Welcome back!

Like it or not, we’re back! How far back, only time will tell. Too early to jump to conclusions. In any event, what’s not to like? Number of old faces (some older than others), a few returned faces, returning from a brief sabbatical and a few new faces, yet unaccustomed to our ways. Oh, how quickly they shall learn. Again, like it or not. Always heavy on the like. With a group such as ours, we’ve learned to thoroughly enjoy even the worst of days. It's for the better. New or old, fresh or stale, we all have regrouped to re-learn all the rules, to once more make a few mistakes (sometimes a few too many), try to make some outstanding plays and enjoy the plays of just normal standing. A number of us have to once again learn how to bend over and touch the ground to field those grounders, learn our positions, acquire a

hitting stance and learn to play well with others. Some need also remind our pitchers that it is not in their best interest to accumulate strikeouts. However, as with most things, some of us just feel the need to learn the hard way. That’s why the season is so long and the playoffs so short. Hopefully, by the end of it all, we will at least be able to recite the intricacies of the infield fly rule. Maybe. As long as the umpire remembers, I am sure we will be fine. Lot of new things mixed in with the old (players mostly). New players, new website, new…okay, more old things than new, but no worries, we’ve grown accustomed to our faces, our bats, our pitching screen, even our umpire. One thing new we could have used is the instruction pamphlet for setting up the pitching screen, but we’ll once again have to struggle through the season without. Best to live with the struggle as, if the first games were any indication, the screen will stave off some mortal blows. Always best to avoid injury, even if the injuries which are avoided are only to pitchers, some who could use the occasional slap on the wrist or cuff on the back of the head. Some of the reasons for it even pertaining to their actions on the baseball field. Thankfully, with the screen there, it is still possible to at least put a good scare into them. Like us all, they’ll eventually learn (whatever they need to learn). We accrued just enough new players to keep things interesting, mix it up, give us someone new to razz and inflict with a good ribbing or two (or three or four). Would like to take a moment to remember those who are no longer with us, but they’re gone, so why bother. Besides, they are not fully departed, they are actually still about, just not out on the field. And they never were really a bother and they all will be missed (but we know where they live, so we can always hold that over their heads). Farewell to old blood, welcome to new. Hopefully, no one ends up regretting anything and no blood gets spilt on the field. Odds are in our favour that regrets will be a few, but then again, too few to mention (except by me, with apologies to ol' blue eyes). But enough of my boring diatribe (well, most likely not). With all things, like to start out slow, set the bar really low, which makes it easier to improve during the passing of the season. If you start out at the bottom, there is no where to go but up. Even if you end up going nowhere, you bound to look better than the week before. Even if you're not, our remembrance of the last week’s events are readily replaced by this week’s events, so you are always as good as your last outing. Bound to hit a high note sooner or later. And not to worry, in any event. Our league doesn’t judge its members by their performance on the field (thank goodness) and enjoys the occasional gaffe. Sometimes they are more enjoyable as they lead to good natured ribbing, social interaction and some really, really good laughs. If you can be held responsible for all that, you can’t be all that bad. The one only sure rule we all have to follow is to have fun. Conquer that one and all the rest just naturally falls into place. Even if it doesn’t end up falling into place, it will always be fun while it lasted (and even longer), so it is all worth the effort (or lack thereof). And, if you don’t like what you read or would like to further editorialize or just see your name in print, that’s what the comments section is for. To end on good news, we now have been injury-free for one entire week (I think). Keep it up. Enjoy the season (like it or not).