Are you ready for some hardball...
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There is something in the air these days. The sun is shining a little brighter. The air is clearer. Spring Training is in full swing. It must be time for some baseball.
Roy Hobbs is gearing up for its 22nd year as the premiere amateur baseball organization, and we have some big plans for this year.
Lots of people had lots of fun in Tucson at the Cactus Classic. We are looking forward to doing it again in 2011. We can't wait that long so we will do it again in July, with our Midnight in the desert event. And of course, the 22nd annual Roy Hobbs World Series is beginning to shape up. And we are determined to make this the best World Series yet.
We look forward to another great season. Enjoy this issue of the Inside Pitch and have a safe and enjoyable season.
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Cactus Classic off to good start; returns in July
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Were the 2010 Cactus Classics events in Tucson successful?
You be the judge …
Participation over President’s day doubled from 2009, and 3 of the 4 Division I college teams told us before leaving that they wanted to come back in future years and perhaps even be the host team. Since then, one even changed its 2011 schedule to make that happen next February.
Then there was the Kangaroo Court after the President’s Day player cookout at the Clubhouse, one of the best off the field ‘baseball experiences’ I’ve ever had. I don’t believe there was a dry eye in the house, tears of laughter as we made fun of each other and of ourselves – no one was immune. And we raised more than $600 for the Roy Hobbs Foundation.
Finally, there were a number of Arizona-based players who participated, from the Phoenix area as well as Tucson. As a group, most expressed concern with the Locker Room concept and wanted to opt out. We held our ground and said it was part of the package. Within a couple of days, several of the more vocal players from Phoenix decided to get a hotel and stay in Tucson instead of commuting and spent more time in the locker room – and one then brought his wife down for the Cookout and Court. He and others then thanked us for getting them in the Locker Room, saying they never realized how much fun that part of any event could be.
So, we believe we made a good start in February.
Was it as successful as our H2Baseball partners and I had hoped? No, but that’s quite all right. We have high standards for our events and high goals for their success. So it’s a work in progress.
However, it is important to note that this H2Baseball partnership between Roy Hobbs Baseball and Henderson Baseball is founded on a new approach, one that differs from traditional adult amateur baseball events.
We have made every effort to take the best approaches from each of our operations to create quality baseball experiences at our various Cactus Classic events. Perhaps the 2 biggest differences for many players are the locker room and the hotel setup.
Question one is why the hotel package? We see it as being service to the player; we believe that by negotiating a group hotel rate that we saved players money; and it’s one more opportunity for players to build relationships. And the Desert Diamond Casino Hotel was simply icing on the cake!
Question two is why is the locker room mandatory? The locker room is a part of the package and participation is a key to making it work effectively.
The locker room is not just service from trainers, getting uniforms cleaned, shoes shined and a place to get something to eat in the morning and a beer after the game. That’s all great stuff, makes the tournament time easier and the like. But the locker room is an extension of the dugout, and that’s our place!
Roy Hobbs Baseball has made a big deal out of the concept of Teammates and the Dugout since the mid-1990s. Those are special things in our lives, and, as we get older, those things supersede our competition with each other and ourselves.
Ex-major leaguers have told me time and again that when they retired, they did not miss the daily grind of the game or even the competition, but they did miss the dugout and their teammates, whom they call their extended family.
We see the locker room as a natural extension of the Dugout, a place where we take the concept of Teammates to the idea of Family.
As we watched the interaction in the locker room in Tucson over President’s Day, we saw that acted out time and again. We believe the success of the Cactus Classic was validated in the locker room experience alone … and the rest was gravy.
So, we’re going to do it again in July … 15-18 … with a Midnight in the Desert Cactus Classic in Tucson: Locker room, casino hotel and games at 9 p.m. and midnight, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Pricing will be announced in the next newsletter.
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Todd Windhorst Has Said Goodbye To Roy Hobbs
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It is with mixed emotions that Roy Hobbs Baseball announces the retirement of Todd Windhorst, effective February 12, 2010.
Todd’s decision is health-related and Wednesday (Feb. 3) was his last day of work.
Todd’s decision leaves a hole here at Roy Hobbs, not just that a key employee is leaving but rather my best friend and closest confidant for more than 15 years won’t be in the next office, keeping me out of trouble and acting as a sounding board on many aspects of Roy Hobbs and NEORH business. We are going to miss his diligence, cracker-jack wit, ever-present cup of coffee, and his penchant for getting to the meat of any discussion.
Todd’s decision is based on what is best for him and his health. I am happy for him … that he felt he could focus on what is best and that he could make his decision that is in his best interests.
While there is something about this baseball business and the dugout that bonds us to each other, I am happy that he is not really gone but actually a phone call away. It’s not like we don’t burn up the phone lines anyway, and that will continue.
Todd has worked two stints as my executive assistant at Roy Hobbs, 1996-2000 when he left for an outstanding opportunity, and then he returned part time in the fall of 2007 and rejoined us full time Feb. 11, 2008. It’s right on 2 years.
It has been a great run for us, and it’s hard seeing the departure of a friend, not just a friend to me but a friend to all of our baseball colleagues.
We wish Todd well and know that you do as well.
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Good Reads from the World of Baseball
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- The much-anticipated new Spring Training complex that the Red Sox will open in 2012 took on an increased sense of reality on Thursday, when the club and Lee County officials unveiled preliminary architectural renderings. …
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100225&content_id=8137454&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos
- 9-15, Joe went on and played with the same Chicago team in the Roy Hobbs World Series in ... This was Chicago's third Roy Hobbs World Series crown in a row. …
http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2010/01/03/sports/local/doc4b402e1308d85619799971.txt
- And every November, he goes back to Fort Myers for the Roy Hobbs World Series. ... Teammates have voted him Most Valuable Player at the Roy Hobbs tournament ...
http://www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_14490561?nclick_check=1
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In this issue, YOU MAKE THE CALL is going to be focused on fielding and running infractions, more commonly known as OBSTRUCTION or INTERFERENCE.
We have all seen what is called the "3-foot line" that runs parallel to, and is actually part of the first base line. Most of us are also aware that this is where the BR is suppose to run on his way to 1st base. It is obvious that the "3-foot line" starts 45' up the 1st base line. This is to give the BR ample opportunity to correct his path of travel on his way to 1st base so that he can be in foul territory during any play made on him by the F1 or F2 on a throw to F3.
SITUATION 1: Dropped, called or swinging strike 3
Runner on 2nd, 1 out. BR swings at or takes strike 3 and the catcher drops the ball. BR heads for 1st base and runs outside (to the right) of the 3-foot line. The catcher retrieves the ball near the backstop, turns and makes a quality throw to F3 to the foul (outside) side of the bag. The ball hits the BR in the right arm and carroms down the right field fence. BR advances to 2nd and R2 advances to home.
YOU MAKE THE CALL...
Answer.
SITUATION 2: Bunted ball in front of home plate.
Runner on 3rd, 1 out. BR bunts a fair ball to the 3rd base side of the plate that F2 fields. He checks R3 to hold him then turns and fires a bullet to F3. The ball strikes BR in the back as his left foot hits the ground on the first base line. The ball falls to the ground and R3 races to the plate.
YOU MAKE THE CALL...
Answer.
SITUATION 3: Swinging Bunt in front of plate.
Runner on 2nd, 2 outs. Batter swings and and hits the pitch in front of home plate F1 fields the ball. BR is obviously running inside (FAIR territory) of the 1st base line in an effort to interfere with the throw to 1st base. F1 turns to throw the ball to F3, but seeing BR between him and F3, he attempts to lob the ball over BR's head to F3 for the put out. The ball sails well over F3's outstretched glove and into right field. R2, who was moving on the swing crosses home and BR heads into 2nd, drawing a throw from F9 and is out on the tag at 2nd base.
YOU MAKE THE CALL...
Answer.
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