tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449788532742031864.post1881879119791108993..comments2023-05-24T09:41:52.181-04:00Comments on Running In the Yard Next Door: Thank God for Mush BallsCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12044041773404411751noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449788532742031864.post-48632613871617645192010-08-20T13:34:21.532-04:002010-08-20T13:34:21.532-04:00Thanks for stopping by, Suldog! I knew you'd ...Thanks for stopping by, <b>Suldog</b>! I knew you'd understand this. (And you can just leave a note from your doctor with the secretary. . .)<br /><br />Back when I was in my 20s/30s, I played pretty much weekly. I usually played in the outfield, but occasionally played first base. One time, our regular third baseman couldn't come, so I filled in at third base. By about the third inning, I determined that I didn't have the reflexes to play third, having been drilled three times by line drives. Evidently, at least in our league, the lefties didn't pull the ball quite so wickedly as the righties did, 'cuz I <i>never</i> got drilled playing first. . .<br /><br />One of the teams I played on in those days had a pitcher with the most cat-quick reflexes I think I've ever seen. I don't think I ever saw a ball hit up the middle off him that he didn't at least knock down. So, in batting practice, some of us made a little game of trying to get a ball past him that he couldn't touch. One time, I was taking BP, and one of his pitches came in a little 'flat' (in slowpitch, we call those 'meatballs'). I crushed it, and it whistled past his ear, with maybe six inches' clearance (or maybe even less than that). He just stood there for a second, and all the color drained out of his face. And we all just said to each other, "Let's not play this game any more. . ."Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12044041773404411751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449788532742031864.post-67199488317664843732010-08-20T12:47:00.480-04:002010-08-20T12:47:00.480-04:00Just got to this one (as you know, I was sick earl...Just got to this one (as you know, I was sick earlier in the week.) Good story, and most definitely the right thing to go to the mushy (or restricted flight) ball with the kids versus adults. As someone who has taken a hard softball (sounds like an oxymoron, but it isn't) off of the face a few years back, and was lucky to escape any serious injury, I know it's very important to match the equipment to the skill levels.<br /><br />Another thing some folks are not aware of, especially folks who don't regularly play ball these days for whatever reason, is the astounding range of products produced (or doctored illegally) that can produce speeds in excess of 100mph off of the bat. Even legal products, such as double and triple wall aluminum bats, when combined with .50 COR ball (quite hard) can bring about truly horrific injuries in what should be a fun game. Just this week I heard a true tale of a pitcher actually losing an eye on a liner back to the box. It came back so fast he never even had a chance to react. The league confiscated the bat used, and are testing for illegality. If found to have been doctored in some way, that batter will be open to a suit for damages, both physical and emotional, and rightly so.<br /><br />Anyway, always better safe than sorry when kids are involved.Suldoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07778845367184916684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449788532742031864.post-73576515892078247692010-08-17T11:19:25.611-04:002010-08-17T11:19:25.611-04:00Cocotte - I like how you put 'softballs' i...<b>Cocotte</b> - I like how you put 'softballs' in scare-quotes. . . ;)<br /><br />'Cuz, yeah, they ain't quite so 'soft' as you might wish they were. Especially if they hit you in the nose. . .<br /><br /><b>John</b> - I am gratified that those are good memories. And your brother is the guy I spoke of, who skipped around the bases on an 'out' when he was on staff. . .<br /><br /><b>Sailor</b> - Sorry for the annoyance. . . If it helps, I'll say that it wasn't <i>only</i> in Minnesota that that happened; artificial turf is an abomination.<br /><br />Say it with me:<br /><br />Artificial turf is an abomination.<br />Artificial turf is an abomination.<br />Artificial turf is an abomination.<br /><br />Ommmmmmmmm. . .<br /><br /><b>Lime</b> - 'Horrifying' is about right. . . And yeah, it could (at least potentially) have been much worse. . .Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16389193386974951036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449788532742031864.post-63662325432095985922010-08-16T22:28:11.738-04:002010-08-16T22:28:11.738-04:00oh zowie! that must have been a very horrifying f...oh zowie! that must have been a very horrifying feeling when you saw the poor kid go down. glad (for both of you) he wasn't hurt more seriously.limehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17259558876349307173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449788532742031864.post-46517881835101803142010-08-16T19:24:12.570-04:002010-08-16T19:24:12.570-04:00Glad he's alright, it is scary when that happe...Glad he's alright, it is scary when that happens.<br /><br />Also, I'm annoyed with you- for putting the rememberances of the bouncing-over-the-outfielders-heads BACK in my head, lolSailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01439394316761968708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449788532742031864.post-8421683225608072812010-08-16T14:31:59.885-04:002010-08-16T14:31:59.885-04:00Ah, good memories! I mean of Summer Camp softball,...Ah, good memories! I mean of Summer Camp softball, not of getting hit in the face by line drives :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18010832609654897858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3449788532742031864.post-14492563629302777542010-08-16T10:00:31.212-04:002010-08-16T10:00:31.212-04:00That is scary! My oldest has been hit by 'soft...That is scary! My oldest has been hit by 'softballs' a number of times and it's shocking how huge of a bruise it will leave. Fortunately, never in the nose!Bijouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11577723506036164914noreply@blogger.com