Blog from the Comissioner
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Random thoughts on diamonds, dust and recent emails …
Terry Park renovations
The final stage of the renovations amidst the ball fields at historic Terry Park in Fort Myers are under way. (click here for artist's conceptual view.) Most of these improvements will be ready for the 2009 Roy Hobbs World Series, except the landscaping and greenery. These have been long-promised and often delayed; however work began in late May and has suffered stoppages for events, but right now, it is full speed ahead.
When done, there will be only one entrance to all of the playing fields with a food and concessions area, permanent restroom facilities and a paved plaza area between the fields. We’ll have some live photos next month.
It’s important that these improvements are being made, and it will definitely add to the overall atmosphere of Terry Park. But in one man’s opinion, the historic feel of Terry Park is gone. Sure, the playing surface still has its ghosts and memories, but the old stadium brought it all together. And I miss it.
Local league news
The Hudson Explorers won the NE Ohio Roy Hobbs AAA (18+) regular-season and playoff championship for the second year in a row in early August, and the successfully defended their 2008 Buckeye Baseball 18+ Championship by winning the inaugural NE Ohio Wood Bat Classic multi-league invitational. The Explorers outlasted the Firestone Park Rangers for the NEORH titles and then defeated Portage South 12-11 for the WBC championship, winning their last 3 games by one run.
We are interested in what’s happening with your league, special events, unique performances and playoffs. Please send your data (and photos) to Inside Pitch editor Rob Giffen at rg@royhobbs.com.
Security issues
Security for vehicles at amateur games around the country is becoming a real problem, that is, if reports coming to us are any indication: Episodes of broken windows, popped trunks, stolen wallets, purses and personal belongings from vehicles. Some leagues, including NEORH, are using league officers and/or paying for parking lot security.
If your team/league is experiencing this problem, please tell us what you are doing, or considering doing, to keep the thieves out of your cars. After all, we’re all looking for ways to reduce costs, not increase them, especially because of the mutts taking advantage of ball players enjoying their game.
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Each and every month we will be publishing our schedule of events right here in the Inside Pitch.
Roy Hobbs Events / 2009
Roy Hobbs World Series, October 24 thru November 22
Open Division: Oct. 24-Oct. 31 Veterans Division: Oct. 31-Nov. 7 Masters Division: Nov. 7-14
Vintage Division: Nov. 8-15 Legends Division: Nov. 14-21
Classics Division: Nov. 14-21 Timeless Division: Nov. 16-22
2010
Cactus Classic Baseball Series (tentative): January 31-February 28
Wooden Bat Camp: Jan. 31-Feb. 7 Cactus Classic 38s & 55s: Feb. 11-15 Collegiate Cactus Classic: Feb. 18-21 Family Ties (Father-Son) Cactus Classic: Feb. 24-28
All Divisions are wood bat except Collegiate
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Many thanks to all those 63+ passionate ball players who participated in the Spring Seniors Survey.
More than 40 name suggestions were presented to Roy Hobbs for consideration in renaming the 65+ Division and naming the 70+ Division.
Selected were VINTAGE and TIMELESS.
Vintage was suggested by Ange Ford of the Northeast Ohio Roy Hobbs league P&N SilverHawks.
Timeless was suggested by Bob Rathmann of Shields ATM Guards out of the Philadelphia area. Bob also suggested “You’ll have to drag me off the field before I give it up Division”, but we could not figure out how to get that into one word.
And, of course, one of these days, there will be a 75+ Division, and we will need to find a name for that one too.
Meanwhile, on the honorable mention list of names (all still in contention for 75+) are:
- Forever Young Division – nominated by multiple individuals, including Hobbs staff and the intrepid Mr. Ford.
- Pioneers Division – from Don Booth, Kent Mudhens of NE Ohio.
- Platinum Division – from Ron Hampton, Tampa/Clearwater area.
- Relics Division – from Larry Oehlers, Fort Myers.
- Sage Division – from Mr. Ford (who sent in perhaps 20+ names, talk about stuffing the ballot box!).
- Wisdom Division – from Bernie Spivak of Philadelphia.
Okay, Ange Ford and Bob Rathmann will be receiving a T-shirt and gift certificate to the Roy Hobbs World Series Pro Shop at Lee County Stadium. Don Booth, Ron Hampton, Larry Oehlers and Bernie Spivak will be receiving a T-shirt for their ideas. Sorry, Ange, one award to a customer!
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Pool Players Are Now "Free Agents"
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Do you want to come to the Roy Hobbs World Series but don’t have a team? No problem…
Every year many teams change players or split into two teams and are looking for players to fill out their roster. So we created the Free Agent list. You can sign up for the World Series as an individual player, or as a group. All you need to do is click on the link below and complete the form.
Free Agent sign up
Once you complete the form and pay a small membership fee, you are an eligible Free Agent. Your name and contact information will be posted on the website for team managers to access. If you fulfill a requirement for their team, they will contact you directly. You will then negotiate cost with the team, as they have already paid their team fee.
Our goal at Roy Hobbs is to get as many people as possible playing the game we love. We will do our best to help get everyone on a team, but we do have our limitations, so we can make no guarantee.
If you are a Free Agent do not panic if you have not heard anything yet. The majority of players get picked up after September 1.
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Locker room option returns to the 2009 Roy Hobbs World Series
The 2008 experiment with players being able to use the Minnesota Twins locker room during the last 3 weeks of the Roy Hobbs World Series was a raving success, with many of the players using the facilities a year ago having already committed for 2009.
The Locker Room Option essentially incorporates the Fantasy Camp experience of having a place to dress, talk baseball with like-minded colleagues, get treatment from certified Trainers (Roy Hobbs uses two of the Trainers from the Twins organization). Over the course of a long week, the trainers are worth their weight in gold. And, nothing like having a clean uniform and shined shoes waiting for you each morning to go along with your orange juice, bagels, granola bars, bananas and newspaper!
The real question we get at Roy Hobbs is about scheduling. We cannot guarantee schedules; however, if full teams sign up, then we do promise to schedule a minimum of 4 of that team’s first 6 games at the Lee County Complex. Regardless, two items of note here … first, all the facilities we use are within 20 minutes of each other at non-rush-hour times, and we will keep the locker room club staff on site until the last player is dressed and headed for his pillow or his favorite watering hole.
Finally, the Locker Room experience is first class and the result of hard work by the trainers and the clubhouse staff, headed by Mike Murphey who manages and plays in the tournament while bringing 10 years of managing the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners Fantasy Camps to Roy Hobbs.
There are 60 slots a week open in the Twins Locker Room; ultimately, once the Twins is filled, we will add the City of Palms locker room facilities as well.
Click on Locker Room Option for more information and fees, or click here to sign up for an experience that will enhance your enjoyment of the Roy Hobbs World Series.
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You make the call …
The August You Make the Call is a two-part issue. We give you a situation, let you make the call and then give the answer. So, for August, here goes:
Situation: Bottom of 9th, two outs, bases loaded, tie score. Batter is hit by pitch. R3 (runner at third) crosses home plate, high-fives batter and the two players go to their dugout where their teammates are celebrating the victory.
Once the batter enters the dugout, the defense asks for the baseball and throws it to first, where 1B tags the bag.
Question: Is the batter out? Does the run score? Click here for the answer.
Got a situation for us? Please feel free to send your rules situations to rhbb@royhobbs.com
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Good Reads from the World of Baseball
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Each month in the Roy Hobbs E-newsletter, we will attempt to bring to stories on Roy Hobbs players or teams or leagues from their local newspapers and links to other baseball news that might not exactly be the sort of thing you’ll see in your local newspaper.
1. 50 things all baseball fans must do before the end:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/090730&sportCat=mlb
2. Pete Rose to be reinstated?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-090728rollberg_briefs,0,2105582.story
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