Second Spring Training Update

Well, we're about halfway through the Texas Ranger's Spring Training season.  I think we attended our eighth game out of seventeen today.  Here's what's happening:

You never, ever want to be at the ball park when a player has a bone broken on the field.  Last week we were at the game watching a young pitcher named Perez who was competing successfully to be considered for the fifth starting spot in the rotation.  All was going swimmingly until a bullet line drive hit him in the lower arm.  It was so fast that it wasn't humanly possible to get out of the way.  The ball was on him so quickly he couldn't get his glove up in time.  When the ball is hit usually what you hear is the 'crack of the bat'.  However, when a ball hits a player as hard as this one did, what you hear is a loud, low 'thud'.  It's a terrible sound.  Perez immediately dropped to the ground holding his dangling arm against his chest.  I personally think the "No Crying in Baseball" rule should be suspended when you get your arm broken by a ball.  This could have been much, much worse.  A few years ago a first base coach in a Tulsa Drillers AA game was KILLED when a line drive hit him in the head.  That's why all the coaches now wear batting helmets when they are in the coaching boxes.  Perez' arm is going to heal, but he won't be making the big club to start the season.  

Alexi Ogando has been a puzzle this year.  He can't find his fast ball.  His curve and change-up are hitting the plate perfectly for strikes, but his fast ball is really erratic.  He's had four starts now, and his fast ball is getting incrementally better each time, but it's still worrying.  We need him to shore up the pitching rotation.  

There is some good pitching news:  Derek Holland had a very good five innings starting a game in the World Baseball Classic for the USA team.  He looked sharp and even better really mentally tough.  Harrison has had a nagging toe injury which seems to have resolved itself.  Frazor, the guy we signed to replace Adams and be the 8th inning set up guy for Nathan is looking good.  Today we saw a new pitcher called McClellan which we got from the Cardinals.  He had injury issues last year, and he pitched two pretty sparkling innings today.

The contest for who is going to be the starting center fielder is really hot.  Craig Gentry and Leonis Martin have been really going head to head.  Gentry's strengths are his ability to get on base and wreak havoc as well as his superior defensive play.  His hitting and OBP have been outstanding this spring.  Martin is more of a power hitter and can hit to all fields.  He's competent in the outfield, but his defensive play reminds me of Nelson Cruz when he first came up to the Bigs.  I'm rooting for Gentry who is my favorite Ranger, but Martin is going to develop into a very special player.  

We also went to the in the park luncheon given each year for the Spring Training Season Ticket Holders (that's us).  This year it was on the Homerun Porch - yes, they have one at the Surprise stadium too.  Each year, you get a 'prize', and you can meet and greet the players from the Rangers who drew the short straw.  This year it was Robbie Ross and Michael Kirkland (two pitchers).  Last year Robbie was the rookie pitcher on the staff.  The rookie pitcher has to carry the pink backpack as he comes and goes from the bull pen.  I was able to compliment Robbie on the spirit of fun that he brought to this harmless hazing.  Not only did he carry the pink pack, but he added his own cowboy hat AND a stick pony.  It was great.  Both of these players looked like children to us anyway.  It was raining this year, so the luncheon turn-out was small and not only did the players sign stuff for two lucky little boys I know, but we actually got to talk to them for a little while.   

This week has been more fun - bigger crowds who are really happy to be at the park, and the front line players of all the teams playing more innings in the games.  Lots of kiddos are out at the park this week due to Spring Break.   Excited kids are getting their new baseball caps signed.  Today Elvis made one kid's day when he signed his cap.  The little boy was walking on air.  We also saw the Vetters.  They are former neighbors of ours living on Louella in Hurst with us for several years.  One of their children is the same age as Sarah.  Anyway, we always see them when they come out to Spring Training.  Since we have the same seats every year, they always come by to visit and catch up.  We also got to know some people from Dallas who have a 41 game season ticket package in Texas (I'm envious!)  and who come out for a week of Spring Training.  The guy thought he'd gone to heaven since he and Drake talked baseball through two entire games.  I wouldn't be surprised to see them next year too.

I'm sure if Drake was writing this, there'd be more dense and concise news about the Rangers, but I've given you the highlights.  Oh, one last thing - Nelson Cruz got the game winning hit in a WBC game today.  Go Nellie!   

Perfection

A friend of mine made the comment, "I don't have to have my house perfect anymore to enjoy having company."  It started me thinking about the concept of perfection.  I live in a household with someone who strives for perfection in whatever he does.  This is a man who hangs pictures utilizing a portable level.  Striving for perfection is a two edged sword:  On one hand, it's great to know that I'm going to get the best effort possible.  On the other hand, when perfection can't be achieved - even for reasons that are uncontrollable - there's lots of teeth gnashing and anguish which sometimes lasts for days.

Have you ever worked to get 'something' perfect?  Then the perfection dissipates almost immediately.  You know, it's the old saw, "If you want it to rain, wash your car."  I know Drake sometimes feels personally penalized when just after he's gotten the car 'perfect', he drives through an unavoidable dust cloud or isolated sprinkle of rain.  I've seen his perfectly cleaned car last less than an hour.  It's the same with house cleaning.  I can get a wild hair and spend the day getting the house absolutely perfect.  Then I brush my teeth, and a giant glob of toothpaste splashes the sparkling sink, at dinnertime the dish overflows in the oven, and the next day you can write your name in the dust on the furniture.  So maddening.  So common.  So human.  

I find the perfection bug bites me most regularly when I sew or do needlework.  I've become obsessed with our bridesmaid gifts.  In my mind's eye, I see what I want.  The actual product may be woefully short of my vision.  However, I am trying to get better at internally saying, "OK, this is my best", and shrug off the mistakes or imperfections only I can see.   Of course, me and the seam ripper are still best buds, and I've been known to tear out 3 or 4 hours of stitching because 'it just wasn't right'.  Perfection can be an exacting taskmaster.

I think it is better to try for "ideal" instead of "perfect'. We have a joke in our house based on the White Christmas movie starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye who explain to the inn owner why his barn is ideal for their show.  For years when the Smiths find something we really, really like, one of us turns to the other and says, "It's ideal."  The next person responds, "Ideal!", and then third person finishes by saying "Perfectly ideal!"  I've got to remember I want the wedding weekend to be remembered as "Ideal", not "Perfect".  When it's all done, I'd be very, very happy with "Perfectly Ideal".