First off, this idea started months before when my mom told me I should. Mainly because I don't have a "real" job. So I said why not way back then, I thought there was no way I wouldn't find real work by the tryouts, I was wrong.
Anyway I had to buy a wooden bat and all the rest of the stuff I had. I played catch with some friends, went to the batting cages a few times, nothing serious but just wanted to get back into the swing of things (no pun intended).
About two months before tryouts I started working out more to make sure I was in some shape. By the time the day came, I was some what confident of my ability to play.
The night before I packed my baseball bag and got everything together. The one thing I didn't have were sliding pants which I lost but I figured shorts and high socks would do.
I woke up nice and early, 7 a.m. and got there by 8 a.m. Had to fill out some paperwork, attach a number to my shirt and sit and wait.
It didn't take long for the coaches to get us out on the field.
First thing we did, stretching.
Now I stretched a lot but this was some intense stretching. I have never done so many skips, lunges, runs, sprints and such just to warm up. It was kinda over the top.
As I was doing this I looked around, there were about 50 of us, not including pitchers and catchers. They were in a different area.
Of the 50 I noticed two of them were at least 50 years old. One of them didn't make it past stretching.
Anyway, by the end we got ready to do a 60-yard dash. I was the first to go. I am almost positive I was the fastest. This is all I really had going for me.
Though I did notice some things about others running
- I truly don't understand how people can have such terrible form.
- My favorite was the guy that ran same arm same leg. (You usually pump your arms opposite of your legs)
- Several people would start like they were on the base, on the starting line sideways. Why would you do that? That slows you down.
- One guy in a full MLB uniform, Darryl Strawberry uniform might I add, I think skipped when he was suppose to run. I didn't understand it but it was awkward.
Anyway, it looked bad.
Second, we had to field two ground balls and throw them to third base. I didn't do as well as I wanted since I one hopped everything, which I use to never do, but compared to the others, I looked amazing.
Many kids tried to gun it and would of hit many innocent fans in the stands if it were a real game.
Others couldn't of made it to second base if they tried.
After that we had to do two more throws to home plate. I once again one hopped it and was a bit upset.
Though once again, people managed to throw it all over the place, killing people if they would of been in the stands.
After all of this, the outfielders went back in the dugout and waited for infielders to do their drills.
After that, we had to shag balls during batting practice. I was apart of the second group to go.
You were aloud eight swings, so don't miss the ball.
Now I was nervous for this because we had a guy pitching who was trying to hit certain spots and see how you swing. I never swung a wooden bat before and I haven't hit a ball that was thrown to me in over eight years. I was a bit nervous.
But I made solid contact, five of them would of been base hits and the other three were fouls.
Some kids hit home runs while others struck out.
At the end they thanked us for our time and told us they had our information and if we were needed they would call us. I feel like it was the same as someone saying, "we will keep your resume on file" and by on file they mean throw it out.
So I enjoyed the experience, may not do it again but it was fun and it was nice to live out that dream.
For now I am just going to sit back and wait for that multi-million dollar contract to be sent in the mail.
