Monday, April 29, 2013

Bat Boot

Batman lost his boot and he needed it today with all the rain. We still got hitting and pitching practice in.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

When it Rains

Dylan had been in a hitting slump for nearly a year, and that includes fall ball. He has a great eye and was getting on base via walks but hadn't had a legitimate base hit since the middle of last season. Well, today that changed because he refused to give up and he swung that bat as well as I've ever seen him swing. He hit a triple with his first at bat today with a line shot over the center fielders head. He stole home for the first in of the game on the next pitch. He followed that up with a single and a double driving in three runs. He also scored on both of those at bats. He was on fire. He didn't get to pitch today but he was all smiles be because of the hitting.

Sam did well too, walking twice and hitting a hard liner past the shortstop for a double. He also scored on all three at bats. He was called to the mound to close out the game with the Bulls up 15-5 and while he walked 3 and allowed 2 runs, he also stuck three batters out and got the 15-7 save. He was disappointed about the walks but hung in there and closed out the game.

The Carpenter boys had a good day and the amazing thing is that on the short car ride home they told me they wanted to go back to the field in the morning and do a Carpenter family practice. They had a great game but they want to get better, I like that attitude.

Friday, April 26, 2013

The Commonwealth of Virginia

Nicole went on a field trip to Richmond yesterday with the boys forth grade class to learn all about Virginia's House of Commons and other state Capitol stuff. They had a great day for the trip and came back exhausted. They had baseball practice last night and soccer practice tonight. No one can say they don't get out out and exercise. Unfortunately, the soccer game and baseball game tomorrow are at the same time. With only 9 players on the baseball team, the soccer team will have to do without them.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Pioneer Day

It was Pioneer Day at the Potomac Nationals game today. They are a minor league team 20 miles south of us that feed into the Nationals system. The boys got to go on the field and meet some of the players. We left in the 8th inning because it was damn chilly and Nicole was pretty tired from getting up at 4:30am to run a 10 mile race in Alexandria. I had also had enough baseball yesterday.

Contrary to my recent post about the last fire a couple weeks ago, It's been just cold enough to build a couple more this weekend. I love the smell of burning wood but think tonight's will truly be the last fire till October. No travel for for a couple weeks which will be nice. I need a little routine time after a couple weeks of running round.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

The Carpenter Boys

Another big game for the Carpenter boys. The Bulls go 2-0 for the season with a big 15-7 win over the previously unbeaten Iron Pigs. Dylan has a great eye and walked and scored three times. He did take some nice swings too and fouled a couple off. He hit the mound in the last inning with a three run lead and held the Pigs scoreless, walking two, striking out two and hustling to the plate to tag a runner trying to score on a passed ball. He was Johnny hustle out there.

Sam caught two innings and kept the Pigs from scoring by keeping the ball in front of him extremely well. He also went two for three at the plate and ended the game with a single that scored 3 runs and ended the game on the mercy rule (8 runs). Another exciting game for the Bulls.

My early observations for the team is that we have some great base runners, a deep pitching staff and some hitters that haven't really found their grove yet. All six teams in the league are probably pretty similar but the Bulls look well rounded.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Back from the Councils

It's a good meeting we have every spring in New York but I was ready to come home. We met at the School of Visual Design in Chelsea and had a lot of time to interact with the professors and students. It was quite different from previous council meeting but probably one of my favorites. Last nights reception in the Viacom building on a patio overlooking Times Square was a nice way to end the week. I'm looking forward to the fall meeting in San Francisco.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

All About Baseball

We did a family baseball practice today because the boys are all about baseball now. Two weeks ago it was soccer. Momma took them to the track for a two mile run at 9am then we spent two hours at the field working on fielding, pitching and hitting. They go in spurts but I'm god they get so engaged in the sports they play.

Sam told me yesterday that the game was exciting because he was pitching in the last inning and he needed to keep the other team from scoring and breaking the tie. He seems to thrive on the pressure. I asked him if he always wants the ball or be the hitter when thing are tight and he said yes, thats what makes it fun. Many kids want to avoid that position at all cost or freeze up in fear. Sam seems to love it.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Da Bulls

An exciting first game for the baby Bulls today. Every opening day is a little rough since the boys are getting back into the swing of things and this was no exception. Both teams struggled at the plate and on the mound. Sam played catcher two innings and did a great job stopping balls in the dirt and denying any runners from stealing home. He also had a single and two walks. Dylan had a huge grounder stop at third and a perfect throw to Sam at first in the 4th inning to stop a rally as well as two walks and a strike out.

Sam took the mound in the top of the last inning and delivered a pretty solid first pitching performance ever for him. He struck out 2, walked 2 and tagged a runner trying to steal home to preserve a 7-7 tie. I think he solidified his closing spot in the rotation. The coaches son then delivered a two strike walk off home run to get a 8-7 win for the Bulls.

It was a pretty intense start to the 2013 campaign.

Friday, April 12, 2013

National Anthem

The boys sang with the Clermont Chorus at the Washington Wizards game tonight. They sounded really good and while the wizards lost the game by 11 points, we had a fun time watching and were home by 9:30. Someday they will fill an arena on their own.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Getting Some Swings

The first attempts at hitting a kid thrown pitch each year is tough. Three pictures, 7 batters and no hits. Could be a rough game on Saturday.

Glory Days

Sam is behind the plate for a scrimmage. I expect he and Dylan to be throwing this season as well.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Nola

I'm ready to go home but i've have had a good stay here in New Orleans. I have a staff dinner tonight at Emeril's Nola restaurant then a flight out tomorrow afternoon. I've had a lot of hotel banquet meals at this conference so a good meal should be just the thing for he last night.

Sunday, April 07, 2013

Bear Territory

This game is getting tight.

Friday, April 05, 2013

Homer

I thought the boys would like this. I met the real Homer Simpson.

Final Four

It looks like the Cal woman are staying at my hotel in New Orleans. They even have a little cal swag table set up. I wonder what I should buy?

Thursday, April 04, 2013

One Last Fire

Based on he weatherman's predictions and my impending trip to Nola I'm betting this will be the last real fire day of the season. It's sad to see it go but some sun and warm temps are nice too. It hasn't gotten out of the 40's today but it will be solidly in the 60's and 70's when I get back and that's just to warm for a fire. The boys got assigned a baseball team yesterday, they will be the Bulls and practice starts tonight. Between soccer and baseball we will have practices every night except Tuesday until mid June. Bring on spring.

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Longer Days

This time of year the sun raises and sets perfectly down the east/west streets of dc and while it makes it blinding walking east, it creates a great shadow walking west. Lots of hot temps and humidity until this happens again in October.

Monday, April 01, 2013