Tag: APPYLEAGUE

Meeting The Flyboys

The inaugural season for the USA Baseball and MLB run Appalachian League starts one day after reporting day. The day before our first and only preseason workout we board a bus headed to East Tennessee State University baseball stadium. The team has 16 pitchers to begin the season. I have researched the players on the roster. I am trying to learn as much as I can about each athlete before meeting them in person.

The teamed donned these sweet Appy league tee shirts and shorts on this warm, muggy Tennessee afternoon. I have roster in hand so that I can learn the names of the players as quickly as possible. Oh man did we make a blunder the initial day. We wore the shirts with no numbers on the back. After a team briefing from the manager, coaches, medical team and USA Baseball personnel, I can get my first sit down with the pitchers.

I have learned over the years how short the attention span of us males can be- well limited. So, I am going to be loud, to the point, make it light, informative and humorous to break up the conversation. The most glaring issue is who is this guy talking, me. So an introduction of my playing and coaching history is the leadoff hitter. Secondly is finding out who is ready to pitch the next day. By the end of the workout I announced who will toe the rubber the first two days of the season. It did make me feel uncomfortable asking a pitcher who is in the middle of throwing a bullpen , “ what is your name again”. Well, we made it through the first day despite not knowing anyone’s name. In professional baseball the coaches are called by their first name, not coach. But these kids call me coach, which on the inside makes me smile. Coach is the second greatest moniker, next to Dad!! Tomorrow, is a commuter trip to play in Elizabethton, Tn. A new adventure, a new city and a new league kicks it out tomorrow.

Travel Day

Being a baseball coach can have its challenges. One of them is leaving the comforts of home for the city of your current team.. I have lived in a lot of cities for baseball season. Let me list them, Sarasota, Tampa, Billings, Plant City, Greensboro, Cedar Rapids, St. Petersburg, South Charleston, Chattanooga, Hagerstown, Louisville, Cincinnati, Scottsdale, Goodyear, and now Greeneville, Tn. The drive this time was five hours and thanks to my guardian angel, uneventful. We arrived and reported to Tusculum University which would be home for the next 12 weeks.

I am the pitching coach for the newly formed Greenville Flyboys in the Appalachain League. The gear is legit and don’t forget I was in the major leagues for eight seasons. The first day is complete once you fill out paper work and of course, move in. The people here have set up housing for me , a four bedroom apartment, on campus. Yes, on campus housing for the first time since 1986, that is 35 years ago for those of you without calculators.

This place is mostly furnished, many I have had in the past, have not been. I also do not have to turn on the cable, because there is none. I didn’t have to put the power in my name or water, anything for that matter. I did bring in a suitcase full of clothes and shoes. The mandatory baseball bag and gear, duh. I also brought two boxes of food and cleaning supplies so I can make the transition easier. Having ready to eat food is healthy and money and time saving.

After one night there were some additions that were necessary to make the dorm apartment more ” home sweet home” like. It took me 24 hours to realize there wasn’t a stove!! No complaints, cause there aint no crying in baseball. I headed to the store and got creative! I found a George Foreman indoor grill and an Egg Bite Maker. Whaattt??? The Egg Bite Maker is a small appliance you plug in and make small egg “muffins”. Ill report back on whether it works well! I threw in an old school Mr. Coffee coffee maker and finished the shopping journey with purchases of a mattress pad, (the mattress is not a real mattress it’s more like a box) some area rugs, blankets, candles, Clorox and a mop! Now that the apartment was ready it was time to get some sleep and get ready for the first practive with The Flyboys!! Lets Go!