The final day of games began with me ruing the decision to participate in this camp at all.  I woke this morning lacking energy or motivation to go through with another double-header, and the only thing that didn't hurt on me was my left arm, which I really don't use. We got to the park and immediately hit the hot tub to loosen up, and the day started to get a little bit better.

Our morning games start about 10 AM, and typically the weather has been a little bit chilly every morning - say 55 degrees or so - so it's important to get stretched out as much as possible.  I really only have two places that I've hurt - my ankle, which is purple and my groin which was slightly strained - but I ache all over.  So, I spent part of the morning before the game in the trainer's room with 10-15 of my closest friends getting taped up around my ankle.  Then I spent the remaining time stretching my legs in every direction possible.  By about 10:15, I actually felt reasonably comfortable.  I couldn't run, but it didn't hurt to just stand there.

We were the 6th seed in the playoffs, or the 2nd seed in the consolation bracket, so we got to be the home team in our first game.  We took on Tom Browning and Kent Mercker's team, who we had beat yesterday 2-0 as our pitcher threw a 1-hitter and hit a triple to spark our 2-run rally in the 7th.  We started our other big gun in today's game, and he was nearly unhittable for 4 innings as we built up a 3-run lead, but he pulled himself out early because frankly the games just don't mean that much.  Yesterday's star pitcher came in and was much more hittable and the other team managed to score 6 runs off of him in the final 3 innings.  As has been the case with our team, we never were able to get another rally going and once we got down, we were done.  The loss meant we would play for 7th place in the afternoon.

As for me, I made a tweak to my batting stance, spreading out my legs a little bit more and it made all of the difference in the world.  I hit a hard ground ball to short in my first AB, but there was a runner on base and a force out was made to end the inning.  In my second AB, I hit a flyball to left center (see video after the jump) and probably could have gotten a double out of it, but my legs hurt and it forced me to run like a cripple (see video after the jump).  My third AB was a line drive up the middle that I got a single on.  After waiting the whole week to get a hit out of the infield, I got 2 in consecutive at bats.  It felt good.

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We are through 3 days of camp and 4 of the 8 teams have a 2-3 record.  Unfortunately, one of those team is the Toyota Recalls - my team.  After losing our first game on Sunday, we went 1-1 on Monday and split another double-header on Tuesday.  The two losses on Monday and Tuesday were fairly disgusting - Tuesday we lost the morning game by 2 touchdowns.

The big win came Tuesday afternoon when we beat the previously unbeaten team managed by Bill Hatcher and Ted Power.  To say that Hatcher was pissed would be an understatement.  Even as a coach at Fantasy Camp, he sure doesn't like losing.  He was cursing up a storm and bitching and moaning for a good hour after the game.  But the fact was, he was owned by our pitcher - a 47-year old banker from Houston - who threw a complete game, striking out 6 and inducing 8 ground balls back to the pitcher.  It was probably the most boring game to play the field, well, ever.  It was still a beautiful win.

The morning game on Tuesday started out well.  My brother Tim was the starting pitcher and we jumped out to a 4-1 lead.  Our opponents - managed by Pete Harnisch and Joe Price - battled back and took a 7-4 lead.  Then we got to the 6th inning and the wheels fell off. A hit batsman, a walk, and a string of hits - including an inside the park home run - turned a tight game into a major blowout.  It got so bad that one of our coaches, Joe Oliver, had to finish off the inning, and even he surrendered a run.  We took our lumps, but that happens sometimes.  The shame of the whole thing was that it was the only win so far by Harnisch's team.

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We jumped right into the action today at Reds Fantasy Camp.  After a tasty, complimentary hot breakfast at the hotel, we headed over to the park in Goodyear, Arizona.  First impression: BEAUTIFUL!  Seriously, the fields are pristine, the facilities are first class all the way.  They don't appear to have cut any corners anywhere in this place.  It truly is an first class facility.  And we haven't even seen the park yet.

When we got to the camp, we went to get dressed in our lockers...our fully stocked lockers. Two jerseys, two undershirts, a pair of pants, a warm up jacket, a hat, and socks. It's really is a thrill to see your name on a jersey in your very own locker.

Unfortunately, that's the only picture I have from the day because we forgot to bring cameras to the park and I didn't take my phone out to the workout or game.

We started with some batting practice, a little stretching and throwing, and then we cycled through various workouts. Our group went to hitting practice first. I was satisfied with my effort. Nothing special, but I had a couple of solid rips.

Next, we went to outfield drills.  And that's where Herm Winningham got in my head. To say I had some issues on the flyballs would be an understatement.  I caught the first ball, but used my bare hand to keep it from flying out of the glove. That's when Herm started giving me the business, "You're gonna break your hand!"  Next ball went off my glove as I was so focused on not bringing my bare hand into it.  After that, I was misreading and stumbling left and right.  I had no confidence on fly balls the rest of the day.

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I know I haven't been around much lately, but I thought I should let you know that I'm leaving for vacation this morning. That's right, suckas, it's time for Reds Fantasy Camp! By the time most of you are rolling out of bed at 2pm this afternoon, I'll be in mostly sunny Phoenix, Arizona!

Tonight is mainly preliminary stuff.  We have a little get together, maybe a few drinks, get our schedule, meet the other campers, and then it's lights out, mister!  I probably won't have much of an update tonight, but I expect to be able to give you updates every day for the rest of the week. 

My prediction for the week comes from America's Sweetheart, Clubber Lang, "Prediction?...Pain."  My one goal for this week is to not run into a serious injury.  If I can avoid that, it will be a success.

And to be honest, that's probably the most realistic goal I can set because if you'd seen me in the batting cage, you'd know that I'm a mix of the worst parts of Quinton McCracken and Wily Mo Pena.  My best hope is that I hit it to guys that can't field it very well.

Hopefully I'll have some pictures and video for you tomorrow, or at least some time this week.  Enjoy the week while I'm away.  I won't be thinking of you!

(Check out the classic Seinfeld clip after the jump.  Enjoy the cold!)

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I've struggled with how to address this so please bear with me for a bit.  You may have noticed that I haven't been around as much over the last week and it's because it's been one of the most difficult weeks in my life.  You see, my mom has been battling leukemia (among other things) for the last 8 months and late last week she decided that since the treatment was not working, she was ready to stop treatment and go peacefully.  And that's exactly what she did this morning, surrounded by her loving family.

As you can imagine, this has been an extremely difficult time for me and my family and unfortunately it has overlapped with what was supposed to be a relaxing week of hurting myself playing baseball in Florida.  I have decided that now is not the best time for me to be going to the camp, and fortunately the Reds Camp organizers have been most accommodating for me and have offered to credit my payment toward next season's camp.  So, thankfully I will still get the opportunity to hurt myself playing baseball.  And the good news is that my older brother is going to join me on the trip.  This makes me even more excited - though now I'm disappointed that all of my brothers can't make it.

I probably won't be around much over the next few days, especially not if David Weathers and Luis Gonzalez are all the Reds can pull together to get my attention.  I'll leave you in the capable hands of the other admins until I'm able to join you again some time next week.  All I ask is that you be nice to each other.

And if you are wondering what you can do to help out, might I suggest that you go to your local blood bank and donate either blood or platelets for someone who is still fighting to get better.  My family cannot express enough gratitude to those who helped my mom survive as long as she did through their donations.  You may not know the people who receive your donation, but believe me, they truly appreciate your effort.

I am now less than two weeks from my excursion into "Baseball Heaven," so I decided to give you an update on my progress.  I've been trying my best to stick to a regular stretching plan.  They sent us a set of stretches to do, and while I haven't done them everyday, I think I've done a pretty good job of getting a least one set of stretching in most days.  As you know, my biggest fear about this trip is pulling something the first day and being incapacitated the rest of the week.  I'm doing what I can to avoid that.

Unfortunately, the weather has made throwing regularly a tough task.  I've had a couple of chances to throw the ball around with my neighbors, but I haven't done anywhere near enough throwing at this point.  Pops has kindly offered to throw with me, but our schedules and the weather have not cooperated yet.  Hopefully this week I'll have more success since the weather is supposed to warm up a tad.

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I only got one present from my wife this year, but it came in 15 parts.  She wrapped 15 separate lettered blocks to spell out REDS FANTASY CAMP and now on January 31st I will be flying to Sarasota to play baseball with a bunch of old guys and some former Major Leaguers!  Have I ever told you how much my wife rocks?

Although I was incredibly excited about the gift, my first thought was, "Ummm, I haven't hit a baseball in over 20 years."  I've played softball many, many times, but not a baseball being thrown by an actual pitcher.  And especially not one thrown by Bob from Accounting who just wants to learn how to throw a slider.  So, suffice to say, I will be spending a lot of time over the next few weeks in the batting cages.  Anybody want to join me?

I can't tell you how excited/nervous I am - the last thing I want is to go there to find out how much I suck and how out of shape I am.  Obviously I will be documenting the whole experience for you.  Every painful detail.  Wish me luck.  And seriously, if you can teach me how to swing a baseball bat even respectably, I'll pay for your time in the batting cage.

P.S - If anybody has been to Baseball Heaven and wants to share their experience with me, please do so.  I have very little idea of what to expect, so I'd appreciate some insight.