Up until recently, the weather has been frightful on the East Coast. The first few weeks of the baseball season have seen postponements due to snow and sub-freezing temperatures. It is for this reason that my family has taken to playing an indoor, more imaginative variation of our national pastime. Around 7pm when our hometown Major League ball club, the Philadelphia Phillies, take the field, we recreate a baseball diamond on our living room floor. Using nothing more than three square pillows from the sofa, an old toy hardhat, a washcloth bear from the bathroom, a small stuffed animal duck and our own expansive minds – we play ball most every night.
Typically, I will be the pitcher and my daughter will alternate between batting and playing catcher. Behind the plate, she loves to call the pitches and have me shake her off the fastball, low and outside, and nod in agreement with the slowball (her word for change-up) in on the wrists. She will then, with her Finding Nemo hardhat on backwards and her left hand in Chauncey Bear (her washcloth buddy), give me a nice, big target to try and strike out her Mommy. Naturally, she has called for the perfect pitch and Mommy swings and misses. Next up to bat is the catcher, my girl (yes, I know this is a bit odd since she was just on my team, but like I said – it’s a more imaginative version of baseball!). She will stand in and get a hit (or a pretend hit, whichever – she never seems to miss!) and promptly run to first. Now, sometimes she will keep on going and there will be a dramatic play at the plate for her inside-the-park (err, house) homerun but often times she will choose to make it just a single so she can do her favorite thing on the base paths – steal second!
She was inspired by Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies speedy shortstop, one evening and now likes steal 2nd every night. She will watch the pitcher (me) intently and take off as soon as my motion towards the plate begins. One of the biggest toddler smiles imaginable can be seen nightly, as she stands safe (and proud) on the second base pillow.
The next time the weather is poor or your gang just feels like hanging out inside, toss the pillows on the floor and Play Ball!