This Isn’t Summer Catch

Starting Early This Season…

Posted on April 16, 2008 by Hostmom
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If you have logged onto the Gatemen website at all, you will notice that there is a posting on the Annual ‘Let’s Try and Make a CCBL Team’ Open Tryouts hosted annually by the Gatemen and this year being run by the Cotuit Kettleers. This year’s date is verrrrrry early—May 31st—usually it is in June—and this is the one chance college players have to be picked up temporarily by a CCBL franchise to help the team along until the contract players arrive. Sometimes the amazing miracle happens and a franchise signs a player from this tryout.

In any event, it means things at our house are going to ramp up early since Coach Cooper will be showing up early to check out the tryouts and that means laundry boy (I’ve heard he’s 6′ 4″ and 250 ) is going to be right behind him.

I’ll let you know if the dimensions hold true….

Spring Fever

Posted on March 8, 2008 by Hostmom
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Spring has sprung! Although some might believe the vernal equinox is the true harbinger of spring all those in the baseball world know that it is Spring Training.

The Wareham Gatemen have been hard at work on our own spring training of sorts….just the weekly and monthly work that it takes for a volunteer organization to ramp up for its season. Ordering merchandise (cool new stuff for summer 08!), getting new uniforms (Laundry Boy 07 didn’t do such a great job keeping em clean, but we love him anyway) and organizing events and such.

The BIG event for opening day Friday, June 13th (yeah, I know–yikes!) is that our wonderful Wareham Gatemen are hosting the only Cape Cod Baseball league game that day…against Falmouth… and it is officially “John Wylde Day.”

Summer 08 is officially John’s 25th year in the CCBL and as President/GM of the Wareham Gatemen…an amazing legacy. Most game attendees know John as the ‘voice of the Gatemen’ but beyond that, have no knowledge of the mark he has made on the Cape Cod Baseball League as well as Major League Baseball.

Please take a moment to mark opening day on your calendar and join us to honor and maybe poke just a little bit of fun at an amazingly generous, honorable, statistical wonder of a gentleman.

Much to be Thankful for…

Posted on November 21, 2007 by Hostmom
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It’s been much to long between postings and there are important updates for those interested in the Gatemen world and the much smaller world of Hostmom and Husband and boys of summer.

Jeff Dietz was indeed signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as a free agent. He reports to them in March. Do I see a trip out to the land where Close Encounters was filmed? Yes indeedy.

I am honored to be chosen as a new member of the Wareham Gatemen Board of Directors. I will do what I can to not embarass them too much.

The 2008 cellar dwellers (and returning 2007 and past dwellers) will be excited to learn the husband and I finished the basement for their living pleasure. It can officially be called a rec room/extra bedroom now. Also, as a gift to the room, I received a Twister game. Please check back next summer for YouTube videos.

Have had the pleasure of checking in with many past players in recent weeks–was up at Fenway with one from 2003 and 2007 for the championship series and also have spoken to and emailed with many others. They are all concerned about Mr. Wylde’s health. As are we all.

So I end today with wishes for everyone’s health and happiness as we careen into this Holiday season. Be well. Appreciate the day. Every day.

“I must be in the FRONT ROW”

Posted on August 27, 2007 by Hostmom
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Yep, the old Bob Uecker (is that how it’s spelled??) saying from the Miller LIte commercials….that’s how the husband and I felt when we trouped up to see the Lowell Spinners take on the Vermont Lake Monsters (uh huh, you read right) in scintillating single A pro ball. There we were at the front office, giving them my name for tickets our “big leaguer” Beno had left for us so that we could catch up with him and see how life with the Washington Nationals single A affiliate was treating him. How cool is that? I felt so proud seeing him in his uniform, come out of the dugout to give us hugs (and still try to look tough).

Meanwhile, the courtship of Jeff Dietz continues. Arizona has made an offer (not good enough) and he did indeed pitch for the Mets (not his best show and they said no thanks) however the other Subway Series team (yes, the dreaded Yankees) have come a callin’ and his advisor is trying to play them off of Arizona and get Arizona to up the offer—since we all know the Yankees will pay incredibly stupid amounts of money for anybody (Your Honor, I refer you to Exhibit A: Roger Clemens). To be continued…..

Melancholy Baby

Posted on August 10, 2007 by Hostmom
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A rainy dismal day to match my melancholy mood. An annual mood…centered around the kids last days here, knowing I’ll never hear or see from some of them again. Last year, knowing that so many of them were returning and we were going to see some of them on our whirlwind 4 states, 1400 driving miles and 7 days later trip, I wasn’t so bummed out. This year, having known some of them for two years now, they caught me crying. Damn. And I tried to be tough too.

Jeff left last night with his friend Pete, who drove down from Providence to pick Jeff and his enormous pile of stuff up. The plan is to store what’s needed for the upcoming year at Brown (new apartment! Living on their own! Starving to death!) and then get the rest to Florida for Mom to deal with. On the way though, a VERY important stop in Brooklyn to pitch for the Mets organization and hopefully wow them, although I think his heart is with the Arizona Diamondbacks…better chances of playing in the bigs sooner I think.

Kelly and his fellow Miss Gulf Coast CC friends Richard and Bo (up for pitching coach Ryan Beggs’ wedding) were scraping it together for a meet at the field with the rest of the caravan at 10am. After many hugs and promises to keep in touch (and hopefully the husband and I can make a pilgrimage in the spring) I left for work, knowing that the house will be very empty and quiet when I get home tonight.

Lots of cleaning ahead of us….floors, rugs, basement, bathrooms, beds, you name it! It certainly is a well lived in home….at least for 10 weeks of the year.

Once order is restored, Mike and I will be left with monthly Gatemen meetings, pictures on the computer, reminiscing around the dinner table and wondering what adventures lie ahead next summer….

I wish high signing bonuses, great college seasons and many adventures to all of the members of the 2007 Wareham Gatemen.

Check in periodically for updates (after all, we are going to see the infamous Beno this month) and thanks for reading.

A Cinderella Story

Posted on August 5, 2007 by Hostmom
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I should have mentioned this before, but so much Gatemen stuff has been bouncing around in my brain (and so many Gatemen have been bouncing around in my pool) that I completely spaced this VERY important story out…

Jeff came up here as a two-week non-roster player at best. He figured he’d spend the rest of the summer home, working on his tan (very important) and head back to Brown in the Fall. Instead, through the comedy of errors that was the original Gatemen roster, he became a signed roster player. Too legit to quit, as MC Hammer or Bobby Brown or whoever the heck it was used to say. Wow, serious old school.

So now instead of still being in relative ivy-league obscurity, he has an “advisor” and scouts from the Diamondbacks, Orioles and Mets have expressed interest in my little sidearm pitching wonder.

Do host families get a percentage?? Remind me to call that advisor tomorrow….

Winding Up and Winding Down

Posted on August 4, 2007 by Hostmom
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So much happening these last few weeks—it’s like everyone gets comfortable and finally settles in and then poof! the season is virtually over.

Let’s start with the All-Star Game: Flawless execution by the number 1 organized franchise and least appreciated one as well! Thousands of folks had a great day in the sunshine.

Gatemen Day at Fenway/Recognition of CCBL All-Stars: We had just horrible seats…home plate, visitors side. Darn. Kelly: Tell me these are our seats, please tell me these are our seats…Jeff and the husband stood in line to get El Tiante’s autograph (no, Jeff had NO IDEA who this man is….but he does now).

Fishing, Fishing, Fishing: Yes, there are fish in the ponds in Wareham. Actually I think they are currently filleted in my freezer…upcoming fish fry on Sunday.

Our streak is still alive! For years now, whenever the Gatemen are tied at the end of 9 innings, the husband and I leave the game….to ensure the win. Seems like if we stay, they lose. So hell, why take the chance in a win-starved season????

Can you even believe it’s August??? I cannot figure out where the time went…but I have figured out why the month of January exists. It’s so I can catch up on sleep.

A Gatemen Favorite Website

Posted on July 31, 2007 by Hostmom
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www.chucknorrisfacts.com

Self-explanatory and quite understandable given the maturity level of the “boys.”

Put this one in your favorites and get a Chuck Fact A Day!

Maybe Walker Texas Ranger could get us some wins….

Women are From Venus, Men are From Mars?

Posted on July 25, 2007 by Hostmom
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Well I’m here to tell you the whole Venus v. Mars thing is a bunch of horse hockey. Given a store full of good things to look at, both sexes act the same.

Kelly and Jeff ‘discovered’ TJ Maxx some time ago and have just been dying to go back again, so the three of us scheduled a foray over there last week.

As we enter, the two of them beeline over to the men’s dept like two kids in a candy store that have each been given a buck to spend. I follow sedately and secretly hope neither one of them try on any jeans, come out of the fitting room and ask me “does this make my butt look big?”

Jeff makes the important phone call to the holder (and payer) of the credit card [Mom!] to ascertain a spending limit and I can tell Kelly has money to burn since he is flying through racks picking up polo shirts and jeans faster then you can say ’strike one.’

Kelly briefly slows down to finger a pair of blue and white striped seersucker shorts (everyones wearing them!) but moves on in search of every women’s dream: THE PERFECT PAIR OF JEANS. Jeff is not happy with the jeans selection—”where are all the plain ones” he complains as Kelly tries to tell him the style is faded and bootleg so shut up and pick up a pair.

I wander off to find something female for myself (ooh, look, new shoes are in!) and just do a perimeter check of the store in case something really cool is in that I’m missing.

Meanwhile, back at prima donna central, the men have decided on a few new polos, one pair of jeans (Miss Cindy, they’re only $16.99!), and are looking at the shorts that are on sale.

We all take our purchases to the counter for check out and by far, they spend more then me.

Of course, once we get home, a fashion show ensues where ‘try ons’ happen and they gloat over their purchases. (I can’t believe these were only $10!)

But wait, as Ron Popeil would say, there’s more! Following up the shopping trip, later in the week, a massive ‘men’s night’ happens at another host family’s house and everybody gets haircuts (and pedicures? who knows!).

So next time the males in your household try and pretend they aren’t interested in clothes, the latest fashions, or how their hair looks, realize it is all an act. They can’t pass a mirror without checking themselves. Does this make my butt look big?

Cellar Dwellers

Posted on July 19, 2007 by Hostmom
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The Great Matt Howell Visit of 2007 is officially over as I took him back to Providence to grab a flight to Charlotte and back to MS on Tuesday evening. It was an adventurous 5 days (to say the least and frankly the most as this is a G-rated script) and we were thrilled to have him as our ‘cellar dweller.’ The futon was put to good use, the pool table and swimming pool to even better use and we got NO sleep. In short, it was fabulous!

Actual recent conversation between Matt and Beno:

Matt’s phone rings—Matt answers, ‘Hey man, what are you doing?”

Beno: We played the Yankees single A affiliate tonight and beat the pants off of them.

Matt: Hey, that’s great, where are you?

Beno: Times Square

Matt: What are you doing there?

Beno: I have no idea.

In other cellar dweller notes we are not cellar dwellers anymore. Go Gatemen! Thank goodness for a few wins. I was worried they wouldn’t let Matt go home (Good Luck Charm?) since we only lost 1 game while he was here.

And just when you thought it was all fun and games….

One of my players got a staph infection and had to go to the hospital for evaluation and meds. Talk about having the creepy crawlies at home… I fumigated this whole place. Thank goodness for Lysol, Soap and Bleach and really hot water….