Tag: baseball

A night at the ballpark

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Round Rock, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/8, 1/125 sec, ISO640
 Round Rock, 2016

こんばんは！ How’s it going?

This evening, Koa and I went to the Dell Diamond in Round Rock to see the Round Rock Express take on the visiting Iowa Cubs. We bought discounted tickets because the Little League Koa plays in has a special promotion. It was only a dollar off each ticket, but it was fun to go to the ballpark and watch some minor-league baseball.

Tonight was opening night, and also Fireworks Friday, but we didn’t stay til the end because it was getting very late and Koa has Japanese school tomorrow morning so no fireworks for us. But Koa had a great time hanging out with friends, playing in the “Kids Zone” where they have a basketball court and also a radar-gun so you can see how fast your pitches are. Koa was clocked throwing 51 mph heaters. Pretty impressive!

Round Rock, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO500
 Round Rock, 2016

The Dell Diamond is a very nice ballpark, just like a MLB stadium, just on a smaller scale. General admission tickets for sitting on the lawn are only $7 so it’s a good deal. But the food is like an MLB park. $10 for a large beer! Ouch. I passed on the beer tonight…

It was a beautiful clear evening, but the great weather will not last long. On Sunday a heavy storm will move into town bringing hail and nastiness. If you live here in Central Texas, take care and stay safe!

おやすみなさい！

– バロン Barron Fujimoto

A-Z Challenge – F

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F is for “Fanatic”

My favorite sport is baseball, and growing up in the Los Angeles area, my favorite team was and still is the Dodgers. I’ve followed them, but I was never a fanatic. But a few years ago, I would listen to a game, and then get really angry when they lost. I would stress out over it when I was falling asleep even! Then, I got so disappointed in them when they got eliminated from the playoffs that I swore off baseball, and all sports. It was sort of in jest, but sort of serious. I really don’t understand how I could have that kind of emotional reaction to a team that I have no control over. It’s really weird!

But I didn’t want to feel that disappointment again, so I decided that I wouldn’t follow sports at all. I think that lasted a year or so, and then a change happened in me. I know it had something to do with when Koa started playing Little League baseball. During the first season, I would get so tense during the games, especially when the team made errors. I would get so nervous, that I didn’t even want to watch the game! I know, right? It was just like when I would watch the Dodgers!

The next season, I noticed that the kids, even if they lost, still had smiles on their faces and high-fived the other team after the game. Even though deep down I knew that winning wasn’t the most important thing about playing the game, I somehow lost sight of that. But seeing the joy on the kids’ faces made me realize that it was I who had the problem. My emotions were ridiculous! Once I realized that, my whole world (well, at least my sports world) changed. I now enjoy watching my son play the game and don’t mind the errors or strikeouts anymore. I make sure not to criticize him during the ride home after the game. I admit, I sometimes have the urge to say something, but that feeling is now minuscule compared to how it was during the first season. In fact, it’s so distant that I can see it far away… and laugh at it. What a great feeling!

The MLB season has just started, and I am watching a lot of the games. I think it will be a great season, not because I think the Dodgers will do well or win the World Series, but it will be a great season because I will enjoy the games without having the stressed-out mindset of a “fanatic”.

End of the tournament

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Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/8, 1/420 sec, ISO200
 Cedar Park, 2016

こんばんは！ Hello! How was your Sunday? Our day was pretty good, starting off with a 10 AM little league baseball game for Koa. Today was the day that mattered in the tournament, with yesterday’s games determining the seeding for today.

It was too bad that the kids couldn’t keep the high-level of play going, though, and they fell big-time to the opposing team. They didn’t play too badly, but the other team was on fire, scoring five runs in the first inning. Koa’s team put a couple of runs on the board, but it wasn’t enough. However, they did play pretty good, and Koa came in to pitch in the final inning. You can see him throw one inside below:

Koa got out of a jam when the opposing hitter lined into a double play. But it was right at the end of the game, when the outcome was already decided. Still, Koa was pumped after that great outing.

After the game, most of the team went out for pizza and frozen yogurt and had a lot of fun. Koa told me that he’s having the most fun this season, and I can tell from the way everyone gets along that the team enjoys playing together. It’s good that they can support each other, especially because the team doesn’t have a great win-loss record.

FJKO7923Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.6, 1/100 sec, ISO2000

Well, it’s almost Monday and the work weeks continue to be busy. The upcoming week promises to keep that trend alive!

おやすみなさい！ See ya tomorrow!

– B Barron Fujimoto

A sci-fi classic

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Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/30 sec, ISO3200
 Cedar Park, 2016

こんばんは！

I hope you had a great Saturday. Mine was pretty good! This afternoon Koa played two games in the baseball tournament, and although they lost both, they played well. Probably the best they have played as a team so far this year! However, the teams they went up against were very good… a “select” team, and then the team with the second-best record in the season so far.

Koa did great at the plate, knocking a double over the left-fielder’s head, and then coming round to score later in the evening. He later walked, but got stranded on third. In the next game, he had another hit into the outfield, getting a couple RBIs. He did great! Tomorrow, they have one more game, and I hope they continue with their great play.

After we came back home, I watched 2001: A Space Odyssey with Bay, as you can see in the photo. It’s amazing to think that this movie was release on this day back in 1968, which is the year I was born. The special effects were incredible for the time, and still look great. If you haven’t seen the movie before, or if it has been a while as it was in my case, I recommend watching it again. It’s a true classic.

Well, it’s almost bed time for me, so I’ll sign off for now!

おやすみなさい！

– バロン Barron Fujimoto

Koa on the mound

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Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: SONY NEX-6, 0mm, f/0, 1/60 sec, ISO250
 Cedar Park, 2016

こんばんは！ Hello!

This evening Koa had a baseball game under cloudy skies. It has been raining off and on today but luckily the fields were dry enough that they could play. Last year, there were so many games canceled due to heavy rains and even the end-of-season tournament was called off. This season, just one practice was called off and we’re crossing our fingers that we can get all the games in!

Tonight’s photo is of Koa on the mound. I paired my Minolta 100-200 AF lens with the NEX-6 body using a cheap (~$15) adapter. There are some strange patterns going on in the background, but I am happy with the quality overall. I was going to put the lens on my A77 and have full auto-focus and metering, but decided to give this smaller combination a try just for fun. I am pleased with the result!

Unfortunately, the result of the game was a loss for Koa’s Rockies. But the tournament is this weekend and we’re hoping to do well! At least I know the kids will have fun… they almost always do!

Take care, and see you tomorrow.

おやすみなさい！

– B Barron Fujimoto