Due to many requests to know exactly who the nation's favorite little league team is from photos sent by the commish, I am sending this out as a combo roster and i.d. update. This past weekend's games will be updated shortly thereafter.
FRONT ROW:
Kevin Hernandez-- age 11, 2b-of, very enthusiastic and loves to let you know his opinions on everything about the game and my coaching decisions. Just arrived from PR (Puerto Rico) and isn't always easily understood--but that does not deter him at all. Uses a glove that is about half his height and refuses to use smaller one's offered to him. Not afraid to get in front of the ball or to swing at anything thrown to him. Always offers to carry equipment from car to field.
Holvin "Joel" Hernandez--age 10, of-p, Kevin's brother. Had to move him out of infield because his eagerness to catch pop-ups sometimes resulted in a bit more contact with teammates than the game normally calls for. Only two words of english he speaks (to me at least) are "coach" (which he repeats aboput every 30-40 seconds, and "sorry" when one of his errant pitches strikes me in the ankle or shin. Insists on carrying the heavy bat/glove bag (which weighs about half his body weight) from car to field. Youngest player on squad.
Christian Rosario--age 13, 2b-ss-p, 2nd year on team. Loves the game but hates to be coached. Smallest player on team and has to hear from every returning player about how he failed to grow this past year. Good bat but lacks plate disipline, sometimes is lazy in regards to moving his feet towards the grounders that come his way. Lifts head on grounders way too often, but will play wherever coach tells him.
BACK ROW:
Tytee Grien--age 13 (in 2 weeks), of, 2nd year on team. Great attitude and never complains. Had a breakthrough game last year and is working hard to get her rythym of swinging at the ball back to that point. Works hard and is a good source of info on other players. Has gotten over reluctance to bat from last year when she said "everyone is looking at me when I am up there." Bravely puts helmet on regardless onf newness of hairstyle and will still take fielding practice even if her manicure is fresh. (Joe Torre thinks he has to deal with issues...)
Jeremy Osorio--age 13, 1b-p, 4th year with team. By own admission, 'sucked' his first two years, but hard work and diligence has been rewarded. Used to flinch when you played catch, is now a flawless firstbaseman. About to get first shot on the mound next week. Batting eye has improved and he actually is a top hitter on squad. Has emerged as one of my 3 leaders. Great kid. Great attitude.
Coach Chris--1st year on squad. Hasn't had that breakthrough yet of yelling at a kid or cursing in front of them. Thought he would while catching bp before 2nd game last week and he claimed he was cursing inside his head. Coach told him that didn't count. Very enthusiastic and can be easily brought in line (not that he has needed to yet) by me threatening to reveal to Kenny just how close they live to each other. Great asset to this team, can actually get the kids to stretch before games.
Ralph Colon--age 11, 3b-of, 1st year on team. His cousin Eddie was a Defender for 3 years, including our championship team. Very quiet and shy and has a lot of natural ability. Is not afraid to get in front of the ball and has a beautiful throwing motion. Swings the bat well and looks like he will develop into a solid performer.
Johnathan Fernandez--age 13, of, 1st year on team. Recruited by 4 kids on squad who go to school with him. Incrfedibly quiet (no complaints, just a fact), I call him the anti-Kenny. Will do whatever you say and has raw talent. Very coachable and picks up whatever you are trying to teach very quickly. Has a rifle of an arm, can actually judge a flyball AND move towards it correctly. He is close to a break-out game at the plate and in practice wallops the ball farther than anyone else.
Anthonny Rodriguez--age 13, p-ss-c, 4th year on team, our own a-rod. Great kid, loves the game and is more of a student of the game than anyone on squad. Probably the best pitcher in the league and can hit the ball quite well. I am betting he will not strike out this year (nor walk). Overall best player on team, can handle any position with ease. Has a great smile and has developed into team leader. Coach told him he will have to cut down on the platanos if he wants to move on to the next level of play.
Kenny Tello--age 13, c, 4th year on squad, Everyone in the league knows Kenny. Kenny will not shut up. Kenny loves the game and always wants to play 2b. He loves 2b, but 2b doesn't always love him. He has developed into a good catcher and has a great batting eye. Only he and Anthony have not struck out so far this year. By far the best baserunner on the team. He gets too worked up at times and coach has to really work to keep him focused. Has the most raging hormones on the team, but has also (surprisingly) developed into the third of my trio of team leaders.
Coach Brett--founder of team and fearless coach. Easily suckered into going to the fields anytime one of the players calls and wants to catch or get extra practice. Constant thorn in the side of the commisioner and loves to rabble-rouse on a variety of matters. Owner of the Defendermobile--a 17 year old buick that doubles as the equipment storage shed for the league.
Clayvon Able--age 13, of-p, 4th year on team, could develop into better player if he devoted more time, but true love is basketball. Has good character and never complains. Is best of on team, but has strict mom who has recently suspended him for some type of school transgression. Coach has tried to intervene, but so far, to no avail. Is fairly adept at the plate when he wears his glasses and is a close second to Kenny on the basepaths.
Joshua Santiago--age 13, 2nd year on team, 3b-of-p, travels farthest to get to fields, and often gets ride to subway by coach after practice. Good outfielder and not afraid of ball at 3b. A bit inconsistent on the mound and has a funky delivery that confuses opponents. Has to get aggressiveness at plate back that he had last year. Will never complain, but is not afraid to ask to play a certain position. Got much faster this year on the basepaths.
Coach Lou--3rd year with team, was a springtraining holdout (a fact he denies) and was urged back by tellling him we needed someone to yell at Kenny. Real reason coach urged him back, however, is that he is the only coach in the league who consistently gets voted as having a worse car than coach when those discussions inevitably occur amongst the kids. Local resident who loves the kids (even Kenny) and the game. Will work with the kids on the side or at times when no practice is called.
Demarcus and Louis-- broithers, never really on squad, briefly placed on team on opening day but they were optioned out to LICH, a new team that is replacing the frozen dinner team that dropped out prior to the opener.
Taylor Nash--age 13, 2b-of, 3rd year on team. Her brother Gregory, a.k.a. Cuckarocha was on our first team. Wonderful attitude and best team spirit. Never, never complains (except about her hair). Refused to come to game 2 years ago until her hair was done. Brought Tytee on to squad. Absolute best source of info and gossip on team. Coach goes straight to her when he needs to find the real scoop on players. Has gotten much better at the plate this year and batted 5th last game.
NOT PICTURED:
Sonia "Don't call me coach" Gonzalez--3rd year on team, suckered her into coaching when she liked our team jerseys and asked for one at work. Told her only if she came out to coach, but she quickly admonished me when I listed her as Coach Sonia on schedule. Being a Tae Kwon Do black belt, (and a little afraid of her despite her 5' 2" stature) I quickly complied. My way of evening the playing field is threatening her with me giving Kenny her phone number. It works quite well. She is great with kids, has an infectuous laugh and has the unique and uncanny ability to actually get kids to listen to her on the first try. Wonderful asset to the team--added asset this year as translator between Joel and the coach.
a picture of sonia with clayvon from last year (in the unis we actually liked). lol
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