. Today a quick post. Some pics of Saturday's session, and a short video clip. These sessions are a blast. Here it is in the middle of November and I'm "increasing my pitch count" and trying for a nice level swing twice a week.

Steve Ritchie showing us "rooks" how it's done!

 

 

 

 

 

November Update

Last weekend I started attending batting practice/throwing sessions with my fellow campers. They are being held at Miami Lakes. It's a great way to meet some of the guys attending the camp. Therefore I won't be a total stranger when we get out to Goodyear-Now in less than 3 months. Also after listening to my fellow camper's advice, I decided to invest in a higher quality bat. A Marucci  Handcrafted Professional Cut 34" 32 oz. Last night at practice the ball jumped off that thing! As Marty said... It's also good when your sporting new wood"!

Black Beauty

October Update

More of the same here. Cardio, Weightlifting, and "baseball activities".

The garage after a batting tee session.

Here is my "testimony" I posted in face book a few weeks ago as to why I'm a reds fan.

As a “Rookie” to the 2014 camp, I wanted to introduce myself to all my fellow camp mates. Also to tell everybody why I bleed CINCINNATI RED! (Ha! Don’t we all?!)
My fandom began as a typical kid growing up in Cincy (Westside) in the 70’s. (By the way weren’t well all so spoiled back in those days with following the Machine?) My first game would have been in September 1970 against the hated Dodgers, but I missed the game as I came down with the flu! (My father brought home a pennant!) I had to wait until the following year to make my Riverfront debut. Johnny Bench poster day! (Reds actually lost to the Astros.) I wish I still had the poster! I also wished I could have seen a game at Crosley, but what can you do? It was really the 1972 season that cemented my heart to this team. I still have vivid memories of game 5 of the NLCS against the Pirates and Johnny Bench coming up in the 9th and tying the game. (My mother literally jumped off the couch and on to the floor!) Of course they won it on that wild pitch when George Foster scored! I was crushed when they lost to the A’s in the Series. I remember Hal King with his magical pinch hit Home Run against the Dodgers in 1973 to jump start the Reds drive to the division crown, but to this day I despise the New York Mets over the 1973 NLCS upset over the Reds. I especially hated Bud Harreleson! Back in those glorious summers my buddy and I took white tee shirts and used red crayola crayons and draw the wishbone C logo on them with our favorite players name and number on the back! Mine was Johnny Bench, his was Joe Morgan. We would also mimic their batting stances. He got pretty good with Joe’s flappin’ chicken wing! (By the way our mothers hated this because the crayon would ruin other laundry!)
I could go on and on with my memories, to many to count. I can’t wait until February when I put on that uniform and I won’t have worry about my mom getting mad at me when it gets cleaned!
P.S I went to the game this past Wednesday, I get upset when they lose, but it was to the damn Mets again!
P.P.S. Don’t get me started about Al Leiter and the Mets and that damn play in game in ’99!!

 

 

 

September Update

Conditioning continues. Started treadmill work today. Also on occasion I do solo "baseball activities". Actually not quite solo, my daughter Sara tosses some ball with me. Bascially it's hitting a ball off the tee and throwing to a pitch back. I've been added to the Fantasy Camp's Facebook page. It's a way to connect with follow campers. Groups get together for pre camp workouts. Something I will definitely be part of.

My new baseball "Kicks"

Physical Conditioning

If you know me, then you know I'm been using my Concept 2 In Door rowing machine (AKA erg) for some time Facebook Row logbook . It's a great cardio work out. Easy on the knees as it it low impact. But if I wanted to get the most of this camp I needed more than just rowing 3 days a week. Back in May I started weight training. I've building up slowly ever since. In fact as of right now I'm lifting 3 days a week and rowing twice a week. I will add running (treadmill) later this fall.


My Row Face!

The Johnny Bench Press!



Me and my dumbbell



Feel the burn!




Welcome to my 2014 Reds Fantasy Camp Blog

Welcome to my Fantasy Camp Blog. A long time Bucket List dream is becoming reality!. After my wonderful wife green lighted this I placed my deposit for next years camp back in late June. I know I know it's only August 2013 and the camp is over five months off, but hey it's my blog! Actually I've been "in training" for a few months. These early posts will be few and far between leading up to the camp. My wife will be joining me on this adventure. We are both coming up on the big Five OH this fall. This is our (my) way of celebrating it. After the camp in Goodyear Arizona we will be spending a few days in Las Vegas.