A BASEBALL DREAM AMONG THE ROCKS

I'd like you to take a look at the picture below and imagine in your wildest dreams what sport is played there?  If you thought motocross, you're wrong.  If your guess is golf, you'd be off base too.  Try baseball.  That's right baseball.  And not what you'd call a "Field of Dreams" site at the present time, either. Is it?

It's a what kind of field?

The ballfield you see is located in Las Charcas in the Dominican Republic.  Population, 9,254.  Now imagine again, what it would be like trying to play your country's favorite sport if you were one of the youth of that community (over 2,000 by some estimates) .  Let's not mention the lack of a backstop or fence.  Or dugouts.  Or grass.  But let's focus on  what is there...... rocks.  Not small pebbles mind you.  But rocks the size that many in the United States would use for accent in their gardens.


Let's take the imagery one step further.  It's the bottom of the ninth in the hotly contested ballgame at Rockbottom Field.  Two out.  Bases loaded.  Home  team is trailing 4-2.  There's a line drive hit to the shortstop's feet.  He reaches for the ball, but it caroms off a small boulder and ricochets to the third base foul line and three runs score.  Game over.  If you're the home team you're happy, but if you're the visitor you are pretty upset to lose that way. These are the elements Las Charcas' youth play with.  Not because they want to, but they have to.  There is no other place to play.  For now....

To understand what baseball means to Las Charcas, local organizer Cristian Santiago, had this to say, "baseball is the most popular sport in all of the Dominican Republic.  Building a field for this community would attract baseball teams from up to 3 hours away and would be the pride of Las Charcas!"

Las Charcas in its present state

This past year, Project 52 worked with Lighthouse Projects, a Las Charcas organization, to help build a gymnasium and weight room.  It's been a huge success.....so much in fact, that the question was not "now what happens?, but "what's next?"  Thus the baseball field dream. Truly, if YOU HELP build it, they will come and come and come!!!!

The cost of the project is estimated to be $49,780 and is broken down as follows:

                                                                                Price

Cement blocks ( 8900 at $1 each)                             $    8900
Sand needed (9 truckloads at $900)                                8100
Gravel needed (8 truckloads at $900)                               7200
Bleachers  $12,000                                                     12,000
Fencing $8,000                                                             8,000
Bags of cement (620 needed at $9 each)                         5,580

Las Charcas' "Field of Dreams" 

And that's where Project 52 is today.....searching for those who want to not only help the sport of baseball continue its global reach, but offer their service in some manner.  Perhaps it's as a sponsor.  Or perhaps you have skills that would prove valuable in the building of the ball diamond.  Maybe you want to be a part of future teams that travel to the Las Charcas and play in tournaments....... you just might have a  groundskeeper background that would prove valuable to maintaining the field or you have a baseball coaching background that would be helpful in offering clinics to the community once the field is constructed.  The ideas of helping are endless!

For more information you can contact Bill Clark at bill@52.org or myself at Johnk@p52.org

Thanks for reading,

John

BEANING OF A'S McCARTHY CALLS FOR REFORM

I've held no secrets that I am a fan of the Chicago White Sox.  During the many years that I have been,  I've seen a multitude of players come in go.  Some I'm glad to see gone, others I like in Chicago and others I wish we had back.  One of those players, in my mind, is right-handed pitcher Brandon McCarthy.

McCarthy was a jewel in the White Sox organization.  Despite being drafted in the 17th round in 2002, he rose through the minor league chain at break neck speed.  He led the minor leagues in strikeouts in 2004.  He was well thought of, let's put it that way.  Most Sox fans was a top of the line starter on the horizon.  But Chicago General Manager Ken Williams had other ideas.  Twelve big league starts were enough to convince Williams that he'd trade McCarthy.  On December 23, 2006, Brandon was traded along with David Paisano to the Texas Rangers for John Danks, Nick Masset and Jake Rasner.  I was bummed the White Sox made the trade.  John Danks has been an up and down hurler since coming over from Texas.  I'm not sure who really got the best of that trade, probably a wash.

Since the deal in 2006, it has been a struggle for the 6 foot 7 inch righthander.  He suffered from a stress fracture in his shoulder blade and had inflammation in the the right elbow. The Rangers finally said good-bye. In 2010, he signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics.  For the last two seasons, McCarthy has seen his game come back.  In 2011 he led the American League in FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) and this year he was leading Oakland in strikeouts.  Then came a game last week against division rival, the Los Angeles Angels.  Here is the media story of the night:

"Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy left in the fourth inning of Wednesday's 7-1 loss to the L.A. Angles after Erick Aybar's hard line drive ricocheted off the right-hander's head.  McCarthy was taken to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland as a precaution, and the team said doctors wanted him to stay overnight for further observation.  McCarthy had almost no time react when Aybar lined his 91-mph cutter back up the middle.  The ball bounced off the right side of McCarthy's head, knocking him down.  He also landed on his head on the infield grass".

Walking off???? are you kidding me?

Now for the confusing part.  After Oakland trainers attended to McCarthy, they let him sit up and ultimately walk off the field under his own power.  The picture above depicts this.  Then after reaching the hospital, he subsequently underwent surgery for two hours to relieve cranial pressure after CT scans revealed he had suffered an epidural hemmorhage, a brain contusion and a skull fracture.   So, I ask you this....WHY?  Why would any medical staff allow McCarthy to walk off that field?  If someone doesn't do some investigation as to why he wasn't taken off on a stretcher, than we have serious issues with player safety.  As if we don't already....  

First reports were that he was fighting for his life and he was in intensive care.  Six days later, McCarthy is still in the hospital recovering  Saturday, he put out some twitter comments to show he was improving health-wise. :

"The good news in all of this, is that I set up my fantasy lineups beforehand.  So there shall be no excuses at this point"...and he also made a funny reference to how "crazy" he is for the children's pain medication he gets-and "can't believe they give it to kids".

The call for reform?  Perhaps Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times does a good job of summing it up:

"In my opinion, being a pitcher and following through on a big-league pitch-getting into that helpless position in which the body has just completed a violent act with maximum effort and is off-balance and defenseless, while a man stands 20 yards away with a club, swinging at a rock-hard ball-is about the scariest position an athlete can be in.  I'd put it up there with a quarterback getting blitzed from the blind side, a NASCAR driver starting a spin, a cyclist hitting an oil slick.  It's interesting that all those other athletes wear helmet.  Maybe  "interesting" isn't the word".

Telander forgot hockey.  How about standing in front of a goal and taking a puck directly at your head at 100 mph.  That's interesting!

I remember a number of years ago when hockey goalies didn't wear masks and the players were without helmets.  Then change began.  Slowly goalies began donning the "mask"   There was a goalie from the Minnesota North Stars by the name of Gump Worsley who hung to the lack of facial protection for as long as he could.  And that was inspite of a metal plate in his head from an accident years prior that rendered him near death.

But back to baseball.  It's time for reform.at all levels.  And throw in softball as well.  Athletes are too big, too strong, pitchers throw too fast and the bats that are made now are a virtual weapon at hand.

Brandon McCarthy might be offering twitter funnies of his death escape, but you can bet deep down, he's said more than one prayer that he's thankful he's alive.  Alive and able to be with his family.  And looking at a baseball career that might be long gone.

UPDATE:  9/11/12 AT 8:12 A.M.
McCarrthy took a few steps on Monday at the hospital and is progressing in his recovery.

UPDATE TO UPDATE:  9/11/12 AT 5:07 P.M.
McCarthy  was discharged from the hospital.  He is to remain in the Bay Area for the next 3 weeks.  

Thanks for reading,

John

WHO'S YOUR HAWKEYE SLEEPER?

We are hours away from the football season opener for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.  Bad enough you have to open at a neutral site at Soldier Field in Chicago, but it looks like it might be a soggy one at that.  Today's opponent, the Northern Illinois Huskies will be a big test for the young Hawkeyes.  Hopefully, and I say that with great emphasis, hopefully, not too tough.

So who is your sleeper on this year's squad? (and don't say senior defensive back Collin Sleeper, that's too easy)  Who will be that individual that rises to the occasion and makes a name for himself?  Plays above what might have been expected ...or simply plays better when the lights come on and action begins.

I've got two that I'd like to place before you.  One on offense and one from the defense.

Number one is tight end Ray Hamilton.  Here are a few words about the 6 foot 5 inch, 248 pound true sophomore from Strongville, Ohio.

When offensive graduate assistant and tight ends coach, David Raih was asked if he recalled  a single moment when Ray Hamilton stood out as a potential contributor on the Hawkeye football team, he took his time finding an answer.  With the type of attitude Hamilton brings to practice every day, it was difficult to pick out one single moment.

"Ray is an eager guy, a great player, and he shows up to work every day and chops wood", said Raih.  "It's not one single thing that stands out about him, rather it's his consistency and the way he works every single day.".

Hamilton is listed as  the number two or co-number two tight end on the Iowa roster.  He came to the Hawks with a big aspirations after watching former Iowa star Tony Moeaki excel at the position.  And he comes from the same high school as Hawk basketball standout,  Aaron White.  But more importantly, I have a feeling new offensive coordinator Greg Davis will use Hamilton when the focus is on starter C.J. Fiedorowicz.

My other selection is safety Nico Law.  Another true sophomore, Law, a 6 foot 1 inch, 195 pounder from Clinton, Maryland  has been outspoken since the minute he signed his letter of intent to play for Iowa.  It appears he relishes the attention.....and he hits like a ton of bricks.  Maybe it's the #21 on his jersey that I like. It looks like a football number destined to see the field alot.  And given the fact that Law was one of 10 true freshmen to see action in 2011, he is in a perfect spot to show his abilities.  Oh yeah, and I shouldn't forget the three letters on the back, LAW.   As a young stud in the Hawkeye secondary, that name sounds pretty fitting.      

So, who's your pick to step up and be a shining star?.  Kickoff time is fast approaching.....

Thanks for reading,

John