Joey, the Baseball Man

Joey played baseball again this spring.  And this time, it was real baseball -- by that I mean not t-ball or coach pitch.

 

Real baseball.

 

Joey is fascinating to watch.  Besides being the cutest kid on the field, he really loves baseball.  And he gets baseball.

 

(Here he is retrieving a ball hit way into the outfield -- I know, it looks like he's in the middle of a forest.  It was a REALLY well hit ball:)

 

Joey is always thinking about where he needs to be.  He is always (well, ok, almost always) in a ready position before the ball is pitched.  And you can often see him giving instruction on where to be to his fellow teammates.

 

 

But the most interesting thing to see while watching Joey play is his hitting ritual.  It's an actual ritual that he does in the batter's box before each pitch. Sometimes he takes so long I think they're going to call delay of game on him. It's been the same every year, although this year the position of the bat evolved a little bit (think Kevin Youkilis).

 

Joey pounds the bat on home plate twice, then circles his bat two or three times, then takes his ready stance.  It seems to be effective, and he is one of the best hitters on the team, despite being one of the youngest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joey isn't just always ready while on the field.  As a base runner, he is READY TO GO. 

 

Every. Single. Time.

 

Joey is nothing if not consistent.

 

Head down, leaning forward, ready to push off the base. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And when he goes, he goes!

 

 

I think this is one of my favorite pics from the season:

 

 

I told Joey he looks like the Road Runner, kicking up all that dirt and moving at the speed of light!  Love the expression of determination on his face, too:)

 

 

We can't wait until next season!