Temple University Athletics
Greg Lemon Blog: Spring Training
5.29.09 | Baseball
Spring Training - May 19-27
Title : "We're born again, there's new grass on the field"
One of the first questions many of my new teammates asked me upon my arrival in Pittsfield, MA was "When was the last time you played?" My response is never the same but it is also never the whole truth.
"It's been a while" is one of my favorites but the truth is that as of May 19 I had not truly played baseball since the St. George Roadrunners had their season end in Chico, CA in late August, 2008.
No matter how you slice it, I took a legitimate nine-month break from playing the game. The only advantage to this hiatus was that I spent the nine months in between seasons as close to the game as you can get without playing - I coached.
Coaching has allowed me to see the game from a different perspective and I believe it helps me when it comes time to play again. As Yogi Berra so eloquently put it, "You can observe a lot by watching" and Yogi was right again.
This spring training was in many ways the same as others I had attended in the past (New Haven, CT in 2007, St. George, UT in 2008) but in many ways it was different. The most notable reason it was different for me was that this was the first time I have gone to spring training as a guy the team was truly counting on for the upcoming season.
I should preface what I am about to report by saying that in independent baseball your job is ALWAYS on the line and there are no guarantees. After a strong 2008 season in the Golden Baseball League, the organization has high hopes for my 2009 season. Whatever their expectations for me are, my expectations will remain the same - play the game the right way, maintain a positive mental approach and try to help the team win ball games. I have found that over the course of a season, sticking to these types of goals will result in positive results.
Our training camp was actually spent at two separate venues. The Dan Duquette Sports Academy hosted us from May 18-21. The academy is set-up like a summer camp and my teammates and I were surprised to be living in one large barracks, sharing two bathrooms and eating at a mess hall. The days were spent practicing bunt plays, cut-offs and relays and first and third plays. The evenings were spent playing games at historic Wacaonah Park in downtown Pittsfield.
The most interesting thing about playing at Waconah, home to the New England Collegiate League's Pittsfield Defenders, is that during every game there is a sun delay that lasts about 45 minutes. The setting sun raises so much havoc that they actually stop the game until it disappears below the tree line.
During the sun delays we were treated to an unorganized game of tee-ball played by the youth of Pittsfield. While I was sitting there watching the game, I couldn't help but wonder if there was a future pro player among the ranks. The best part of being in Pittsfield was that we left and returned home to Nashua, NH which allowed me to get settled in with my host family.
We started working out in Nashua on May 22 and have been hard at work every day in preparation for the start of our 94-game season. The schedule remained the same for the most part, with practice in the morning and games in the evening.
We went 1-3-1 during our exhibition game circuit but have played much better the last few days. The biggest challenge for our coaching staff is the short amount of time they are given to figure out our best line-up and pitching rotation.
I think we have found the right formula and everyone is excited to start playing real games. It is no secret that baseball practice is not nearly as enjoyable as playing games. Allen Iverson had this same approach to basketball during his days with the Sixers which he explained to us in his famous, "we talkin `bout practice" interview. Baseball is a game that I feel is best learned by playing and being put in game situations.
The American Defenders of New Hampshire open the 2009 Can-Am league season on Friday May 29 and I have been told that both the governor and mayor will be in attendance. We are also expecting a large turnout from the citizens of Nashua.
It still feels weird knowing that families will pay money to sit and watch me play a game. I sometimes catch myself looking up into the stands and seeing myself sitting in the bleachers. I never thought that one day kids would ask for my autograph or my broken bat like I used to do when I was their age.
Over the next three months I'm sure there will be some ups and downs but when you consider being paid to play a kid's game, how can you really complain. I don't plan on taking one inning for granted because, as with so many other things, it can all be taken away in the blink of an eye.
I once heard that when asked why he played the way he did Joe DiMaggio replied, "There might be someone in the stands who has never seen me play before, I wouldn't want to disappoint them."
Now, I am clearly not comparing myself to the Yankee Clipper, but I am merely using his words to point out what I feel is the appropriate way to play the game. We aren't exactly big league all-stars in the Can-Am League but there might be a young kid watching with his dad and my goal is for that father to point out to his son that the way I play is the right way. I believe that if I can do that, no matter where my career leads me, it will have been a success.
Every new baseball season gives players a rebirth. After enduring the cold off season we are given the chance to "bloom" once again in the spring. From Little League to the Major Leagues, nothing looks as green as the infield grass on opening day and I doubt I will sleep much tonight thinking about running onto the field for the first time, again.
Follow Lemon's season with the American Defenders of New Hampshire of the Can-Am League.
