The fat kid can catch.

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010


The fat kid can catch.

Kids’ baseball is a lot like life. The participants determine what the game is all about. Are we in it to win? Are we playing to just enjoy the game?

For most, as games progress, the ending becomes less and less important. It is the game itself that is important, not so much the final score. There are always those that the only thing that is important in the game or in life is winning. There are some people who, if they don't already know, you can't tell 'em.

We played baseball growing up. We played it in the back yard, on the street, in the vacant lot and in organized leagues and school. Sometimes we had good coaches. Other times, not so much. Most of our best games did not involve coaches, umpires or any organization except what rules we agreed to before choosing up teams.

Normally, the two best ball players were the captains. They flipped a coin or found some way to determine who was going to pick first. This often determined what kind of game it was going to be and who would win or lose.

I was lucky because my best friend was the best athlete around. I was also lucky because I was not that great an athlete. I usually was not last to be picked but often was just close enough to worry about it a little. Since I had a bat, ball and glove I knew I was going to play. We did not have that many bats and balls around and not everyone had a glove, especially a catcher's mitt.


In baseball the best athlete is usually the pitcher. His best friend is the catcher. In football the best athlete is the quarterback. His best friend is the center. I think there is some unwritten kids’ rule that states this. If not this was always the case for us. Usually the fat kid got to be catcher and the worst athlete on the field, the nerd was the right fielder.

In games and life it is more enjoyable to play with friends. It is never as much fun to play against your friends. Playing against friends is not a game because friendly competition is just a myth.

There may be some people who enjoy losing. I have not met them yet. Even Cubs fans hold out hope that they will be World Series Champions. If the marvelous Mets can do it, then why can't the Cubs? Even God does not know the answer to that. You can observe a lot by just watching.

Catching was not something I enjoyed that much. I learned early to wear a cup. I got better at it as I got knocked around a bit. I also found out that the catcher is the most convenient scapegoat on a baseball team.

Before the days when the coach called every pitch from the dugout, it was the catcher that did that job. He let the pitcher know what pitch to throw and where to throw it. It the batter hit a home run it was the catcher’s fault. If someone slid under the tag it was the catcher’s fault. Passed ball… Guy steals second… Yup… the catcher’s fault.


Being the catcher had its advantages. The catcher could at almost any time take a hike out to the mound to talk to the pitcher to change the signs. The catcher could see when the pitcher was getting a little wound up and could also walk to the mound to tell a joke and get his friend to settle down or just talk about what they wanted to do after the game.

The pitcher or the quarterback usually thought they were running the show. A good catcher let this misconception continue.

The Nerds are taking over the world. In a lot of ways this is just like baseball too. The Nerds used to play right field. Now most of them have moved from catching to coaching. The Nerds want to win the game.

Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.

It’s not if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. The future ain't what it used to be.

Good old number 8. It ain't over till it's over.

© 06.14.2010 steven d philbrick SR+