2006 Fantasy Camp Diary
Final Day--Rainout!
Saturday, February 4
by Meg Goldsmith for Kerry
Today was supposed to be the playoffs and championship games for The Ring (top four teams) and Trophy (bottom four teams). Instead, an overnight rain led the ground crew to cancel all action at the Twin Lakes complex because the fields were unplayable. (Kerry said Tampa had 10" of rain on Friday but they had none in Sarasota during the day.) Since this was the final day of camp, I asked Kerry what they were going to do about naming a champion. (The team that wins The Ring championship series is honored in a pregame ceremony at Camden Yards during the season.) Kerry said that Steve Freeman, the camp director, told them that the reunion game would be converted to the championship games with the goal being to play The Ring Championship game under the lights. How neat would that be? Unfortunately, Kerry's team didn't advance to that round of action, but David Berson's team has a chance since they were the #1 seed heading into the tournament. Dates still aren't known but two dates in June (which have to be June 10 or 17) or one date in July (not sure since there are several open Saturdays, one of which is Kerry's birthday) are under consideration.
The interesting thing is that this is the first day that has been rained out in the eight years Kerry has attended Fantasy Camp. He spent the day exploring part of Sarasota, something he's never been able to do before because he has always been busy playing baseball during the day. The Awards Banquet was held in the evening at an old car museum. In the past, everyone has stayed at the Hyatt and used one of their banquet rooms for the banquet but this year they opted to stay elsewhere and hold the banquet in this interesting location. Kerry said he arrived early so he could look around and he said it was very interesting. The banquet went smoother than usual, not "dragging" as it has in prior years and his teammates asked him to give the speech honoring their manager and coaches. Kerry said he put it together in his head before he had to go up to the podium with his teammates and it went over quite well. For the first time in several years, Kerry did not come home with any awards.
He asked that I note a few things that occurred during the week which haven't been mentioned to date. He specifically wanted to acknowledge Jack Kelly, who organized the Veteran's Tournament leading into Fantasy Camp.
He also mentioned the Home Run Contest, held on Thursday in conjunction with the Pro Game and All Star Game. For the first time during Kerry's time in camp, someone hit the ball out of the ballpark. Kerry's teammate Mark Cohen achieved this feat, impressing everyone in the camp.
The newest additions to the Fantasy Camp Hall of Fame were named. One staff member and five campers were chosen. Those named for 2006 were Rocky Johnson (staff), and campers Bob Moore, David Vidi, John (Bam Bam) Giles, Jack Kelly and Jeff Carr. Kerry said all were worthy of this honor.
For a final story, Kerry related the following from a conversation he had with Gary Kendall during the Awards Banquet. The campers stake out tables by team so he was sitting with Etch and Gary Kendall (Mo Drabowsky did not attend). Gary has managed Bluefield and Aberdeen and this year will be managing the Delmarva team. Kerry asked him how difficult it is for players who are drafted to adjust to the schedule that professional baseball demands-- games every single day--since these guys are doing it for the first time. Up to this point, they might've played two or three games a week and now they have to play every single day. Gary told Kerry that's tough and some guys require a couple of years to make the adjustment while others are able to make the adjustment during their first season in pro ball. He also talked to them about scouting and both of them said that it is important to see the player on the diamond multiple times and to talk to their families to get an idea what they are like as people before selecting them in the draft and offering them a signing bonus and professional contract.
FINAL STATS
| Date, Game | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | R | RBI | TBB | CS | SO | HBP | SH | SF | BA | OBP | SLG |
| 1/28, G1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | .333 | .000 | ||||||||||
| 1/28, G2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 2.000 | |||||||||
| 1/29, G1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .333 | .000 | |||||||||||
| 1/29, G2 | 2 | 1 | .500 | .500 | .500 | ||||||||||||
| 1/30, AM | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | .667 | .750 | 1.000 | |||||||||
| 1/30, PM | 2 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | ||||||||||||
| 1/31, AM | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .000 | .667 | .000 | ||||||||||
| 1/31, PM | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.000 | ||||||||||
| 2/1, AM | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .667 | .667 | 1.000 | |||||||||
| 2/2, AM | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .667 | .667 | 1.333 | ||||||||||
| 2/2, PM | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .667 | .667 | 1.333 | |||||||||
| 2/3, PM | 3 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | ||||||||||||
| Pro Game | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | |||||||||||
| TOTALS | 28 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .464 | .571 | .750 |
| Date, Game | G | GS | IP | H | R | ER | HR | SH | SF | HB | TBB | SO | W | L | Sv | ERA |
| 1/28, G1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6.00 | |||||||||
| 1/28, G2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 | ||||||||||
| 1/29, G1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||
| 1/30, AM | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.00 | ||||||||
| 1/31, AM | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.00 | |||||||
| 2/1, PM | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | ||||||||||
| 2/2, AM | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | |||||||||
| 2/3, AM | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0.00 | ||||||
| TOTAL | 8 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.40 |
PREVIOUS SEGMENTS: