Message board »Message Board home »Sign-in or register to get started
Online now: 2 members: TABLE SETTER 11, birdie; 96 anonymousDiscussion: Carl's Corner Story
| Posted | Discussion |
| Dec. 30, 2012 boston Men's 60 355 posts | Carl's Corner Story I'm sure by now most of you have read the story Carl Gustafson wrote on being an Outfielder and courtesy runner. I personally can feel his pain. I have been in his shoes since entering senior ball 9 years ago. I have mentioned on this site and in discussions with players. How my game suffers for the team. I have also been pissed when EH's that leadoff and bat 800 get All-Tourney recognition for getting on base and having someone else that is playing defense run for them. Another problem I have is how players like us are practically crawl off the field at the end of the day and these guys have not one ache or pain. Nice letter Carl, thanks for bringing this to light. |
| Dec. 30, 2012 Al33 Men's 55 183 posts | Please share it with us. |
| Dec. 30, 2012 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | Latest Senior Softball News, page 3. Played for Carl for a couple of years. He's a work horse, even after his heart attack. Good guy, good article. |
| Dec. 31, 2012 titanhd Men's 60 638 posts | Carl's Corner: The Unsung Courtesy Runner Carl Gustafson CA Regional Tri-Director (San Diego) The 102-degree heat at a three-day tournament in Texas certainly takes a lot out of softball players. And when you’re out there trying to come through the loser’s bracket in that heat, factor in the humidity. When you consider many seniors have clogged arteries and parts that don’t work, this scenario isn’t what the doctor ordered. I played outfield in that tournament which means I could still run fast. It also meant that during our nine games, I went to my outfield post and then back, a combined 100 times or nearly 5 miles. In addition, I was chosen to be a courtesy runner. The rule was implemented to help those unfortunate players who, due to injury, disease, surgery, or some chronic debilitation, could still swing a bat, but could no longer run without extreme difficulty or pain. But it soon expanded to become a strategic ploy in every game where fast runners replace pretty much anyone slower than they are. This strategy also means that the fastest runners will be used as often as possible. Translated: I ran either for myself or somebody else virtually every inning of every game. I lost 11 pounds in three days and ached for a week. My batting average and power were reduced game by game as I tired. When some of those for whom I was running returned to their shade in the dugout to brag about their liner that tore the shortstop’s glove off, and then complained about me dragging a little grounder through the hole, I committed myself to be courteous to the courtesy runner should the role ever be reversed. Later I had Plantar Fasciitis for a whole year, and as I watched my courtesy runners pounding their arches into the turf for me, I realized what an idiot I had been for a decade |
| Jan. 3, 2013 Wayne 37 Men's 65 773 posts | Carl's Corner is a truck stop in Texas that is close to Willie Nelson's hometown of Abbott. I believe Willie does have a little stake in the place. It is very noticeable, as it has gargoyles on the roof that came from an eclectic nightspot on Greeenville Avenue in Dallas years ago. You will probably see it if you're driving down I-35 on the way to Georgetown. |
