Preview -- "Sunday" -- the first "unofficial day of camp

So many of the campers get in on Saturday (in time for the opening night banquet) but some of them come in on Sunday.   Sunday is truly the first day of camp -- let's call it "Spring Training".   Sunday is a great day for a rookie -- you walk into the clubhouse and then attempt to find your locker....and of course hanging there is your Minnesota Twins jersey -- with your favorite number (and name of course) and it may look something like this:

The lovely site of Twins uniforms -- these last names are a part of the 2013 rookie class!!

This is where is all begins -- hopefully as a rookie you remembered all your gear (yes you should definitely bring a cup supporter and "nut" cup) and ready to suit up!!   The clubhouse experience is great, breakfast is cooking in another room, the trainers are available (if you need them), and the camp even has a sports masseuse, Kelly Quist (http://www.todaystouchmn.com/) there to make the experience "Major League".  Your locker may be next to a Hall of Famer -- www.circlemebert.com or even a guy named "Papa Smurf" (more on him at another time).

The morning begins with some stretching and exercising led by Bill "Soup" Campbell, who is 64 years old and is an amazing physical shape -- you would think he is not a day over 50 -- and is part of the all star Pro Staff at the camp.   The campers will then breakout into stations where they will get instruction on how to play infield (Frank Quilici, Kent Hrbek, Ron Coomer), Pitching (Frank Viola, Rick Aguilera), Catching (Phil Roof), Hitting (Tom Brunansky, yes the Twins Hitting Coach for 2013), and some Outfield (Julio Becquer).  It is a great morning to start to "knock off the rust" and get acquainted with the game of baseball!

The campers will then grab lunch at the clubhouse (and if they are lucky maybe run into a Twins player working out -- Joe Mauer has been seen there many times during this week) and the afternoon is when the Rookie Scrimmages begin.  This is a time for the rookies to get their feet wet and decide where on the field should they attempt to play.  Rookies who want to pitch should get on the mound, rookies who want to catch should put the gear on......these scrimmages do not count for anything!!  Just have fun and figure out where you fit in on the diamond.   Many veterans will be playing -- but just getting out there to get arms loose and legs moving is what they are looking for.   The Pro Staff will then be "officially" scouting these rookies -- the scouting is probably the most important part of the camp (for the Pro Staff) -- after the games have ended the Pro Staff is off to the "Fantasy Camp Draft".  The fantasy camp teams will be drafted (think like Fantasy Football) and at the evening banquet the teams are officially announced.  This day can be filled with 'anxiety' but the reality is -- we are out there to have fun and nobody should be feeling the pressure.  I have enjoyed the evening because I like to make predictions about what team will do well and what teams will not do well.....the fun part of my blogging for the week. I look forward to Sunday -- in the past I have been drafted by Tony Oliva, Lee Stange, Frank Viola, Tim Laudner, and Erik Rasmussen.   So it will be interesting which team I end up on and who my coaches are for the 2013 edition of camp.

Need to get some rest on Sunday night because then the doubleheaders begin on Monday with games at 10am and 1pm......more about that in the next post....two days to Fort Myers....

Paul

~~ "Baseball was made for kids, and grown-ups only screw it up" - Bob Lemon ~~