Observations from the Buck O'Neill Complex today

[ScottieBaseball]

A. No better sight and sound than Baby Birds playing catch to get loose for the day. They make those "SoundSpa" things that are supposed to help you relax to the sounds of a babbling brook, the ocean tide, etc., but the crack of the glove and all the ambient sounds that come along with it are soothing. If you think I'm strange, then I have to tell you that both my father and fellow Hangouter "JustD" both agreed.

B. Manny Machado is as smooth as butter at SS. It's ashame that he plays the same position as Schoop, but watching the two take fungoes this morning it looks like they're not even in the same league.

C. Matt Hobgood's not a complete shut-down. He ran through some pitcher's fielding drills today.

D. I spent about 30 minutes watching minor league catchers receive pitches and transfer from mitt-to-glove. Caleb Joseph drew the most praise from coach Don Werner, but Michael Ohlman wasn't far behind. This one also confirms that the ex-catcher in me and the interest in this drill confirms that I'm an absolute baseball dork.

[Arthur_Bryant]

B. Manny Machado is as smooth as butter at SS. It's ashame that he plays the same position as Schoop, but watching the two take fungoes this morning it looks like they're not even in the same league.

I liked Manny's movements in the scouting vids that I saw last year. His balance and footwork will help him stay at SS even as he gets bigger.

Did you mean by the bolded that Machado looks much better than Schoop? Or that they're both that much better than the rest?

They make those "SoundSpa" things that are supposed to help you relax to the sounds of a babbling brook, the ocean tide, etc., but the crack of the glove and all the ambient sounds that come along with it are soothing. If you think I'm strange, then I have to tell you that both my father and fellow Hangouter "JustD" both agreed.

I agree too. I'll even say that just being on and around a baseball field is a near-magical experience that almost always makes me feel good. There doesn't have to be much going on. If it's just two guys playing long toss in the outfield, that's enough to keep my attention.

Even empty fields are great. The other day I had a chance to be out on a nearby college field before my son's practice. I just walked around quietly, took it all in. It was the best part of my day. Better than a meditation session.

And if I were where you are, I would be out there at Twin Lakes every day. March in Florida, baseballs being hit and thrown and caught... that would never get old.

[Can_of_corn]

Sounds like a great time. Weather has sure been holding up for folks visiting this year.

[bobmc]

A. No better sight and sound than Baby Birds playing catch to get loose for the day. They make those "SoundSpa" things that are supposed to help you relax to the sounds of a babbling brook, the ocean tide, etc., but the crack of the glove and all the ambient sounds that come along with it are soothing. If you think I'm strange, then I have to tell you that both my father and fellow Hangouter "JustD" both agreed.

B. Manny Machado is as smooth as butter at SS. It's a shame that he plays the same position as Schoop, but watching the two take fungoes this morning it looks like they're not even in the same league with the rest of the fielders.

C. Matt Hobgood's not a complete shut-down. He ran through some pitcher's fielding drills today.

D. I spent about 30 minutes watching minor league catchers receive pitches and transfer from mitt-to-glove. Caleb Joseph drew the most praise from coach Don Werner, but Michael Ohlman wasn't far behind. This one also confirms that the ex-catcher in me and the interest in this drill confirms that I'm an absolute baseball dork.

They're enabling your addiction. Let's just say I agree with Jim Morrison - people are strange....

Dorks need love too.

Good to hear that Matt can still run....it's a joke....:laughlol:

Manny and Schoop - better than all the rest - sounds great SB! Keep the feelings coming! :clap3:

[kbucky5]

A. This one also confirms that the ex-catcher in me and the interest in this drill confirms that I'm an absolute baseball dork.

Please continue to be a baseball dork for those of us in Texas that can't be there. Thanks for the update.

[justD]

Video soon...but here is a pic of the new Twin Lakes weight room taken from the outside:

<a href="http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/?action=view&current=STTwinLakes063.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/STTwinLakes063.jpg" width="650" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

and here are some of the cooler sights from the parking lot:

<a href="http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/?action=view&current=STTwinLakes064.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/STTwinLakes064.jpg" border="0" width="380" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/?action=view&current=STTwinLakes065.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/STTwinLakes065.jpg" border="0" width="380" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/?action=view&current=STTwinLakes066.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/STTwinLakes066.jpg" border="0" width="380" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Who's On 1st]

Video soon...but here is a pic of the new Twin Lakes weight room taken from the outside:

<a href="http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/?action=view&current=STTwinLakes063.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/STTwinLakes063.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

and here are some of the cooler sights from the parking lot:

<a href="http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/?action=view&current=STTwinLakes064.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/STTwinLakes064.jpg" border="0" width="380" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/?action=view&current=STTwinLakes065.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/STTwinLakes065.jpg" border="0" width="380" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/?action=view&current=STTwinLakes066.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a61/dmhmt/STTwinLakes066.jpg" border="0" width="380" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Very Nice! :thumbsup1:

[eb45]

Didn't people have problems with Matt Riley for a similar plate?

[ScottieBaseball]

I liked Manny's movements in the scouting vids that I saw last year. His balance and footwork will help him stay at SS even as he gets bigger.

Did you mean by the bolded that Machado looks much better than Schoop? Or that they're both that much better than the rest?

Manny moves well, great footwork, but soft and fast hands really stood out to me. My Schoop comment? It's a tough sentiment to express...if there's no Machado there'd be a lot of talk about how smooth, polished, and promising Schoop looks defensively.

[ScottieBaseball]

Didn't people have problems with Matt Riley for a similar plate?

I don't know if it was a license plate, but he did have a tattoo that said "24K Arm" or something.

[eb45]

Just looked it up. It was 24KTARM, and it was a license plate.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2004-03-07/sports/0403070176_1_matt-riley-jesse-riley-fort-lauderdale

[weams]

Manny moves well, great footwork, but soft and fast hands really stood out to me. My Schoop comment? It's a tough sentiment to express...if there's no Machado there'd be a lot of talk about how smooth, polished, and promising Schoop looks defensively.

Machado is by FAR the most exciting player at that camp. And there are many good ones. Coach was right to be looking for him from the start.

[Jarman8675]

A. No better sight and sound than Baby Birds playing catch to get loose for the day. They make those "SoundSpa" things that are supposed to help you relax to the sounds of a babbling brook, the ocean tide, etc., but the crack of the glove and all the ambient sounds that come along with it are soothing. If you think I'm strange, then I have to tell you that both my father and fellow Hangouter "JustD" both agreed.

B. Manny Machado is as smooth as butter at SS. It's ashame that he plays the same position as Schoop, but watching the two take fungoes this morning it looks like they're not even in the same league.

C. Matt Hobgood's not a complete shut-down. He ran through some pitcher's fielding drills today.

D. I spent about 30 minutes watching minor league catchers receive pitches and transfer from mitt-to-glove. Caleb Joseph drew the most praise from coach Don Werner, but Michael Ohlman wasn't far behind. This one also confirms that the ex-catcher in me and the interest in this drill confirms that I'm an absolute baseball dork.

I remember hearing similar praise about Billy Rowell(not you but it was from this site) his first spring. Although I hope Manny Machado fulfills his A-rod comparisons(without the steroids), I want to see him do well in at least Frederick first. Speaking of performance enhancing drugs, have you seen the 3B 16 y/o dominican we signed, Veloz? How does he look? Our only Dominican bonus baby.

[weams]

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[weams]

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