Practice

"Practice? Are you fucking kidding me? Dude this is softball. Get a life."
I hear that all the time. Well like it or not, many very good players practice.
The "You Don't Need to Practice Softball" mantra is a fallacy.
For example,

Castillo took batting practice 24/7 till the cows came home.
I've seen Eric "Cabezza" Espinal taking 50 ground balls before games.
Many pitchers practice with a heavy ball to increase strength and velocity.
Mickey and Eric have a religious defense drill routine before every game.
Will from the Westlanders goes through an Olympic triathlon before and during games.
When he is not playing, Gilberto Gonzalez does pitching and batting practice on a consistent basis, then gives his son a baseball workout, then after all that runs about 2 miles till he gets home.

So what makes a good practice?

Top Ten Things that make up a good softball practice

10. Purpose - Know why you are practicing? Are you working on your throwing, hitting the other way, practicing a specific pitch. In other words, have a plan.
9. Weather - Sorry but practicing in the middle of an August day in 100 degree temperatures is stupid. After 6pm workouts in the summer or cool weather (no rain) is common sense .
8. Convenience - no need to travel to Australia. a practice field or yard should be close by and easy to get to.
7. Field - You need space, privacy, and safe conditions. A somewhat closed area is preferred if your taking batting practice b/c covering a whole field with 2-3 guys is ridiculously unproductive and difficult.
6. The Company you keep. Workout with guys that are not lazy and have the SB fever. In Spanish they are called "fievrues". Hardcore players.
5. The After Practice Party - Practice hard with the goal of hanging out hard afterwards is cool.
4. Heckling/Trash Talking/Jokes - you gotta have fun while your busting your ass.
3. Innovation - Add a little spice to the hum drum workout by using new drills, practicing game situations, use new gear/equipment.
2. Tryout - invite new players to practice. Its a good non pressure way to see what someone new has got. One of the funnier practices I attended was a guy's wife who kept emailing Blonde about how good her husband was. Blonde invited him to workout and the guy should up with a Modell's sports bag that contained a brand new glove and cleats. Bad sign. The guy was terrible. I'll never forget him

and the Number one thing that makes a good softball practice

1. Running - when in doubt Run. Everyone loves batting practice, You stand there, hit the ball, and then someone else fetches it. But real practice involves moving. Running is not fun. It's hard work, but it will make you feel better, keep your legs and wind strong, get your system going. So always incorporate IF and OF defense in any practice.

They say practice makes prefect, but softball/baseball is a game of imperfection. Practicing reduces the number of times your imperfect... unless of course your a headcase :))))

What the Hell?

No arguments? No ejections? No drama? What the Hell is going on with Hell's Kitchen "HK" softball?
Who the HELL are these guys???
Maybe the good karma of the Saturday league http://softballinsider.blogspot.com/2009/08/westlanders-vs-cardinals-semi-final.html rolled over into Sunday as HK put forth an efficient business like effort to defeat a struggling Skins ball club and improve to 12-8 overall. Whatever the case, it sets up an exciting last week of the Big Apple regular season as many playoff scenarios are yet to be decided. Stay Tuned

HELL TIDBITS

Marty Colon is on fire ... Ed "Chino" Cancel remains a base hit machine.... Gubi wore his Westanders shirt two days in a row without washing it - disgusting....Ricky wore his baseball pants two days in a row - disgusting II .... 2008 Big Apple Rookie of the year Aldo Lopez is ambidextrous hits and throws from both sides .... George Colon got an at bat appearance and had to go ....Hector Hernandez pitched two scoreless innings in relief and was offered a pitching contract with Knockout .... Ryan Bentley new nickname is the Flash .... Ricky's Indian nickname of RIP - man who Runs In Place was in effect when he got thrown out by 65 feet trying to stretch a singe into a double .... ex HK player and team sponsor Wolfie Enriquez visited the team but did not rejoin ... August is the most exciting month in softball as every game means something

WestLanders Vs Cardinals Semi-Final PlayoffSS!!!!!!!!!!

In probably the best playoff series in http://www.centralparksoftball.com/ history the Westlanders "WL" defeated the 2008 Champions Cardinals two games to one on a long Saturday afternoon.

In game one, Cardinal ace Gilberto Gonzalez barely out dueled "WL" Ace Franny Donovan to earn a tight 1-0 victory and build a one game to none series lead.

Down one game, "WL" had it's work cut-out for them but to their credit they came prepared for hard work.

In game two, "WL" starter Edgar Jr was staked to an early 5-2 lead and he made it stand up for an 8-6 victory. Setting the stage for a wild wild wild I mean wild game 3.

Game 3 had it all. A packed house, intense play, plays at the plate, and extra innings

and of course Argumentsand more arguments

In the end, "WL" scored three runs in to the top of the ninth and advanced to the finals

where they will meet the very talented Violators next Saturday led by flamethrower Franklin

But that's next week.

After the game, the fans and "WL" players celebrated their hard earned victory together

Series Notes:

The Cardinals should be commended as an excellent ball club ..... so called Head Ump James Flowers must have said the dumbest thing I have ever heard in the top of the 9th in game 3 when he said "It's past the 8th inning now, so we will start with a runner on 2nd base", Both team became silent with shock when they heard him say this moronic remark. I don't care what the damn regular season rule is you can't decide the playoffs like that. Another example of an idiot ump trying to rush a game..... .... The umpiring has disgraceful this series and the bases ridiculously far as 2nd base was practically in the OF ...... Commissioner Steve "Wizard " Jimenez

had a long day as before the start of the series he was questioned on the field regarding league prizes ..... Alan hit extremely well all day for WL ... George Colon played an outstanding RF for WL ..... speaking of OF play the Cardinals dynamic OF duo of Elvis and Dusty shut down opponents running game with their throwing ability ...... Tommy Colon hit the ball in hard luck all day ... Cardinal 2B Freddy Hernandez is a winner........ Great series!!!!!!!

SB FALLACY

One common cliche you often hear in softball is "our team plays down to the level of competition". I completely disagree with that statement. It's completely myopic.

Look deeper and the real Top Ten Factors on why the phrase "play down to the level of competition" is a Softball Fallacy are ....

10. The Play Up Factor

Weren't you ever an underdog? If so, didn't it make you want to try harder and play better? Maybe it isn't so much that your playing down to someone Else's level but rather maybe it has to do with your opponent picking up their game.

9. Bully Factor

Your used to beating up on the mothers of the poor of the world that when one finally stands up to you you crumble like a bully getting punched in the face.

8. Paper Factor

On paper your team is superior but the games aren't played on paper. You have to earn it on the field. The ball is round you know and it takes funny bounces

7. Luck Factor

Like Jay-Z famously rapped on the Blueprint album "They say when you play with skills, good luck could happen" you obviously need ability but luck is the X factor in any game. The Ump makes a call that goes their way, they get all the bloopers, the rain makes the ball slippery, your missing players, you hit the ball hard right at someone, .... all completely unpredictable lucky factors that can levy the playing field. As they say Shit happens

6. Excuse Factor

When I hear people say we are playing down to the level of the competition I just can't help but think it's just a weak excuse. Bottom line you still need to pitch, hit, throw, and run the bases. The other so called "weaker" team doesn't care if you can't throw a strike, hit lob ball, execute routine plays, stop running out grounders b/c they want to win. Stop making excuses and look in the mirror for answers on why your aren't good enough and pick up your game.

5. Trap Factor

Points 10-6 above fall under the Trap Factor which basically means your are way Overconfident. It's a humbling game so stay humble. stay busy, keep working hard.

4. Manager Factor

Did your manager warn and prepare your team properly? Did he manage to win or bat 14 guys? Did he play the best players in the right positions or did he just assume this was an easy win. Every manager is judged by his wins and losses and all managers know that you have to beat the bad teams and if you don't then that makes you a bad team.

3. Wrong Place Wrong Time Factor

Did you run into a team that was hungrier than you? A solid starter pitcher? A bad match up? Did all your power hitters pop up? A key injury occurred? If so then the cliche "every dog has it's day" would seem to be more appropriate than the egocentric "play down to the level of competition" saying. Upsets are part of the game.

2. Style of Play Factor

Some teams are more susceptible to let downs than others. Teams that rely on power hitting or dominant pitching can easily fall prey to slumps or upsets. Teams with scrappy hit the ball down offense combined with speed are able to avoid long offensive droughts. In addition, teams with flawless defense, like Contact, never give you anything they make you earn a victory.

and the Number One factor on why the phrase "play down to the level of competition" is a softball fallacy

1. No Expectations Factor

One thing underdogs have to their advantage is that no one expects them to win. They can play looser and don't play with the pressure of having to win. When things don't go a Favorite's way they play with the pressure of having to win to avoid the embarrassment of losing. Underdogs know (the smart one's anyway) that if they can keep the game lose until late they have a chance b/c the pressure is all on them (better team). The say pressure breaks pipes and favorites get tight so anything can happen

Happy ReCap : 2009 Robert Trillo Charity Game

Forget the Olympics.

Forget the Super Bowl.

Forget the World Series.

They all pale in comparison to the annual Robert Trillo Charity Softball Game.

This year the elite athletes were pumped

Forget the good cause and memories this was hardcore competition as the Snow White team led by fishing hat manager Juan "Blonde" Moreiras was stacked

and ready to show off their POWER

which left the Softball Insider worried and scrambling to sign talent like his former chain smoking softball idol from the 90's Tommy Higgleson
With Tommy in the fold
the Big Red Machine (more like the little red wagon) was ready for action.
and the fans went wild

these elite athletes

gave it their all.

The SoftballInsider.net team tried to go yard

but after losing game one settled for two back to back dramatic comeback victories

to win the good hearted series.

The Big Red Machine couldn't have done it without special between game coaching from Mrs. Top Ten

who made a rare softball appearance.
After the game was the After Party
Where Knockout Legend Aaron "Haroooooo" Fernandez enjoyed quality family time

More importantly, this was our greatest turnout ever. Juan and I would like to thank everyone as we raised over $3,000 to donate in name of Robert Trillo to his ( and mine and Freddy Martinez, and future supreme court justice Sotomayor's) alma matta Cardinal Spellman.

Please view complete pictures from this event at

http://picasaweb.google.com/citysoftball/Trillo_2009?feat=embedwebsite

again thank you and always remember it's more than just a game