China: Day 2
Hello from China.
We went to a baseball clinic at a local school today in Beijing that was pretty interesting. I had an interpreter but he couldn't understand some of the things that I was telling the kids so I had to change the way I was talking to get my point across.
The kids were a lot better than I thought they would be, especially since some of them have only been playing baseball for three months or so. Most of them picked the things I was telling them quickly. They had some pretty good athletes there, I thought.
In the afternoon we got to go to the stadium. It was pretty cool. The grass was dead grass though they painted it green. Everyone kept telling me how short the fences were but I don't think they're any shorter than usual.
Really, it was just nice to get outside and pick up a baseball again. It had been three days since I last threw, so it was cool to get outside and run around in the outfield a little bit. I liked that they were playing American music while we were working out. I was expecting to hear Chinese music.
I'm excited for the game and am looking forward to tomorrow, seeing the stadium full and the people going nuts. I know I'm supposed to pitch so it would be nice to be able to get the first save in China.
Heath
hey heath!
my name is jack murphy and i go to the school that you had the clinic at. i was really glad that you and kouz and coach black could come. i am going to be the ball boy for the padres tomrow so i am really exited to seeyou tomrow.
luck
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Hi Taco,
It's Joey from the welcome reception tonight. Well, I'll see you at the bullpen.
Joey
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Heath,
I really appreciate the blog and I am impressed by your enthusiasm and good nature regarding the trip. I'm sure the Chinese fans and casual observers are really getting a thrill from your presence and engagement. And you have to post some photos of you and the other guys in warrior and emporer outfits!
Your blog is all the more refreshing since I was disappointed to hear talk about your trip to China and the Red Sox Japan trip as such a bore and a drag and distraction.
Thank you for showing a different side of MLB ballplayers. A side that is human, down-to-earth, and ready and willing to be goodwill ambassadors of the game world wide.
Best of luck in China and this season.
TR
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Heath, I'm glad to hear you are really getting out and doing as much as possible. Having spent three years in Asia myself I can truly say it's a great experience to see and appreciate another culture so different from our own. I look forward to hearing more about the rest of the trip, and see you back here in AZ during spring training. Renee
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