he's chasing dreams hitting seams.
she's chasing dreams talking sports.
Brady Woods graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with sights set on being a sports agent. Like most fresh out of college graduates, Woods needed a job, so he became a letter carrier for three years. One year in Mississippi then was transferred to Florida. In 1994, he began working at the local boys and girls club. Woods worked there until a freak, life-changing incident happened in 2000. “I woke up one morning and thought I had something in my left eye,” Woods said. “I kept rubbing it thinking it would go away.” Three days later, Woods lost sight in his left eye. He was diagnosed with a rare eye disease and underwent surgery immediately. “The doctor told me I was probably going to lose vision in my right eye too,” Woods said. “Three months later, I lost sight in my right eye, underwent another surgery and lost my sight completely for 11 months.” Fortunately, Woods eyesight steadily came back in his right eye. He described first seeing white – which he said hurt – then shadows then colors then started focusing. “[Handling eye problems] was a process with two small kids and my then wife had to quit her job,” Woods said. “But I’m very fortunate. A lot of players don’t even know I’m blind in one eye. I don’t use it as a handicap. I had a great support system that helped me out a lot and were pulling for me.” One of those people was Clarence Weatherspoon who was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1992. Woods became friends with Weatherspoon at Southern Mississippi. When Weatherspoon signed with the Miami Heat as a free agent in 1999, Woods asked him to let him know if the Heat had a position available. “Clarence let me know the Heat had a team attendant position available,” Woods said. “Clarence helped me get my foot in the door with the Heat. Miami was making some changes, and that’s how I got my start.” From 2001-2006, Woods worked as the team attendant in the visiting locker room. “I got to see all 32 teams,” Woods said. “It was great to work with different players all the time.” Woods explained the biggest learning curve involved being perfect on the job. “Pat Riley ran the organization almost like a mafia type family,” Woods said. “I learned the ‘Heat Way’ very quickly and did my job perfectly because I had the fear of messing up. You had to be perfect with the Heat.” After the Heat won the NBA Championship in 2006, Woods moved to Atlanta and worked for the Hawks for two years. “We didn’t like Atlanta,” Woods said. “From 2006 until LeBron [James] made his decision to come to Miami, I followed his path to ‘The Decision’ then I kind of made a decision too.” Woods called the Heat and asked if he could come back; they welcomed him back.
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If you watched our vlog, you heard Matt was assigned to AA which is in Tulsa, Oklahoma!
Along with the vlog reveal, I thought it would be nice to write a post about the different places Matt will be playing during the season (granted no send downs or call-ups.) The Tulsa Drillers are in the Texas League which has eight teams. In the North Division with the Drillers include: Arkansas Travelers (Mariners) – North Little Rock, Arkansas – Dickey-Stephens Park Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals) – Springdale, Arkansas – Arvest Ballpark Springfield Cardinals (Cardinals) – Springfield, Missouri – Hammons Field WAGS – acronym for wives and girlfriends in sports (of athletes, coaches, etc.)
There is a (ridiculous) [cue finger quotation marks] reality TV show, WAGS, (which I watched a total of five minutes once and turned it off) that documents the lives of wives and girlfriends of professional athletes. When Matt was drafted, I read countless blogs of baseball wives who were stranded in a place because their husband was traded or called up. Said wife packed up, found new place in new town and moved within a matter of days. I started following WAGS in Real Life social media accounts which shares funny and some horror stories of what it is really like to be #WAGSinRealLife (despite what the TV show might show). It’s not that I didn’t believe those stories. I certainly understood the WAGS in real life long distance dilemmas, FaceTime dates and countdowns until the next visit. But I couldn’t relate to the WAGS life because I wasn’t traveling. WELLLLL, now I have been for only a month, and let me tell you #WAGSinRealLife is alive and kicking with Jesica Beaty. So much so I wanted to share my WAGS in Real Life moments with you so far. ** Matt and I made plans to stay in the team hotel. Within a few days of arriving in Arizona, we realized the hotel plan wasn’t going to work out. So began the search for an apartment that would allow only a month lease, was close to the field and was reasonably priced. A search that needed to end with a signing of a lease within two days. (CHECK) ** After 15 unsuccessful calls, I talked with a lady who said they had baseball players already living there, understood the situation and would love to have us. Only thing is they did not have furnished apartments. So cue signing lease and going over to Aaron’s to pick out as little furniture as possible and asking for the quickest delivery time they had which was the next day (the day we were moving in). (PERFECT) Games start on Monday, March 13 for minor leaguers. So, the minor leaguers will be split into teams and play other organizations minor league teams (just like the big leaguers are doing now essentially.)
The following timeline is what spring training has looked like for minor leaguers thus far before the games start. And once games start, just add ‘play game’ after lunch to the list. Also, keep in mind this is the schedule seven days a week unless given (the rare) off day. 6 a.m. – Wake-up alarm starts going off 6:30 a.m. – Leave for the field 7 a.m. – Eat breakfast 7:20 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. – Neuroscouting…Nueroscouting is a “game” which simulates a pitch being thrown, and it scores based on reaction time and decision-making. Nueroscouting is played by tapping the space bar when a player would usually swing in a game. 7:30 a.m. – Change clothes and begin prep work/treatment – Prep work includes rolling out, hot tub to get body warm, ankle mobility exercises, etc. Prep work is specific for each player, and whatever they need to do to get ready for the day. Treatment includes anything with the trainers. I promise I will get things rolling with more content from spring training soon. I came down with a cold/sinus infection, Matt & I have been trying to find an apartment and I’ve been having jobs interviews/been working spring training games and ASU games. It’s been a crazy eight days since we’ve been here. ANYWAY, I had a couple people ask me how spring training works/if Matt is with the big leaguers, so I thought I would do a blog about how spring training works. (The least complicated version at least.)
First, spring training facilities are in two places: Arizona (Cactus League) or Florida (Grapefruit League). The report dates baseball fans keep up with usually are the report dates for the big leaguers. For the Dodgers, pitchers and catchers reported Feb. 15. All other players/invitees reported before Feb. 21 which was the first full-squad workout. And Feb. 25 was the first game for the Dodgers. Camelback Ranch (which is the facility the Dodgers and White Sox share & I’m doing a tour vlog of soon!) is separated into two Dodger sides: 1) the major league side 2) the minor league side. Players on the major league side include players on the 40-man roster AND big-league camp invites which are decided on by each organization. The number of big-league camp invites vary for each organization. The Dodgers had 21 invites. The Cardinals had 18. The Cubs had 24. Most of the time, the guys who are high prospects in the organization (another post for another time) get the invites or if the club expects said invitee to get big league time soon. (Matt did not get a big league invite…this year!) |
Matt & Jesica BeatyWelcome in to dreams and seams! A tell-all blog about our career dreams and path to reaching those dreams with some commentary about sports and life plus some videos too. "Strive for the impossible because it makes the possible seem effortless." -Matt Beaty Categories
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