Tag Archives: baseball

Day 118: Yunel Escobar, Washington Nationals

escobarLast night the Nationals started a three-day series with the Atlanta Braves. The Nats have been slumping, but one of the players who has been producing both in the batter’s box as well as on the field is utility infielder Yunel Escobar who the Nats picked up in a crazy multi-team deal that sent pitcher Tyler Clippard to Oakland.

In the fifth inning Escobar had to leave the game after suffering an injury due to an aggressive slide by Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons into third base. I thought I would send the Cuban-born ballplayer a letter and wish him a speedy recovery.

Day 118

(Spanish translation)

Dear Yunel,

Welcome to Washington! We are very happy to have someone with your talent on our team. 

Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons knocked Yunel Escobar’s glove off, and the Nationals third baseman out of the game. . (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons knocked Yunel Escobar’s glove off, and the Nationals third baseman out of the game. . (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

I’m writing you to wish you a speedy recovery – I was watching the game last night when Simmons hurt you. I hope that it’s nothing serious and that you can get back to the field in the coming days. 

Warm regards,
Reed Sandridge

P.S. Also, thanks for being a part of the deal that sent Tyler Clippard to Oakland – he drove me nuts!

Day 114: Clint Robinson, Washington Nationals

Photo: minorleagueball.com

Photo: minorleagueball.com

One of the great stories this Spring Training was that of Clint Robinson. The 30-year-old has spent his professional baseball career playing for a variety of minor league organizations. The Nationals invited him to Spring Training with the hopes of making the 25 man roster and what do you know, he made it! It’s the kind of story that makes you want to support those who have worked so hard for so many years for this moment. Clint earned it and I’m excited to watch him play this year.

Now if I could just get Clint to come out and help my softball team with our hitting. Bryce Harper joined us a few years ago – so it could happen!

Let’s go Nats!

Day 114

Dear Clint,

Congratulations on making the Nationals roster this year. I know that you have worked very hard to get here and I’ve enjoyed watching you play. That triple you hit off of Porcello deep to center in Boston was beautiful.

Day 114-2I’m intrigued about your bat collection. I am a bit of a collector myself – not of bats (although I wouldn’t be opposed to collecting bats) but of items that tell a great story. Speaking of stories, I heard that you have some miracle bat that you are carrying around that hasn’t broke in over two months of use. That sounds like a record probably for you – you hit the ball pretty hard.

Anyway, I’m excited to cheer for you this year. I’m a huge Nats fan and want to welcome you to our city and wish you a great season – and many more to come. Good luck tonight against the Marlins.

Reed Sandridge
(@ReedSandridge)

P.S. I read that your wife Samantha is expecting. Congratulations to you both. Enjoy this special moment in your life.

 

Day 112: Anonymous Letter Left at Roger Dean Stadium

Day 112-6I’m in Jupiter, FL today for work and decided to catch a minor league baseball game. The Palm Beach Cardinals were hosting the Fort Myers Miracle. Both are Class A Advanced Affiliates for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Minnesota Twins respectively.

I wrote up an anonymous note, tucked it in a neatly addressed aubergine envelope and left it on a table that was right behind the home plate seats at the end of the fifth inning. Surely someone would see it there and pick it up. After the game, I walked by to make sure someone had claimed it, but to my surprise it was still sitting there.

I had pretty good seats!

I had pretty good seats!

I picked it up and walked outside. I was trying to think of another clever place to put it when I saw a mailbox for the stadium. Perfect! I dropped my note in there, we’ll see if anyone finds it.

Oh, and in case you were interested, the Cardinals easily took care of Miracle 7-2.

Day 112-5

You can see the mailbox where I dropped my letter just to the left of the door.

You can see the mailbox where I dropped my letter just to the left of the door.

This note is for you. I’ve made a commitment to write a handwritten note every day this year. If I could, I’d make a commitment to go to a baseball game every day for a year! I love the game and hope that you enjoyed tonight’s game as well. 

Best regards,
Reed Sandridge (Wash. DC)

The Cardinals beat the Miracles 7-2.

The Cardinals beat Miracle 7-2.

 

Day 95: Teddy

A photo of Teddy that I captured at Opening Day 2014. He had a tremendous lead, but failed to cross the finish line first. Photo: Reed Sandridge

A photo of Teddy that I captured at Opening Day 2014. He had a tremendous lead, but failed to cross the finish line first. Photo: Reed Sandridge

I have become a huge Washington Nationals fan. I try to get to a few games each year and have somehow managed to make it to every home opener since the Nationals came to Washington a decade ago.

For those of you who haven’t been to a Nationals baseball game, during the fourth inning five 10-foot mascots dressed as former presidents race around the inside of the ballpark. Why do they race you ask? Who cares…it’s just fun to watch.

Teddy and some of Photo: M. Scott Mahaskey/Politico.com

Teddy having a good belly laugh during a pre race meeting. Photo: M. Scott Mahaskey/Politico.com

 

Teddy (T. Roosevelt) is joined by George (Washington), Abe (Lincoln), Tom (Jefferson) and newcomer Bill (Taft). I’m not sure why they added Bill back in 2013 – I liked that all four original commander in chiefs were featured of Mount Rushmore. Bill just seems like a 5th wheel.

Teddy was the best gimmick in baseball for nearly seven years. No matter how far of a lead he had in the race he would never win. That was until the last game of the regular season in 2012, which I was at, when Teddy finally won. In a way I thought it was hilarious that he never won and think they should have kept it going. There were social media campaigns to #LetTeddyWin. He was the talk of the town.

With all the attention on the Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer – who Washington picked up during the off-season for something like $1.3 billion – I thought I would drop Teddy a note so he wouldn’t feel left out of all the hype and excitement surrounding today.

See you at the game!

Day 95

Dear Teddy,

Opening Day – I imagine this is a big day for you. I’ve been to all 10 Nationals home openers and I’ll be there today. I come to watch you my friend. You’re a star, a legend, a nonconformist, even a bit of a rule-bender. I like that.

Photo: M. Scott Mahaskey/Politico.com

Photo: M. Scott Mahaskey/Politico.com

I was at the game the 2012 game when you won your first race – frankly I was disappointed about that. Your inability to win a race was pure genius. But I still love you and remain your fan even though if it weren’t for the newcomer Taft you’d be in last place with your unflattering 6.82 win percentage.

I would love to come visit you some day – hang out, help you prepare for the race, lend a hand (literally) answering some fan mail, grab a post race beer…whatever. Would that be possible? I’ve got skills and am willing to do just about anything.

Your fan,
Reed

P.S. Stay focused today…don’t listen to the Scherzer hype…it’s all about you my man!

 

Sunday Notes & Letters for Week 15

april5I am over one-fourth of the way through my letter-writing journey. I hope I can make it. I’m having a blast but this takes time! You’d be surprised how much time it takes to write (and rewrite from time to time) neatly, emboss stationery, take photographs, upload them to the blog, write something thoughtful or funny. Thankfully I have a decent supply of whiskey that will hopefully get me most of the way through the year – I am accepting donations to help make sure I don’t run out.

Seriously, I hope I can keep this up. What’s great is that you keep sending me more and more letters. It’s working. People are sitting down and going old school on keeping in touch with me. Thank you to all those of have sent letters.

Muriel Bowser-3

A copy of my letter to the new Mayor of Washington, D.C.

And I can’t remember if I have mentioned this or not here, but stay tuned, I’m going to throw a party at the end of the year for everyone who has either received one of my letters or sent me a letter. So if you haven’t written me yet, drop me a handwritten note and I’ll make sure you get on the invite list.

Baseball season officially started today with the St. Louis Cardinals shaming the Cubs at home 3-0. Tomorrow, the Washington Nationals play their home opener against the New York Mets. I’ll be there in the Mayor’s Suite – I wonder if Mayor Bowser will be there. I sent her a letter on Day 2 and have not heard back from her. I’ll be sure to remind her if she’s there.

Here are a few hints about who tomorrow’s letter is for. This person missed the first season, but has been to every Nationals home game after that. He is the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and is blind in his left eye due to a boxing injury.