The offseason was wet and cold but training had to happen.I was running more and every night i was trying to take about 150 ground balls.It was doable but tough especially when the road and wall i used to take ground balls was icy as shit and if i had to stretch out for the ball i was going to stretch my hamstring out and not be able to do shit for weeks.
I stayed with it anyway and kept doing whatever i could.The way our season ended i wanted to start back in a big way.From the first game we were sending a message that this season the league champions are going to be wearing black socks.
The winter training organised by Baseball Ireland started upFebruary.It was on in Ashbourne GAA club.Indoor astro turf deal which was way better than the indoor gym up in Stillorgan last year.Plus when we were running drills that involve any sort of high balls they weren't getting jammed in in the roof beams.
The trainings were the same.Stretches,stretches and throwing.Always emphasis on stretches as being out of the game for however many months and getting back in can kill your arm.I was feeling confident as my arm was feeling good.I knew i was throwing the ball better and had command this was a whole new deal.
We lined up and was throwing the ball roughly the distance of 3rd to 1st base(127' 3/8") after you throw you follow your throw and do it over and over again till it enters sudden death and if you make a bad throw or don't make the catch you are out.Really good first drill to get things going.
After that we break up into fielding groups and two groups for batting.one on the pitching machine and one on mechanics off the tee.Batting is my weak point and i'll be the first to adnit that.I don't know what it is but stepping into that batters box that just gets me.Baseball is 70% mental and i need to get out of the shit.If not for the sake of my game then for the sake of my bats.Every time i strike out i have to beat the shit out of something with a bat.That is the real reason I carry a metal bat as well as my wood Louisville slugger.real talk.
The training sessions were going great and on some weeks we had team training out in Blacksox park.I t was good to get back out there and see the guys again.It's nice to have people you cantalk ball with and also trash talk.Always with the trash talking.I was working playing 2nd base for a bit.It was good.I had to adjust my movements to get the ball from the shortstop,tag the bag,step out of the runners path and throw to first.
To make the double play takes so many concious moves that you somehow have to turn into one movement without thinking about it.Get out of my head baseball!
The last team training we had took place in the pissing rain.Funnily enough that was the one that had the better turn out including new players.Everyone got stuck in with wiffle balls and throwing water soaked balls that seemed to be twice as heavy.It was fun as hell and i think says what baseball here is all about,we don't have much but what we can get we make go a long way.I am stoked on the season to start.STOKED!!
Also i go these bad boys to bust out on the diamond
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