In an effort to beat the early season blues, seasoned Numb veterans, Hannaman, Big Dog, Bulge, JT, and the Senator found their balls, grabbed their bats and reported to the Playfields Park for some pre-season bat and field work. The "fearsome foursome" were the only players to make the workout, other team members replying "what?" when asked about the possibility that they might practice a couple times before the season gets in full swing. These four "team monuments" could be heard shouting spirited bits of old softball banter, such as, "No, I don't need help up" and the favorite, "Well, maybe I do".

It was interesting to note that at this first season workout, five days before the start of the season, there were no knee braces to be seen. It appears that the Numb may be starting the ball season off in the best mechanical condition they have been in since that statistic was first recorded. When brought to his attention, coach Bulge, a consummate optimist said, "...we'll see".

However, emotionally, they were a wreck. Players extra curricular activities, team composition and tournament planning combined to leave our stalwart fellows in a quagmire of thought and deliberation. Added to this was the fact that they are able to provide the leadership that would save the Sacramento Kings from destruction, if only the front office would just listen to them. Still, the Numb was able to pull up their socks, shove in their cups, and take to the field.

Batting practice was a flurry of swings, ponks and drives.
The Senator was in mid-season form, driving balls left, right and sideways to all corners of the batting cage. And afterward, he walked out of the batting area, over to the pitching machine area and had a short conversation with the pitching arm (?!). Deemed "a little under weight" by the coaching staff, the Senator's off-season weight lifting program has fer-surely paid off, resulting power drives that nearly damaged the chain link of the fences. He was in such form and condition as to take some "swings" at the fastest speed hardball pitching machine... and he even hit some of them.

The Big Dog is returning to the field with a new found batting aid that he developed after a great many hours of research and thought. Utilizing his right shoulder as an inclined guidance system for controlling the angle of slope on his bat as it is accelerated forward, he has managed to tame his occasional wayward popfly. And as a gesture of good will, he is willing to sell you this method for just $99.95, payable in three easy payments. But wait, there's more...

Hannaman strolled gracefully into the cage areas, taking nice long, flowing, warm-up strokes at the air to warm up his powerful swing. However, his first chop at the rounded "objects of our attention" resulted in a powerful sound. No one laughed as he had missed the first ball he received from the pitching machine.

For JT, this wasn't the first seasonal outing to the batting cages. Coming off the previous season as Coach of the Year, he reported having been to the batting cages four times all ready this season. However, since his fall season batting average was lower than his bowling average, you can see how he might want to put in a few extra trips.

The Bulge stood stoically and patiently watched as the others batted, mentally noting the strengths and weaknesses that his players displayed. Occasionally he would get a slight smile on his face. Gas does that to you. Still his batting was good for this early in the season and he looks as if he will once again be the "Steady Eddy" of the team.

Following batting practice, the Numbites took a few ground balls in the practice area. As the old saying goes," a little beats nothing", and the Numb infielders demonstrated their fielding talents that have laid idle during the winter.

Following the practice the Numbolenas went over to Sudwerks, for a weight program bolstered by wrist curls and carb loading.

So, with the first, and possibly only, practice out of the way, the Numb are ready to get on with the new season. Oh, get out your medical benefit package brochures and check out your coverage. Spry and talented, the alum-Numb are likely to report to the chiropractor early next week.

Where we would like to play!!

If only we had talent!!