The Big Dog is Ready for The Batting Cage to Open April 11

With the advent of the 2014 baseball season upon us, the Batting Cage bug has hit me. The bug to go to the batting cage and smash some baseballs around is attacking me like I would a fastball. The bad news is that the Quincy Park District’s Batting Cage is closed. The good news is that it will open for the season on Friday, April 11 at 3:30pm. The countdown is on.

Having played baseball for some 26 years, I still feel like I can put the catcher's gear on and get behind the plate again. As a matter of fact, a couple of years ago the Quincy Gems asked me to do just that for an exhibition game that summer. I would love to get back there again, but I am not sure I would last long behind home plate. One thing I am sure of is I can still hit a baseball.

I frequently have spent time in the Quincy Park District’s Batting Cage over the years. It is therapy for me to smash a baseball. I get my pent up aggressions out by doing so. That therapy has also forced me to actually have therapy in that three years ago I fouled a ball off my leg “crushing” my tibia and last year broke my big toe with a foul ball as well.

So why do it?  Because it’s in my blood, thanks to my dad playing in the Pacific Coast League in his youth. Like I said, I know I can still hit and still play (I just need a designated runner from home plate to first base).

Two years ago, with a great deal of interest, I was watching Jamie Moyer win his 268th game pitching at the age of 49 for the Colorado Rockies. His top fastball was recorded around 78 miles per hour which the Park District told me was the speed of the fast pitch machine at the Batting Cage. Jamie is no longer a major leaguer and that is a shame. You see, in the Jeff Dorsey way of thinking, if Jamie Moyer was in the Major Leagues throwing pitches at 78 miles per hour there was still hope for me.

Thank you, Jamie Moyer, for keeping my dream alive for as long as you did even at my age (older than Jamie).  I know the clock is ticking for me as well. But as long as I can continue to go to the Batting Cage I will be there. There will be a day when I might not be able to swing the bat, but I will still be able to bunt. Bring on the horsehide. I’m ready to smash a few baseballs before I can’t anymore.