Opening game

Not all players speak the same language - trying to order dinner is a headache, much less figure out a way to beat the other teams - luckily 'baseball chatter' brings them together
Mike Hochman

Now that the Israel baseball season has started, teams are starting to "gel" It’s a complicated process, the process of "gelling". I suppose like any other organization, 'gelling' starts from the top, in this case the manager.

During our first team meeting, Ra'anana Express manager Shaun Smith emphasized the need for the team-mates to communicate. At first this might seem easy, but when you consider not all the players speak the same language it becomes a challenge. For example, we have Dominican players (Spanish), Israeli players (Hebrew), and American players (English). Trying to get organized for dinner is a headache, much less figure out a way to beat the other teams. Luckily we have the commonality of baseball to bring us together. Baseball like other sports has its own lingo, or "baseball chatter" if you will.

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Mike Hochman cannot wait till the first match of the new Israeli professional baseball league on Sunday

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Our Skipper "Smitty" also made what I thought was a really important point. The IBL being a new league will surely have bugs and problems. Maybe the fields won't be up to the players' standards, or the accomodations might not be what they're used to, but the teams that succeed will be those that don't let the distractions occupy them. The winning teams will be the ones that continue to concentrate at the task at hand, winning. Those players that kvetch at every little thing will lose their edge and eventually their focus.

I doubt "baseball chatter" will be studied by linguists but it serves its purpose when organizing a club. It allows strangers to congradulate each other, "atta boy"; position each other, "left 1, left 1" "back, back"; and sometimes comfort each other "next time, next time."

I was standing with a Dominican team-mate, Max Vasquez, who doesn't speak much English, and this guy is always smiling and seems to always be super-happy. I've decided to take him under my wing and teach him what limited Hebrew I know. So far, he knows "ma nish ma" and "ha kol beseder". I can't tell you how funny it is to hear the first words of Hebrew being spoken by this guy, classic stuff. By the way, he's our ace pitcher, you should come out to watch him throw, he hits the low-'90s on the gun.

Communicating is also a challenge for the players while they are exploring Israel. Obviously they don't speak Hebrew, so getting around in cabs, ordering dinner, and meeting the locals (especially those of the fairer sex) can be as tough as catching up to a 90 mph fastball. But they're good sports and will flash a smile and "fanagle" their way through most situations.

Also, I'm surprised by how calm these guys are being in the Middle East. The players are mostly college guys from the West, the only time they ever hear of Israel is when there's a bombing or a war, but they're as cool as a cucumber and have adjusted quite seamlessly to Israel, remarkable really.

Naturally there was one instance that a player wasn't, let's say at his best. I can't name names, (man I wish I could). Anyway, this player was in the bathroom doing his business, when he heard a loud siren go off and the noise startled him. It was soon followed by the sounds of booms. He jumps off the toilet and in a hysterical fit runs outside screaming. What he thought was an air-raid siren followed by bombs falling on him, was really a smoke alarm going off in a room close by, followed by fireworks at a wedding party across the street. Tears of laughter ensued, brilliant.

To all those who couldn't make it out to the opening game, let me tell you, you missed out. What a festival type environment it was. There were just so many kids and families, couples and fans. The players were mingling with the fans the whole time. The kids were getting autographs and pictures with the players. Everyone there had a great time. Just a perfect night. If opening day was any indication, this league is here to stay.

For more information about the Israeli Baseball League - click here