Skills practice 10/21

With a break in intersquads, practice was devoted to the basics today. Catchers suited up and received a speech from Volunteer Coach, and former St. John's Catcher, Brendan Monaghan. Coach Monaghan -- also known as Monny (pronounced Mon-he) -- focused on receiving pitches and relaying signs. There has been some miscommunication on signs during intersquads so Monny demanded that signals given by the catchers be simplified. Monny also touched on how the Catchers should be receiving pitches. In doing so, he referred to catching in a way that I have never heard before. Monny drew a parallel between catching and being an artist. Just as artists instinctually brushstroke a canvas to create a painting, Catchers should instinctually anticipate a pitch's movement and position their glove accordingly. Yes, that means Catchers are indeed artists. I wholeheartedly agree with this statement because when I pretend to be a baseball player on my own time, I Catch.



Coach Monaghan conferencing with the Catchers (yes, all seven of them)


After the Catcher's conference, Coach Monny fed balls into the pitching machine and had the Catchers practice their receiving ability by closing their eyes and opening them just as the ball was spat out of the machine. This reminded me of that scene out of the "Karate Kid" when Mr. Miyagi and Daniel tried catching a fly with chopsticks...only with baseballs, and catcher's mitts, and, well you get the point. While the Catchers were doing their Karate Kid thing, Pitchers threw long toss in right field. I threw with redshirt senior Miguel Valcarcel. Miguel, better known as "Miggy", is recovering from massive ankle trauma sustained from awkwardly sliding into second base last year at Pittsburgh. He isn't nearly 100% yet, but he should be able to pitch when the season starts in late February. After pitchers finished with long toss, they went to go lift.

The rest of the position players joined the Catchers after taking individual batting practice. They warmed up briefly and then broke up into groups to hit off of the curveball machine. Anyone not hitting went to their position and fielded any balls hit their way. I did my best to use the fungo bat to hit groundballs to the infielders. And I say "my best" because I am absolutely terrible with the fungo. I'll hit a perfect groundball to third base and then with the next swing I'll hit a ball twenty feet over the shortstop's head.

I'd like to say practice went smoothly, but it didn't. It's only natural to want to fool around when you're working on something so simple as the basics, but Coach Monaghan and Coach Hampton had no patience for this. That's why I believe an Indian Run was scheduled at the end of practice. If you don't know what an Indian Run is, I'll enlighten you. Indian Runs are actually used to train the military. Soldiers line up in single file and begin jogging. The last man at the end of the line then sprints up to front. The new last man at the end of the line follows suit. This is done over and over until the drill sergeant says stop. This was done in today's practice for 15 minutes. My dumbass, so eager to gain respect by the team, joined in. However, the guys were pretty tired from a full day of lifting, throwing, and hitting so the run wasn't too strenuous. I survived and actually was able to go lift afterwards with Catcher Robert Case. I find it amazing that Rob had the energy to lift after the Indian Run since one of his shoes fell off half-way and he finished with just a sock on his right foot.

After the Indian Run, Coach Hampton gathered the guys together and spoke to the team about getting complacent. Coach Hampton -- better known as Bone -- was a fourth round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds and played four seasons in the minors before having to retire due to injury. He said that without baseball, he knows his life would not be nearly as fun as it is right now. He told the guys that they need to take advantage of the opportunity that baseball has presented them with. "It's not about what baseball can do for you. It's not about how much money you can get out of playing ball," Coach Bone explained, "It's about what you can get out of playing baseball. If you play the game right, baseball will make you a better man. It will make you more disciplined, it'll keep you out of trouble, and it'll make you that much more of a hard worker." Coach Hampton is absolutely right. During my time as a "ballplayer", this was exactly how I viewed baseball. This work ethic has carried over into pursuing a career in the business of sports. Just like the guys will stop at nothing to continue to improve their skills, I will stop at nothing to keep interning and gaining experience.

Tomorrow's practice will also be dedicated to the basics with the Intersquad World Series starting on Tuesday. Teams were picked by junior Shortstop Joe Panik and junior Second Baseman Matt Wessinger. Draft results coming soon.