Archive for the ‘Baseball Gloves’ 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…
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…
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 4)
When buying a youth glove, there are some really cheap ones and some really good ones- and a whole lot in between. All of the major manufacturers obviously make good youth gloves and mitts and there is a wide range of prices. If your youngster is just starting out, you might want to spend a little less until you figure out how involved he/she will become.
Akadema youth baseball gloves has a lot to choose from. (A better glove does help a child catch better.) Their Rookie & Prodigy series gloves and mitts range from $39.00 to $65.00, a little more than the cheaper gloves, but they’re worth it. Remember; a better glove helps a child to catch better…
Your Glove of Choice-(Part 3)
…So, let’s talk about some of the brands and types of baseball gloves, and softball gloves that are offered today. First of all, $50.00 is no longer a “high end” glove or mitt; not in today’s world. Although, you can still get a pretty decent youth glove for $50.00 or slightly under, anything less is strictly for the kid that you are “making” him/her play ball. (No sense buying an expensive glove for that-it’s going to wind up in the basement and you’ll find it two years from now in a spring flood!)
But yes, the major brands are still there as well as several new brands. Rawlings baseball gloves are still the most popular as well as the most widely bought and used. Wilson is big and Spalding is there, but not so popular. There’s also All-Star, MacGregor, Mizuno, and the ever more popular Akadema baseball gloves and equipment. There are other brands as well, but I am writing a blog-not a novel…(see part 4)
Your Glove of Choice-(Part 2)
Way back when I was seven or eight years old and just starting to play Little League baseball, I seem to remember that a teammate and I both had Rawlings youth baseball gloves. At that age and at that time, (late 1950’s) I don’t remember anyone really being “all into” what brand of glove they had…not like today. Times have changed a bit since then. I don’t even remember where I got my glove; probably my parents.
I do however, remember just a few years later buying my own Wilson baseball glove. My best friend’s older brother worked for Wilson Sporting Company in Chicago, and I was “talked” into buying a Wilson glove. It cost me $50.00, which was a lot of money in the early’60’s. I broke it in and really took good care of it. It’s funny how spending your own money will cause you to take care of something just a little more…
Your Glove of Choice-(Part 1)
So, you want to play baseball or softball, or you already do-what’s your glove of choice? With so many brands and types of gloves and mitts to choose from, your decision may not be so easy. There are the “old lines” such as Rawlings, Wilson and Spalding through Mizuno, MacGregor, All-Star, and many others to newer companies like Akadema. Do you buy a glove or mitt because of a friend, coach or favorite major league star?
Usually, you buy what you know or hear about or a recommendation from a trusted coach or friend. Obviously, the position you play has a lot to do with it. There are infield gloves and outfield gloves; catchers mitts and first base mitts, not to mention all the colors and grades of leather. There are youth baseball gloves, slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball gloves…so many choices! Let’s take a closer look at several types and brands. See part 2…