Friday, February 22, 2008
METROS BASEBALL UPDATE
The St. Catharines Metros had their long-awaited
2008 kickoff meeting on Wednesday evening and, as expected, there were a number of interesting changes and updates announced.
The meeting was a spirited, positive one, with the feeling of "change", "commitment", and "improvement" in the air.
Here are some of the highlights:
1. The Metros are very pleased to
announce the addition of Mr. Ron Zimmerman to the coaching staff for 2008. Ronnie has won a number of Niagara District
and O.B.A. Championships over the years, and more recently has been involved with the establishment of the Niagara High School
Baseball Program, as well as being a vital cog in the Brock Badgers Baseball program. Zimm's vast experience, knowledge,
and no-nonsense approach will be much appreciated in the Metros dugout.
2. There were a number of player
personel changes announced at the meeting...some additions and unfortunately some people who are leaving us. We'll get
around to honouring the departing players over the next month, or so.
3. The "Hap" Walters Tourney is
back in 2008, and already there's been a "buzz" in the air. The tournament convener, Mark Walters, has received applications
from no less than 8 teams for entry into the tourney...and this just 1 week after the announcement of the tournament dates.
4. As always, the Metros are looking
for help with rising costs associated with the running of an elite baseball program. The players and coaches have been
assigned the task of "rounding up" some financial support for the Metros. If you run a local business and are interested
in becoming a member of the Metros' "group of dedicated sponsors", and reap the benefits of such a commitment, please talk
to us. You can reach us through the "Contact Us" link on the left side of this web page, or through any member
of the Metros ball club. We need your support.
5. The Metros are beginning their
"indoor training" season next week. The team will be meeting in the Thorold High School gym at 7:30, on Tuesday
February 26. All current and prospective Metros are urged to attend. The team has secured an indoor pitching mound
for their workouts and hope to make good use of it over the next 8 weeks, until we move outside. The indoors will continue
til mid-April and will be every Tuesday night (except the week of March break). See you there!
6. Your humble webmaster will be
leaving tomorrow, for a week in Mexico, along with Metros head coach, Kerry Hedden and our wives, Debbie and Sandi.
We'll try not to get too sunburned.
7. It is for this reason that there
will be no website update next week. However, check back with us in the early part of March for continued updates on
the Metros, as well as the news from the C.O.B.A. and Ontario Senior Baseball fronts.
8. In the meantime, enjoy our video...a
little collection of baseball fisticuffs, courtesy of ESPN. Just scroll to the bottom of this page and press "Play".
Talk to you in a couple of weeks.
Monday, February 18, 2008
JUST A REMINDER...
...the Metros kick-off meeting, 2008,
is coming up on Wednesday evening. It's scheduled for 7:30 at the Celtic Club on Secord Drive, in St. Catharines.
All current and prospective players are urged to attend. If you haven't sent your email to Mark, confirming your attendance,
it would be appreciated if you did...prior to Wednesday at 5:00. Thanks.
P.S.
Its time for a new "Showcase" baseball
video for the weeks of February 19th to March 4th.
With the advent of training camps opening
we thought it would be a welcome change to show something "real". In 2002, ESPN did a Top 10 "celebrating" the Top 10
baseball brawls of the previous 25 years. So, to honour the laid-back and reserved nature of the game we love...just
scroll to the bottom of this page, and press "Play".
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
METROS START-UP MEETING POSTPONED
Just when you thought it was safe to come
out of hibernation...Mother Nature let's you know who's in charge! The snow storm that dumped up to 15 cm. on various
parts of southern Ontario forced postponement of the Metros annual start-up meeting, last night.
The Metros will try it again, next week.
The new day and time for the meeting is
Wednesday, February 20th at 7:30. The meeting will be held at the Celtic Club on Secord Drive in St. Catharines.
The beginning of the indoor workout season will be the following week, and we'll have all the details on that front as
well as many important issues to cover during this meeting.
Once again, that's Wednesday, February
20...7:30 at the Celtic Club. See you then.
P.S.....................................
The O.B.A. has approved the "Hap" Walters
Memorial Tourney for 2008. The Metros are thrilled that this great display of baseball will be back in St.
Catharines this July.
Please click the link to the left of this
page for all the details.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
LET'S GET IT STARTED!
Well, after a long, long fall and winter,
it's time to get the 2008 season off and running...and we always do that with our annual kickoff meeting. The first
event on the St. catharines Metros calendar for this season will be next Tuesday, February 12 at the Celtic Club, beginning
at 7:30.
The Celtic Club, for those who don't remember,
was the location of our kickoff meeting and horse race fundraiser last year, and is on Secord Dr. in St. Catharines.
The team will purchase a few pizzas for the meeting, but the liquid refreshments are to be paid for by the players.
A few of the topics for discussion at
the meeting are...
1. "The State of the Metros"
2. Fundraising and Registration
3. Changes to the Team
4. Changes to the League
5. Prospective Schedule and Tournaments
6. The "Hap Walters Tourney"
...as well as any topics that arise out
of the discussions.
We invite all current and prospective
Metros to attend the meeting...and bring your ideas and thoughts. This is an interactive process, and as you know, most
of the decisions we make as a team come from you. You must attend in order to be heard.
Once again, that's next Tuesday, February
12...7:30 at the Celtic Club on secord Dr. in St. Catharines.
And another
thing...
It's time for a new Showcase Film.
For the next couple of weeks we're showing a scene from one of the most underrated baseball films ever.
We older guys can really relate to the
main character, Billy Chapel, as he struggles to accoplish a feat that is normally restricted to younger, more athletic players.
Can greatness be accomplished by simply using mind over matter? Can it be accomplished even if the body is no longer
able to give you what you've taken for granted for many years?
These are some of the issues that Billy
Chapel deals with in our clip...from 1999's "For the Love of the Game", starring Kevin Costner.
Just scroll to the bottom of the page
and press "Play".
