Archive for the ‘Baseball Equipment’ Category
A Week into Spring Training
Well, here we are a week into spring training already, and hopes are running high. Players are getting into shape-some trying to make their first major league team, some older players trying to stay on a team, and some veterans just going through the motions. The Tampa Bay Rays are off to a good start as predicted by several sports writers.
So are the Chicago Cubs, but we have all seen that before. Baseball bats are booming, pitchers look sharp, and baseball gloves are actually catching baseballs-just what they are designed to do. Then comes the yearly Chicago Cubs letdown. I do, however, have a theory. For those of you who know the Bible, my theory is this: if the Cubs win the World Series, then the Lord Jesus will come back again! (I know it’s not actually in the Bible, but it should be!) Talk about faith…
Who WILL Make it to the Series?
So, on paper your team looks great. You even start the season with a 2-1 winning record until about the middle of June, and then BAM-your star left fielder with all those homeruns, crashes into the center fielder and breaks his arm. He won’t be able to put his Rawlings baseball glove on for at least 6-8 weeks.
Also, your ace closer tears a rotator, has surgery and is out for the season. Two players, two key players, are sometimes all it takes to take you out of the Big Dance. On the other hand, sometimes all it takes for a team to make it to the World Series is to have one or two players to have a better than expected season. That can ‘fire up’ the rest of the team. Baseball is a funny game…
Who Will Make it to World Series?
With all the hope and promise of a new season, just who will make it all the way to the World Series? On paper, there are several good prospects-but ‘on paper’ doesn’t mean you’re going to make it to the Series. It doesn’t even mean you are going to make the playoffs. So, just how do two teams make it to the ‘Big Show?’
There are so many factors that either bump a team up, or move a team down, that you can’t just name one or two. There can be a ‘defining moment,’ however, that either launches a team-or really deflates their bubble. It could be as simple as “faith and belief” or simply just one ‘hot’ baseball bat that marks the turning point. Let’s explore this further tomorrow…
Spring Training Up and Running
Here it is early in March of 2010 (it STILL feels like winter) and spring training is once again up and running. Hopes are high for many major leaguers (and would be major leaguers), not to mention baseball fans all over America. There seems to always be a lot of promise at the beginning of the season.
Players are asking themselves “will I make the team,” and fans are wondering if this could be ‘the year’ their favorite team makes it to the World Series. (Sorry, Chicago Cubs fans are not allowed to participate in this…their time has expired!) So, go ahead and oil up that baseball glove and dust off your baseball bat. It’s time to hear-“PLAY BALL”…
Shields Likely Rays Rotation Starter
The Tampa Bay Rays look to have a strong pitching rotation as well as a stronger bullpen in 2010. Joe Maddon, the Rays Manager, released his starting pitchers for the first five games. In order-they are: James Shields, Matt Garza, Jeff Niemann, David Price, and Wade Davis. Andy Sonnanstine is right there too, but he needs to work to stay in the rotation ahead of Wade Davis.
If Shields does get the baseball on April 6th, it will be his third straight opening day start. James has a way of winning the ‘big’ games, thus the nickname ‘Big Game James’ sticks in everybody’s minds. With a baseball, his Rawlings baseball glove, and a little magic, he’ll be giving opposing batters fits again this season…
Rays Price Ready for 2010
This spring is different for the Tampa Bay Rays David Price. Last spring he started in Triple A baseball which seemed like a slap in the face to him after being called up late in 2008 to pitch to Boston in the ALCS, and then the World Series. It was tough for him to go back to the minors to ‘learn’ a few more things.
Well, now he’s back in the Big Leagues in spring training, and all the cameras aren’t on him like they were last year. Now he has a chance to work on some of his pitches without everybody climbing all over him. It’s a safe bet he’ll be working on his defense by mastering the art of catching with that big baseball glove of his, and a little more ball movement as he delivers to the plate. When David Price pitches, the crack of the baseball bats may not be so numerous…
Starting a Little League Team
Though as a parent you might not be able to form a sanctioned Little League team in your area, it’s always fun to gather up your children and their friends for weekly games or practices. Once you’ve built up a team and a few scheduled weekly events, you’ll be surprised how fast your team gets noticed. To get started, you will need a place to play, and a bit of baseball equipment. If you can find a baseball diamond which is unoccupied during certain hours every week, that will be ideal. In terms of baseball equipment, you can expect other kids to bring their own gloves, and sometimes bats. Equipment you will need to purchase includes two to three bats, catcher’s protective gear and catchers mitts, bases and a pitcher’s mound marker (depending on where you play).
If you can find a place and put together the equipment, you’ll be having youth baseball games and a lot of fun in no time.
Your Glove of Choice-(Part 7)
In choosing a baseball glove or softball glove or mitt, you need to choose a model that is right for your position and feels good on your hand. Remember, after you ‘break in’ a glove or mitt, it will feel much better than when it was new. It will take a little time, but hang in there-it is worth it. (Ahhh-the smell and excitement of a new glove! It just makes you feel good.)
Rawlings baseball gloves are still the most popular. I’m not sure why; maybe they were the first on the scene, but they certainly do make good gloves and mitts. (When you think of hamburgers, McDonalds always comes up. It’s hard to top a leader.) Whatever brand or type of ball glove or mitt you choose, just play to the best of your ability- and have fun…
Your Glove of Choice-(Part 6)
…Where to start-where to start? How about Akadema? They have come a long way in just a few short years, and are competing rather well with the likes of Rawlings and Wilson-especially in the area of girls softball gloves and mitts. Akadema has some fairly innovative designs that are getting more popular-and they look pretty cool, too! With their Fastpitch design, ProSoft, Praying Mantis and Reptilian models, they are getting quite a boost.
The Rookie Series for the kids is priced under $40.00, so it won’t break the bank, but it is still a very good softball glove. The ProSoft design and others come in infield gloves and outfield. Also first base mitts and catchers mitts are aplenty. You won’t go wrong if you choose an Akadema softball glove…
Your Glove of Choice-(Part 5)
What if softball is your game? What kinds of softball gloves are available? We could talk about that subject for hours and hours. There are girls softball gloves, Fastpitch softball gloves, Akadema softball gloves, Rawlings softball gloves, Wilson, All-star, Mizuno and the list goes on and on. So how do you choose? Once again, you need to look at your level of play and how serious you are.
Even if you are just playing for the pure ‘fun of it,’ a better glove is always a good choice-and doesn’t have to cost all that much. If you don’t have a clue as to what to buy, tune in to a college girls softball game and look to see what they are wearing. They have pretty much done the homework for you. You will see all the above named brands, so you will still have to choose. Let’s take a closer look…