Turf, Managers

Out of My League: So, as I have pointed out here, for those who care enough, want to show respect for what's still consider a national pastime, while all-the-while, looking more international by the day, while other sports teams may be accompanied by a coach on the side line the so-called "head honcho" in the game of baseball, who is usually found pacing the dugout, the one I mentioned a few posts ago is covered by a bigger umbrella, given the number of roles they subsume, is referred to as the "manager" who in turn calls upon many specialized coaches (e.g., pitching, first, third..."who's on second?"). Their respective importance reflected not only by the umbrella reference, but even in the event they are removed prematurely (i.e., prior to the end of their formal contract), a "golden parachute" (don't you have such a clause, for a soft landing, just in case...?). While the various coaches may go under-appreciated, during a recent coach's clinic, not only did I gain a better appreciation for the "finer points" of the game that I had grown up playing without such formal instruction, I also gained added admiration for the so-called "grounds crew" other-wise, in a more generic (bigger umbrella again) reference, as in more formalized instruction, even at one of our state institutions (literally referred to by many of their alums as "I went to State"), as "turf managers" -- which teaches the finer points of cultivation, as well as maintenance, under all types of soil, weather conditions, and include such specialties as "greens keepers" which this particular weekend, given the currently mirky meteorological prognostications, have the ones who are responsible for 18 of them in Augusta Georgia, fretting over what type of squeegee, how many sponges they'll need to get things spic span, for not only the golfers, but the expectant huge TV audience who have gotten used to tuning in to see professionally groomed greens, as well as the "alluring Azaleas"😊, that also need, call out 'fore!' some professional attention, on occasion...

DIY, NIMBY: Such grooming and specialized attention that go well beyond what I do in my own back yard, or even "out in front" where my house will be judged by such "curb appeal" which, if the lawn and such presents a quagmire of weeds, might not even reach the front stoop. I learned that, similar to all the products that appeal to us lawn mower types (the more informal term, accompanied as I grew into being part of a "landscaping crew" in HS), but still not even close to the level of soil sophistication I was exposed to -- "I'm only going to scratch the surface so that you might not"...scratch it up, ruin not only the appearance, but the texture, which becomes vital for the ball players to be able to gauge ground balls and such, who are themselves often seen deliberately scuffing up the sand areas at least (why don't they get such preseason instruction...?)

"Get a Grip!" While this one saying, at least according to the handy search engine I relied upon this morning, does not emanate baseball, but instead attributed to freemasonry, at least initially, once baseball caught on, it followed with voluminous instructions on the correct way to grip a bat, in order to best whack! the ball while outnumbered by how many ways one (if you are assigned to the "mound") might best grip this small sphere with interesting stitch patterns, in order to not only obtain a certain velocity, but get the ball to "curve, break, and even slide" on occasion...All this I knew prior to finding out, getting humbled after using one for several decades, that there is a right and wrong way to hold a rake, which is more technically, if I want to sound like more than the "rookie coach" I am now referred to, as a "drag mat" -- which needs to be pulled in the direction the runners run. And then there's the "squeegee" itself, which comes in a variety of sizes depending on the amount of saturation...which also call for not only a correct grip but in my case, some direction on the right direction...all so humbling. 

Tagged: While not a saying a word that itself can convey a type of baseball action. Whereas I am just "adding as an afterthought, with no real connection..." As a way of reminding myself and letting you know that I will attempt to answer as in a "post-game press conference" one nagging question that stayed with me after all the coaching the coaches' coach did..."Will the game of base-ball or will I as the commentator run out of material first?" A question I intend on covering, literally, in the post that's now in the well-groomed "on deck" circle...