I got to the gates about four minutes late today.  When I got inside, I was discouraged to see that the final group that was batting for the Pirates was all left handed batters (Delwyn Young is a switch hitter). 

I stood in left field and waited and waited for a ball to come out that way.  Finally, near the end of the Pirates portion of batting practice, Delwyn Young turned around and batted right handed.  He hit a home run two sections to my right that I simply had to jog over to and pick up.  It was ball #1.

The Indians came out to hit.  Their first group was also all lefties.  Very discouraging.  I could’ve had another ball, but the rubber band was missing from my glove.  It must’ve gotten lost on Sunday when I went with my dad to play baseball.  I also received a substantial injury on Sunday.  I was going after a fly ball in left field, when I stepped into a huge swamp area left over by the torrential rains from this past Wednesday.  I skidded on my right foot for about six feet, then fell backward.  I landed on my glove hand, but that gave way, causing my elbow to awkwardly bend backward.  It’s been real sore ever since.

Anyway, the sun was blazingly bright today.
I lost two balls in the sun.  Completely lost them.  When that happens, I look at other people around me, to see if they’re tracking the ball, so I can pick it back up.  The folks around me couldn’t see either. 

STATISTICS:
Game:  2 balls (2 hit)
Season:  200 balls (100 hit, 72 thrown, 28 device)
Games:  39 games (5 of which didn’t have BP)
Average:  5.13 balls per game
Career: 366 balls
Attendance:  19,109