DAY ONE BEGINS

Can't sleep as the east coast-west coast change of times has got my clock all messed up. It's 6:30 AM which is 9:30 AM eastern and all I can think about is playing ball 12 hours from now.

Our reign as 2008 champs is over and we have to start a new story in the saga which is the Network team. Already we've had major drama and he we haven't even seen a pitch yet. The league has set up a brutal schedule for us. They know we are the team to beat on paper and they're going to make it as tough as they can for us to repeat. A 7:00 PM game tonight PCT, followed by a doubleheader first thing in the morning, 8:30 AM PCT and 12 noon PCT. And no softy teams in the bunch.

We have to get out of the gate strong this year and keep our winning attitude from last year intact. Any dissension this year might shake up the loosey-goosey style Network has become accustomed to-- it's our signature trademark. We win, and that's just all we know how to do. 13-2 in the last two years against the best competition in the country for over 35 (8-0 last year). Our overall dysfunction in life translates to a very functional team on the ballfield. I'd like to say it's because of my managerial style- my ballplayers know exactly what I am thinking at all times. My players know where and when they are playing, and they all know their specific roles on this team. It's a team by committee, and although I am captain of the ship I have many deck hands that I take advice from constantly (including my roommate, the professor, Dr. Terry Loe. We are truly a team in every sense of the word.

We have a bunch of new players this year that were hand-picked by me. I don't just look at talent (which, of course is a big factor in determining worthiness to wear the red & black N.) Can this guy get along with others who are, well, off the beaten path? Do they have the ability to pick others up when they are down? (We do no internal or external bashing on this team, no bench bellowing as I call it.) Is this guy just quirky enough to fit in with a bunch of eccentric misfits? And is this guy a GAMER? That's probably the most important factor of earning a spot on this team. Does he want to win bad, so bad that he will never give up on me and on this team, even when times look bleak? Even when we're down by three runs in the ninth to the best team in the country? (As was the case in last year's championship.)

The starting line-up is set (check the Game 1 2009 Box Score) and it looks slightly different from our final game last season. I'm excited to see our new pitcher shine on the mound. At 6'4", with an unusual delivery (would you expect nothing else), Mike Player puts the fear of God into batters. He comes from angles the batters have scarcely seen and although his fastball doesn't hit mid-80's like some other Network pitchers, he's