spring training 2011

Rylee and Jackson had their first practices this past week.

Ry's playing for the Cubs. He has practice midweek, just once a week before the games begin. I think he may be one of the youngest out there, which may show when he starts batting against the pitching machine. But his fielding-and-throwing is great! While balls are going through other players' legs or just rolling past them, Ry gets in front of the ball, scoops the ball up in his glove on the bounce off the field, and turns and throws with accuracy and distance. He and I play catch while Jackson practices and minutes go by without a dropped ball and his throws go right to me every time. He can manage to catch each overhand I throw him, no matter what direction he has to turn his glove. It's true catch, with a fun rhythm, and most boys in that league still can't catch a ball across the chest or overhead. He also got to run the bases hard during Jack's practice on Sunday, and that's a good skill in itself for his age.

Jack has two practices each week on the weekends before opening day, plus a weekly session at the batting cage. He's playing for the Red Sox, which is coached by the same two coaches he's had since he's started. Most of the same boys, too. While Jack was playing soccer in the fall, the other boys played fall ball, but I can see already that Jack is right where he needs to be. He's alert on the field, running much better this year, and I saw him this weekend playing third base with excellent fielding and accurate throws all the way to first in time to make the out. He's wearing glasses this year. He is having trouble with batting; his hand-eye coordination is good but the "bat shock" is really hurting his hands. So I've asked the coaches about that, and I may invest in a good bat for him.

I've talked to Ariel on line a few times this week. That's always fun. She's looking into a number of promising positions but no news yet.