We are unofficially 10 days away from 2025 Twins Fantasy Camp starting up -- and guess what - "I'm back!"
A great friend of mine (Kevin) was wanting to attend camp and of course I told him if he goes I will go - he was thinking of attending in 2022 (which was my 12th year and "last" camp) but that didn't happen - Kevin tried going for 2023 (it was full), he passed on the idea of doing the 2024 camp. Last January (yup like 11 months ago) we made the decision to move forward -- I gave the camp director a heads up and let him know we are in. Lucky for us he had 5 spots left -- so after Kevin and I signed up he had 3 spots left in Jan 2024 for the Jan 2025 camp. It fills up fast....I am glad Kevin has no committment issues.
So here we are. I have played baseball with Kevin for almost 15 years -- which is pretty cool because after my first camp I decided to quit playing softball and went to play baseball. The Federal League called and as a spry 35 year old (at the time) I joined the Coon Rapids Diamonds. I was told my a fellow teammate (Eddie!) that Kevin was our best pitcher on the team. I was looking around for this "stud" pitcher and I really couldn't find one. Kevin is a little taller than me (reminder....I'm 5'7" -- but according to my last physical -- June 2023 -- I was measured at 5'6.97" - are freaking kidding me) and I think I weigh at least 10 lbs more than K. He also wore glasses and looked like an accountant -- so of course in my cocky young self I was like, "He is our best pitcher?". I soon came to find out that yes indeed, Kevin is a very good pitcher. Yes indeed he is an accountant so I was 50% correct. We were teammates on the Diamonds until 2017 when the team folded into another team and then I recently was his teammate on the over 50s league with the Eden Prairie Saints. So this will be a fun amazing week and look forward to the week with one of my Christian brothers in Christ - Kevin.
Other notes - Kevin will be 61 the day after Christmas and I turned 50 a few months ago -- so we are a tad older than those summer days of 2010 when I was questioning his ability to throw the ball off the mound. I am looking forward to seeing him hit the ball on the a regular basis, our team was pretty good and Kevin was our main and best pitcher, he didn't do alot of swinging the bat, but he can and I am sure he will be in the running for Rookie of the Year. I will now qualify for all those "over 50" awards the camp hands out at the end of week!
I also have changed up my ways as well - in the fall of 2021 after injuring my hamstring playing ball in Cooperstown I decided to hire a personal trainer and really work on some different workouts. I was getting these nagging injuries here and there and really needed someone to motivate me (Leg Day - I hate doing leg day -- but when you are paying someone to tell you/show you how to do it -- well you do it or otherwise it is a big waste of money) and this 3 year journey has really made me change my look. Over the last 2 years I have been getting comments on how much weight I have lost - well that number (until recently) was basically zero -- but I was exchanging fat for muscle and while my "normal" 185 weight was being measured by body was looking a bit different. In preparation for this week of baseball I decided in October that losing another 10 lbs is in store to help my knees make it (well my legs....) a week of baseball and as of this writing I think I am below that weight so I feel good. We will see if it translates to playing good baseball or not -- so I am announcing (unlike some other years like 2015 when I was over 190 lbs) that I am in the "best shape of my life".....so we will see how that works!
2017 - Curt Sampson and PB (a nice layer of winter warmth....)
Jan 2023 - My favorite shirt
I have my annual physcial on New Years Eve this year and I will be standing as straight as an arrrow so I can get back to my 5'7" height -- oh goody.
I will probably post a couple times pre camp.....so I want some views baby!!
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