Camp #9 is Underway!

It measures just 9 inches in circumference.  Weighs only about 5 ounces and is made of cork, wound with wool and yarn covered with two layers of cowhide, and stitched by hand precisely 108 times. The stitching, if stretched out, would extend 88 feet in length.

That is the physical description of a baseball. The game of baseball may be one of the greatest things ever invented.

My 9th Mets Fantasy Camp started today in Port St. Lucie, Florida. For those of you who may not be knowledgeable in what fantasy camps are and what they are all about let me tell you a bit about them. Former major-league catcher Randy Hundley is credited with having originated the idea of a "fantasy camp" in the early 1980's. They were called Dream Weeks back then. These camps allow fans, usually aged 40 and older, to play the game they love in a camp setting where they wear authentic uniforms and play against each other while being coached by former players of their favorite team. Sometimes these camps can command a fairly large price tag, nearing as much as $5,000 for a week of fun. While baseball is probably the most popular sport for camps, there are camps in the other major U.S. sports as well. 

This year's trip to the Sunshine State was a bit different than others of the past. I flew into Tampa on Friday and was able to spend parts of the past two days with my two sisters and my brother. We don't see each other often as a foursome. The last time was.....well, let's just say that the year had two zeroes in the middle of it. But I had a great time with them in Bradenton, on the west coast. I drove down this morning on a three-hour trip to "the happiest place on earth"- at least for THIS week, Port St. Lucie. (BTW- There is no "port" in Port St. Lucie. There also is no port in Port Charlotte on the west coast of the state. They're just marketing ploys set up by the developers of the land). 

So I stop by the team hotel and check in with the staff. I need to pass along my medical questionnaire and the waiver form which keeps me from suing the team should I end up with a "compound fracture of the left clavicle- with complications yet" to quote Bugs Bunny. 

I then made my way over to the minor league complex. A light rain had begun to fall which caused a slight delay to us campers hitting the field for evaluations. I didn't do anything that would injure myself in infield or outfield evals. I had not planned to try my hand at pitching but I figured why not. I have not pitched at camp since 2013. It showed. I nearly decapitated one of the photographers who was setting up his equipment four feet to the left of the catcher to whom I was attempting to throw the ball to. I apologized to him a bit later, but he seemed unimpressed by the level of sincerity which I may have demonstrated. 

I had about 10 swings in the batting cage off of Nelson Figueroa and hit 9 of them pretty much on the screws. After that we all went back to the clubhouse where we spent most of the time greeting our camp brothers and just trying to remember everyone's name. 

The evening brought the opening dinner at a new location, Tradition Town Center. It's a few miles from the old place, but a nice venue to say the least. Commissioner Doug Flynn introduced the coaches for week 2 and then dinner was served. Following that we had the rookies stand and introduce themselves. There are about a dozen of them for this week. Then the coaches announced the team rosters for the week. My team is coached by John Debus and Mookie Wilson. The name of my team? I've already forgotten it. But I will find out tomorrow for sure. 

I look forward to getting to play along with and against so many great people whom I have met over the past decade. I got to meet up with Greg Cockrell, my best bud here, as we are lockering next to one another. We'll have all week to catch up with each other. 

Tomorrow we are due to start with games at 9:30. The weather report is showing signs of rain in the forecast but we may be okay. Thursday looks like the day we hav to worry about the most at this point. But we will have fingers crossed throughout the next five days. 

And there you have it. Day one is in the books, sorta. I thank you for reading today's entry and hope that you will follow along for the rest of the week.