Third Day of Red Sox Fantasy Camp 2018 #redsox #redsoxfantasycamp

Photo ©Lehigh Photo. Used with permission
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I woke up around 5:45 on Wednesday and got ready to go to take the first shuttle to the park. We arrived at 6:30 am and I ate breakfast and went to the trainers to get stretched.

I’ve learned a lot of things from camp. One great piece of advice I got at the rookie orientation was to start slow, and taper off. At the time, I didn’t quite get what they were saying, but by the third day, I was glad I was listening to the sage advice.

The trainers were all from the minor league teams, some interns and the athletic training coordinator, Brandon. All of the trainers were great and took care of everyone with the same care they would provide the pros.

Jim Corsi led the daily Kangaroo Court and even put a clown mask on to have some fun with it. The entire room cracked up… As we were walking to the fields I noticed the chefs were smoking some salmon which we would be eating later. We went to play our first game of the day against Stanley’s Steamers.

Before the start of the game, our coaches, Bret Saberhagen and Tom “Flash” Gordon, got us all together to give us a pep talk and encourage us. Those of us not playing in the field for the first few innings, cheered our teammates on from the bench and also as we played offense.

I was pretty excited even though I grounded out at my first at-bat the first inning to a fielder’s choice, my friend, Steve scored and I got an RBI. My second trip to the plate, I grounded out to the pitcher.  Since I was the last out, I was the pinch runner for my teammate Frank, who would swing the bat with one hand, while holding himself up using a crutch with the other hand. Frank hit the ball and I ran as fast as I could to first base and wasn’t thrown out! I started running as the ball was hit and made it to third base as my teammate Jake hit a ground ball and got a double due to an errant throw to first. Matt popped out to center and then Wayne singled on a line drive to left field. As the ball dropped, Bret was telling me to run home and I scored a run for Frank and Jake was close behind.

I played in right field for the last four innings and enjoyed it. We won our third straight game and were off to a 3-0 start. see the game recap  at the end of this article - I was prey excited since I ended up in the recap!

After the game, we went back to the clubhouse to each lunch (the smoked salmon was delicious!) and then I went to see the trainers since I wasn’t playing the afternoon game. They told me to go in the cold tub for 10 minutes. I didn’t think I heard them right but took their advice and sat in the cold tub. I didn’t think anyone would believe me so I had my dad dump in two scoopfuls of ice. He was laughing so hard the entire time - he couldn’t believe I was in there!

I went to chat with the Mike, the equipment manager, and took some photos of the equipment room. It was amazing to see so many baseball bats, uniforms helmets and other baseball items! They had tubs upon tubs of Dubble Bubble bubble gum and I couldn’t believe they even had sugar-free double bubble. It was awesome.
I watched the afternoon game and enjoyed the camaraderie of talking with my teammates in the dugout.

We toured the major league clubhouse and enjoyed a barbecue inside JetBlue Park while watching the home run derby. I couldn’t believe Al Bumbry pitched the entire game - he is such a cool guy.

Afterwards we all came back to the hotel and hung out in hotel lobby, and got to know my new friends a little bit better.

Al Bumbry

I was taking a lead from 1st...

The equipment room - so cool!

I even was the 1st base coach for a few innings.

Tom "Flash" Gordon talking with an umpire.
Photo ©Lehigh Photo. Used with permission
http://lehighphoto.com

Frank at bat.
Photo ©Lehigh Photo. Used with permission
http://lehighphoto.com

JetBlue Park at sunset.

Kangaroo Court

Kangaroo Court

I was running to the base - I made it.
Photo ©Lehigh Photo. Used with permission
http://lehighphoto.com

NOTE: I won this experience as part of a contest held by JetBlue and the Red Sox. I was not asked to blog about this, cover this experience by anyone. I am solely writing about it out of my own excitement and thought that my readers would enjoy my journey of playing baseball and being coached by some amazing individuals. I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride! All opinions are my own.


Sabes' Babes Blows Away Stanley's Steamers By Seven RunsSabes' Babes sailed to an easy victory over Stanley's Steamers 9-2 on Wednesday
Sabes' Babes fired up the offense in the first inning. Dave Dudek hit into a fielder's choice, scoring one run.
Sabes' Babes put up four runs in the fourth inning. The offensive firepower by Sabes' Babes was led by Wayne Martins, Bob Connors, and Brian Stoltz, all driving in runs in the frame.
Sabes' Babes tallied 14 hits. Dave McGovern, Connors, and Jake Hallonquist all managed multiple hits for Sabes' Babes. Hallonquist, Connors, and McGovern each managed two hits to lead Sabes' Babes.
Stanley's Steamers tallied ten hits on the day. Herb Sargent and Ron Young each had multiple hits for Stanley's Steamers.

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The second day of Red Sox Fantasy Camp 2018 #redsox #redsoxfantasycamp

On Tuesday morning, the start of our second full day at camp, we woke up early (5:45 am!) and took a 6:15 shuttle to the ballpark, arriving a little after 6:30, when it opened. Amazingly the place was buzzing with excitement and guys were in the battling cages taking cracks at the plate preparing for the first games.

I ate breakfast with my dad and then went to see the trainers to get warmed up. Brandon had me try the Normatec machine, which basically is like putting your legs into a huge heart rate cuff boot that goes all of the way up to your hips. It sounds weird but felt AMAZING.

We went out to the outfield of JetBlue Park to take our all-camp photo with the original green monster scoreboard behind us. Stepping onto that field for the first time was pretty surreal.

We played our first game against the team coached by former Sox pitcher Lenny DiNardo. We won the game 3-1. I played in the right field from the 4th through the 6th inning and enjoyed it. The morning games have one of the team’s coaches pitch. We were very fortunate to have Tom “Flash” Gordon pitching to us and rather than trying to strike us out, he gave us pitches to encourage us to hit. During my first at-bat I grounded out, but had some fun. My second at-bat I hit a pop fly which was promptly caught.

Met two women who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), which the move “A league of their own” was based on. Maybelle Blair and Shirley Burkovich were enjoying the Florida sun and some baseball games, and my teammates and I had the chance to sit and chat with them. It was great to hear some of their stories from playing in the league.

I asked Maybell and Shirley one of their favorite things about baseball and they said it was the sound of baseball cleats on concrete going clack clack clack and its rhythmic beat.

Lunch was delicious and guys were going around getting autographs from some of the professional athletes.

After lunch, I went to the trainers and they told me to go in the ice tub for 10 minutes. I thought they were kidding, but after I tried it, it was chilly for the first 3 minutes but then I warmed up to it and it was amazing for my tight muscles.

I took the advice of taking it slow and watched our afternoon game and cheered on the team from the dugout. 

While some people went to a place to go bowling, I went to cigar night (even though i don’t smoke cigars) and talked with some of the players as well as professional sox alumni. I enjoyed getting to know some of the players and coaches on a more personal level. Lenny DiNardo is a great guy, down to earth and fun to hang out with. He’s also really great at playing the guitar.

NOTE: I won this experience as part of a contest held by JetBlue and the Red Sox. I was not asked to blog about this, cover this experience by anyone. I am solely writing about it out of my own excitement and thought that my readers would enjoy my journey of playing baseball and being coached by some amazing individuals. I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride! All opinions are my own.

First Day of Fantasy Camp

The first day started out arriving at JetBlue Park at 6:30 for breakfast, meeting the trainers and the morning meeting. I walked into the park through the Minor League Clubhouse entrance and went to find my locker which was in the home minor league clubhouse. I found out that my locker was across from my new friend Steve whom I met on the shuttle from the airport. lockers are scattered between players and professional alumni, so I happened to also have some former major league players around me which was pretty awesome.

Once I settled in, I went to eat breakfast and sat with another rookie camper, Scott, who quickly became a friend who I would see each day of camp. As we were chatting former Baltimore Oriole and current Red Sox coach Al Bumbry sat with us and joined the conversation with sage baseball advice and some pretty great stories and humor. 

We got changed to our game uniforms and went out for a group stretch then drills. I didn’t know what to expect because the last organized team I was in was a Tee ball team coached by my dad when I was 5. 

First group was out fielding where Trot Nixon and Brian Daubach gave us some pointers and then Brian hit balls for us to catch. They told us the most important thing was to have the ball stay in front of you.

We moved to infielding drills by John Valentin. I played at first base and learned quickly that I’m not an infielder. I was lucky if I successfully completed one drill.

We went to base running hosted by Al Bumbree and he told us to run and tag the base on the inside corner if we were turning or on the front edge so we don’t twist our foot as we land. 

I tried pitching and it wasn’t for me. Walking back I chatted with Bret Saberhagen who I followed in the 90s and was shocked that here I was having a casual conversation with him, he was such a nice guy. 

Lastly, went into the batting cages with a handful of pros giving us advice. At first I was popping up balls left and right but then I listened to their advice and starting hitting line drives. 

The entire time we were in drills different coaches were watching us and evaluating us to see who they would draft on their team. 

While we ate lunch, the coaches all drafted the 150+ players into 12 teams. I ended up on a team coached by Bret Saberhagen and Tom “Flash” Gordon. 

We had our first team scrimmage where we tried playing different positions on the same fields the Red Sox minor league teams play. I played centerfield and outfield and realized that is the spot for me. I popped up a fly ball and the end result of the game was we lost our team scrimmage.

After the games, I went to see the trainers and Brandon, the head trainer, told me to go in the ice bath for 2 minutes and the hot tub for 2 minutes and alternate four times. I listened to him and man, was he right! It felt SO COLD at first but my muscles thanked me for it.

We left JetBlue Park and went back to the hotels for the team dinners at local restaurants. We ate at a local Japanese Hibachi place called DaRuMa which was fantastic and got a chance to bond as a team. We even celebrated our coach’s birthday!

We came back to the hotel and I was so tired and nervous i wouldn’t get up to catch the shuttle in time for 6:15 am. I promptly went back to the hotel room and got in bed and slept soundly. 

NOTE: I won this experience as part of a contest held by JetBlue and the Red Sox. I was not asked to blog about this, cover this experience by anyone. I am solely writing about it out of my own excitement and thought that my readers would enjoy my journey of playing baseball and being coached by some amazing individuals. I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride! All opinions are my own.

Red Sox Fantasy Camp Experience - Arriving in Ft Myers

I am at Red Sox Fantasy Camp and words simply cannot describe exactly what it is like, but I will try. How did I get here, you might ask? Back in the Summer of 2017, I entered a contest held by JetBlue and the Sox where you had to tweet a photo of yourself and why you were a "nonstopfan" for the chance to win a trip to Red Sox Fantasy Camp and I won.  If you've been reading this blog long enough you know I'm a lifelong Red Sox fan and love the PawSox and everything that the teams do for their fans! I couldn't believe it! I've never won something so extravagant, and I was super excited! I got to take a guest, so my dad came with me.

I thought I would start training for it in November and joined the local Y and decided to get a personal trainer to kick things into high gear for the last few weeks before camp started. Unfortunately, I caught a small virus the weekend before Christmas that sidelined my training (I hate viruses but that's for another blog post) and therefore put into question my ability to fully participate (because I'm certainly not athletically inclined). My doctor had said if I do participate to certainly take it slow and see the trainers if they were there.

Red Sox Fantasy Camp Director
Tom Kennedy addressing the Rookies.

I arrived at Fort Myers Southwest Florida International Airport on Sunday afternoon and met Carvel, one of the two shuttle drivers for camp, who was waiting for our flight. We picked up a few of the attendees and made our way to the Crowne Plaza Hotel for check-in and Rookie orientation.

The check-in was a breeze and the rookie orientation gave some sage advice from two veteran campers, John and Ray. The advice I listened to most was start of slow, and taper off throughout the week. It was an important piece of advice because we are all not professional athletes and don't want to injure ourselves. In order to attend camp you have to be at least 30 years old and at the upper end of 38, I was one of the youngest attendees by probably 10 years. More than a few campers described getting the camp experience as a "once in a lifetime" gift from their significant others for a variety of significant occasions, and had such a wonderful time that somehow they have been able to find their way back to camp each year.

Red Sox radio legend Joe Castiglione announcing
the professional player coaches.

After orientation, we had a cocktail hour and the Welcome Reception which was held in the hotel ballroom. We were introduced to all of the professional players who would be our coaches, by Red Sox radio legend Joe Castiglione and I was amazed at how approachable and personable they were! I swear if you closed your eyes, and just listened it sounded like you were hearing some of the same calls he would make for some legendary plays in Red Sox history. Most of the players were those who I had baseball cards of as a kid in the 80's and 90's, like Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd, Bob Stanley, Rich Gedman, Bret Saberhagen and others... The food was amazing and we then went to sleep because we were so tired!

NOTE: I won this experience as part of a contest held by JetBlue and the Red Sox. I was not asked to blog about this, cover this experience by anyone. I am solely writing about it out of my own excitement and thought that my readers would enjoy my journey of playing baseball and being coached by some amazing individuals. I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride! All opinions are my own.