Monthly Archives: March 2011

Jason Markovitz is from California, and I am from the East Coast. I have known Markovitz for two weeks. Remarkably, in those two weeks, we have twice discussed the merits of In-N-Out Burger versus those of 5 Guys Burgers and Fries. Being from Cali, he holds a West Coast bias that I believe pushes his opinion of In-N-Out burgers above reality. Admittedly, I likely hold an East Coast bias that pushes my hometown burger joint above its actual tastiness—whatever, 5 Guys is clearly better.

I know what you’re thinking. Who, aside from the Hamburglar, spends 85 words on burger talk?

Well, I think that there is some significance to a situation where a group of people are pushed to frequently talk about cross-country cheeseburgers. The same significance is present whenever a person is blasted by reggaetón* only to walk two feet and catch a hook by country music star Jason Aldean. Situations similar to these two will likely be found in every professional baseball clubhouse. The cause leading to these occurrences is that professional baseball mashes together young men from as many backgrounds as there are Minor League mascots.

Yes, in any clubhouse, massive are the distinctions between a player’s geographic background, level of education, financial background, language(s) spoken, cultural heritage, etc. In fact, I challenge any reader to bring forth a profession whose workers come from as wide a spectrum as those who work in professional baseball.

What does it matter that a baseball clubhouse is a current day melting pot? In my opinion, the diverse atmosphere is a result of a system that should be heralded as a model. At its highest level, the baseball world is one of merit. The barrier to entry is simple and clear: you have to be good. If you grow up with a ball and a glove, some talent and a will to work, a bat and a dad who cares about you, you’ve got a chance. No matter the language you speak, the amount of money in your wallet, or the brain in your head, you’ve got a chance.

Within America’s pastime is an embodiment of America’s commitment to being a land of opportunity. And you may be thinking that these open opportunities are present everywhere in the US of A. To that I say, think about the people against whom you compete for a position or who share your profession. Do they look like you, talk like you, and live in places similar to yours?

Somewhere, below the surface, are reasons why your answer to that question is probably yes, while a baseball player’s answer to that question is no.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggaeton

I step out of my car and walk across the parking lot. Feeling like today is just another day of Spring Training, I walk towards the Mariners complex and head into the building. I move into the hallway and search for the bulletin board, which holds today’s schedule. I’m intercepted by my friend and Mariner-mate Nolan, who greets me with, “Did ya hear…?” Immediately, I know that today is different.

Baseball careers are ending today.

Every year, more players come into Spring Training than exist spots on rosters. As a result, the coaching staff has difficulty findings innings for pitchers and at-bats for hitters. Soon, players in Major League camp are sent down to Minor League camp, and roster space begins shrinking even further. Inevitably, the unfortunate yet unavoidable, somber days of releases will begin.

Donald Trump asserts, “You’re fired.” The Mariners send Mickey. Mickey is a kind man and a well-respected coach. But you want him nowhere near your locker on release days. He navigates the clubhouse with a clipboard, searching for his next victim. Once he finds his man, Mickey walks over and whispers in his ear, “You need to go see Lupe.”

For all things Minor League, Lupe is the boss. As a player, you tip toe around him, never cross him, and, absolutely, never want to go to his office on release day. If you are forced into his office on this day, he’s going to tell you why the Mariners no longer need you.

It’s safe to surmise that only those who have experienced that torturous walk to Lupe’s office on a release day can fully understand its profundity, its loneliness, and its despair. As baseball players, we grow up with the game at our side. Starting with Little League, the magical sport grabs us and pulls us in. A feeling, a dream develops inside us, and that feeling grows stronger every time we field a ground ball or tape the handle of a bat or hear John Fogerty sing about giving this game a ride. One of the world’s most amazing places is that hallowed combination of dirt, grass and chalk lines.

But, it could happen to any of us. On one day seemingly like any other, someone steps into our dream, grabs our cleats, and hangs them up.

Wondering why I would dedicate an entire entry to a commonly uncommon acronym? Worry not, for by the end of this post you will be as tired of PFPs as is any professional pitcher.

Musician’s play scales, 3^rd graders tackle multiplication tables, medical students memorize, and pitchers do PFPs. Pitchers’ Fielding Practice (a PFP) is the heart and soul of Spring Trainig’s week one, the week devoted to pitchers and catchers. I’ll walk you through a typical day.

7:55a     Arrive at the Complex

8:55       Gather for announcements

9:15        Stretch as a group

9:30        Bullpen    or      PFPs

9:45        PFPs        or      PFPs

10:00     PFPs        or     PFPs

10:15      PFPs        or     PFPs

10:40      Weight Training

12:00p     Lunch

Each pitcher is put into one of four groups;  each group is subdivided into two sections, A and B. Pitchers in Group A follow the first column—the bullpen column. Pitchers in the Group B follow the second column—the one with four rotations of PFPs. Clearly, all partake in copious amounts of PFP.

To clarify what we do during these rotations, I must point out that there are numerous types of PFPs. To list a few:  cover 1^st base, field a comebackeer (regular baseballs), cover home, field a bunt during a squeeze play, cover 1^st base on a ball hit between 1^st baseman and 2^nd baseman, field a comebacker (soft baseballs), cover 1^st to end a double play, field a bunt and throw to 1^st base… Surely, if Forrest’s friend Bubba enjoyed pitching as much as shrimp boating, you can imagine his explanation of PFPs.

There, of course, is a reason to this madness.

You step onto the mound. It’s the bottom of the 9th. Your team is winning 2-1. You’ve easily retired the first 2 batters, but the next hitter rips a triple into the right field corner. With a runner on third and two outs, you only have to collect one more out and your team wins the game. You deliver a perfect change-up; the ball sinks to the bottom of the zone and the batter chops the ball weakly back towards the pitchers’ mound. As the baseball bounces towards you, you prepare to react. Only one more out and the game ends…. What happens next?

You sure are glad you did all those PFPs.