Al's Big Red Machine

 For most of my youth baseball and high school career, I played second base and always had a talent for turning double plays. It isn't an easy play for a second baseman in that you first have to get to the base, then position your feet quickly to receive the throw and pivot to make as hard and accurate of a throw possible to first base before the batter gets there. After 40 years, I turned my first double play in the first game and then turned three more during the week for a total of four. My first baseman said my throws were getting there with some speed and that was music to my ears.

On my last at bat in the first game of the week at Reds camp, I got the sweet taste of belting out my first hit in an official baseball game in more than 40 years. I followed that up later that afternoon with a bases-loaded double over the center fielder's head. In baseball prose, I crushed the ball and it felt really good. So much so, that I gave the dugout a flex pose while proudly standing on second base. It was my first of three doubles and 9 hits for the week. I would have love to get a few more hits, but had several of hard hit balls go right at a fielder. Nevertheless, after a year of intensive batting practice to get ready, it felt great that my preparation enabled me to produce at the plate after 40 years of baseball dormant.