2026 Camp Collage Poster

 If anyone knows me, I like to put together photo collages for display. I've been doing this for years. I have some ones from family vacations of years past. I have one representing each time I've been to Reds Fantasy Camp. This year is no different. My latest for the Man Cave....

Last's Year Family Trip to Orlando

2026 Camp Reflections Part 2 with Videos

 

I've been now to 4 camps. Are they all the same? Yes and No. Obviously my first camp back in 2014, I was a wide eye rookie, and everything was amazing. My second camp was fantastic to get back two years later and see all my friends again. My 3rd camp was the seven year gap. That was cool because I felt like a rookie again with the anticipation. This year's camp was special. Special in that fact that after taking the last couple of years off playing any baseball, I was still able to contribute to my team and not embarrass myself too much. As I write this, my soreness is fading pretty much, but this camp has fired me up to play again (hopefully) this summer with the guys. Looking forward to play at GABP in the reunion game. Also to see my friends. 

I have a You Tube channel. My camp videos can be found here

(2) Mike McFarland - YouTube

2026 RFC Team Indy's Final Post Game Wrap up

2026 RFC Team Indy Batting

2026 RFC In The Cage

2026 RFC Play at the plate!

2026 RFC Team Indy wins game and Handshake Team Meeting

2026 Camp Reflections Part 1

 

Me and The Commish

    Yes, the week goes by way too quick. That's typical. Yes, I'm still sore. That goes along with the territory. I come to expected that. Todd Benzinger told me as we waited for our flight back to Cincy, "If you're not sore, you didn't play hard". Well, I guess I played hard. As I'm writing this, I've started to sift through all my videos. I will post them here on this blog and elsewhere (YouTube, our Facebook group page). It nice to go back and review them. I came up with some good stuff, which I enjoy sharing with the group. My wife Karen has joined me 3 out of the 4 camps I've attended. The First two times she's been with me my team has won the Championship. This time we didn't win the Championship, but I was honored being selected Team Indianapolis' MVP. I still can't believe that. So, she's still my good luck charm. 

                                                    

Blessed

Now here are some videos. The first one was a first for me. I was mentioned as gold rope candidate. The second one was from the tryout day as we were shagging fly balls. My buddy Tony Riese chided me on my catching style. Didn't know it at the time, we would be teammates by the afternoon.

Honored to be Mentioned

It went all too quick! (As it always does)

 

Team Indianapolis

No, we didn't win the Camp Championship this time around? Does it matter? Not really. Did I make new friends? Absolutely! That's what it's all about, the fraternity this camp truly is. Team Indy for what it's worth finished 3-5-1. Record wise, the worst I've had at camp. Not that it matters. Team Dinners, hanging out at the fire pit, just the general sense of the brother/sisterhood is all that matters. Baseball wise I do feel I need to be able to make contributions to the team. To be the best team player I can possibly be.  At the awards Banquet, I was honored to be selected as Team MVP. That really hasn't sunk in yet. For my teammates to think that much of me is very humbling. As the weeks go by and I sift through more photos and videos. I will have more to say about all of this. I love being part of The Cincinnati Reds Fantasy Camp. These experiences are a treasure. I love this family.

A true honor to be named MVP

Busted Again at Kangaroo Court!

 

The Honorable Corky Miller

The Tough Judge Doug.

Every year! Once again, I got busted at Kangaroo Court. I really don't mind at all. We raised with the match over 50K on Wednesday night for the Hope for the Warriors foundation. My infraction was pitching 6 inches in front of the pitching rubber. I gladly paid that fine. It's another camp highlight filled with highlights.

Guilty as Charged!

Bull Session

I could listen to Jim's stories for hours on end

 

Another cool thing at Camp is the Bull Session with all the Coaches and Marty. Always interesting to hear the stories and opinions on a lot of Base Ball stuff. I always have a question or two about whatever. I asked about Salary Cap and for Doug, what was it like breaking in with the Big Red Machine. He said  he had the best seat in the house watching that great team!

Marty doesn't hold back

Team Indy played it's Heart Out.

 

    Playoffs! Now it gets serious. As the 7th seed we played the 10th seed which was Team Cincinnati. I was asked to take the hill. I told our crony Dan. I'll give us what I have out there. My pitching philosophy is super simple. Throw strikes, try not to walk too many and pitch to contact, let the guys behind me do the rest. I tend to induce ground balls. I did just that. We won 2 Zip as I threw for the complete game shutout. Definitely something I didn't see coming. 

    Things got a lot tougher in the second-round quarter finals against the 2 seed Team Plant City lead by the strong as always Pedro's pitching. We started off with a run in the first. We had the tying run at the plate in the top of the 7th with a mini rally going but ultimately lost 8 to 4. So out of the tournament. It was a great effort on our part, but it sucks coming up short. On Thursday we play for fun. Hey, we are still playing baseball!!

"Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win" and a great Team Dinner

 Camp's 3rd day was once again up and down, baseball wise. We had some opportunities in the morning game against Team Chattanooga, but we couldn't push enough across the plate. We lost 4 to 3. I took the bump for the first time this season. I was pleased by my effort, going the full 7 innings. Pitched well enough to keep the team in the game.

Ice pack to the rescue!

Team McFarland this week. Karen makes this all happen for me!

            

In the second game things got better. We beat Team Dayton by the identical score 4-3. So going into playoffs as the 7th seed with a record of 2-3. Come Wednesday it gets serious!!

We had our Team dinner at Twin Peaks. We all had a great time getting together doing this camp tradition, It makes it so worth it with all the soreness to have time well spent with old and new friends.

Team Indy

Photo Day and "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose"

Photo day. I got a lot of comments on my Jersey hoodie I brought to camp this year. It was chilly so I wore it for the photos. 

Me and the Coaches

Military Veterans at Camp

The Whole Gang!

Got our first win of Camp Monday morning. Beating a good Team Sarasota 7-6, behind some timely hitting and a good defense as displayed by this play by Steve Sliter bringing it to the plate for the 1st inning's last out.

In the afternoon we got clobbered by Team Goodyear. I did have a nice 2 out 2 run single early on in the game. "Baseball is supposed to be hard" said the great Jimmy Dugan. "That's what makes it great."

Sunday Morning "Tryouts" and Team Indianapolis Takes The Field

 We finally were able to get on the fields early Sunday morning for the Camp Tryouts. Beautiful green fields and glorious sunshine greeted us at the Reds complex. It always fun to put on the Reds uniform once again!

The Commish giving us some infield pointers

Tom Englehart had a message for Karen to get out here and play with us as we were shagging fly balls.

Durning the lunch break the coaches and cronies held the team drafts. Always an interesting process.

I was selected to be on Team Indianapolis coached by Ron "The True Creature" Robinson and Todd Benzinger. My teammates include 

Kathy McIntosh, Mark Breining, John Clark, Scott Hensley, Father Son duo of Mark and Luke Jellison, Jack Mullikin, Anthony Riese, Brothers Jeff and Steve Sliter and finally Mike Weckbach.

We got off on slow start in our first game, losing to a solid Team Billings team 8 to 3, lead by the solid pitching of Sean Moses. We really had one bad inning with some defensive lapses. We should be able to clean that up. (Hopefully). I was satisfied with my plate performance, going 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Camp Kicks off with Welcome Reception

 

Our Commissionor Doug "The Glue" Flynn

Well Camp finally kicked off with Saturday evening's welcome reception at The Hilton Garden Inn. It was great to see old friends and meet soon to be new friends. That's the thing about camp. The baseball is why we gather for this to be sure, but it's the friendship you make doing these camps. That's why so many keep coming back to play this little boy's game. Somebody told me years ago, the more camps you go to the actual baseball become a little less important each time out. Seeing and being with your friends is the bigger deal. I can certainly see that and have seen it for some time.

P.S. Every post I do that includes mentioning Doug Flynn by name, I have to triple check the spelling of his name. My rookie year in this blog I had the misfortune of spelling it Doung! That was caught and a fine was levied against me at that year's (2014) Kangaroo Court.

Batting Practice at D-Bat Avondale

 

On Saturday morning Karen and I headed over to D-Bat Avondale for a decent round of batting practice. Needed to shake off some rust, since it's been a week since I took some swings. I noticed a big difference between hitting off a real pitcher and the machine at D Bat. My timing initially was way off. But found a groove as I get into it. Looking forward to tonight's Welcome Reception to kick off Camp.

Made it to Arizona!

Very early morning to make our non stop to Phoenix. I’ll do that anytime for a direct flight. We don’t do a lot of flying, so less time at airports all the better. Anyway we made it safe and sound to very sunny Arizona. I think weather wise this year's camp will be a tad bit dryer than in 2023.

The Official Welcome Banner at the Hilton Garden Inn

Chillin' by the Pool

Way too early! for Karen on the Fight

Uggh! 

Yes! I'm the guy with the camera

 

My buddy Tim Farmer introduced me to the contour (go pro type) camera years ago. Since then it's become sort of my signature "thing".  Once it got me in "trouble" back in 2016 at that years Kangaroo Court. All in good fun. I've been using some sort of video camera since the late 80s capturing something or another. Any way here's a video of me at the plate smacking a 2 run double in a game back in 2023. Also to note with a video editor tool, a included some iPhone video my wife Karen took and some official  camp video of that at bat. 

What Camp means to me in 2023/26

 Just an update to a post I made 3 years ago heading into that year's camp. Click link at bottom of post to view that video.

https://mikesredsfc14.blogspot.com/2023/01/what-reds-fantasy-camp-means-to-me.html