This is where I come for advice today

[Classicblast]

Here's what's happening. There are two baseball tournaments coming up.

I am the only ex pro in the circle of people looking to play in the two tourneys. Obviously there is some skill since all of the participants are recreation league players.

So they're not exactly in experienced. None have played at a pro level but I have. I played double A ball which is two levels below Major League.

There's people that still consider me a ringer though even though I am 36 and have not played pro ball in two seasons.

I am willing to sit this out if people feel my involvement is making a team into a ringer. There are tournaments with my peers that my friend Carlos and I will be playing in early next month. And that will have all retired pros in it.

So participating is this is not my only opportunity to play a little ball this month.

I also offered to play for what the orchestrators of the tourney feel is the most disadvantaged team.

Baseball is more of a team sport than football and hockey or basketball and it is harder for one person to steal a game than it is in other sports. But I still don't want to intimidate others by my former job.


The team that asked me to play is saying that they can't play without me. I can't believe that if they have all but one guy they can't find someone else in local recreation leagues that plays 3rdbase. I have to think they're tying to guilt me into playing for them. And they're a solid team already for this kind of a league.

I am not sure what to do just yet.

[Phil]

That can be tricky. No matter what you do someone is going to be disappointed.

I think you have already answered your own question though. You said that there's a disadvantaged team that you were willing to play for. If the team insisting you play only wants you to make it so the competition doesn't bother them they're not doing it for your friendship. They're doing it because they know none of the pitching is going to be hard for you to hit.

I think you should either play for the weak team or just say to those who are asking you to play that you just don't feel comfortable doing this since there is not a former pro player on each of the other teams and that you would feel bad stacking the deck. Especially when you mentioned that a more competitive tournament where other former pros are all going to participate is only a short time off.

[Classicblast]

I think that's what Im going to do. I don't want to be the center of controversy.