The CT Softball Blog

“Time out, Blue!”

I don’t know how many times I uttered those words during my coaching career.

The umpire would point toward the dugout, and I’d make that familiar walk to the pitching circle. Sometimes it was just my pitcher and me. Sometimes the catcher joined us. Sometimes the whole infield wandered in for a quick reset.

Starting Monday, that same walk from the dugout to the circle would feel like an eternity.

Of course, I’ll be using a walker for a little while, so that’s probably to be expected.

I’d finally get there, ready to share some great words of wisdom, and good ol’ “Blue” would be standing there reminding me I had about 15 seconds before he broke up the conference.

Alas, I’m no longer coaching.

I’m telling stories.

And this story happens to be mine.

While the CT Softball Blog isn’t going dark, and the lights certainly aren’t being turned off on Connecticut softball coverage, you are going to notice things slowing down a bit over the next couple of weeks.

On Monday, I’ll be checking into Yale-New Haven Hospital for a long overdue hip replacement.

Considering all the terrible coaching jokes I’ve made over the years, maybe it’s fitting that the problem is my hip.

Although if you ask any of my former players, they’ll probably tell you my jokes were never all that “hip” to begin with.

Over the past few days, I’ve been trying to stack the lineup card with stories, podcasts and features, hoping to keep things moving while I’m on the injured list.

There should still be plenty to read while you’re sitting at a travel tournament where your team is either winning 12-1… or losing 12-1… with another 25 minutes somehow still left on the proverbial one-hour-and-15-minute (finish-the-inning) clock.

If all goes according to plan, I’ll probably be writing again before I’m walking normally.

Occupational hazard.

Replace the hip. Just please leave the fingers alone. My keyboard needs them.

The good news is I’ve been told this surgery has a remarkably high success rate. The bad news is my friends will probably have to listen to me complain about physical therapy instead of my aching hip.

That’s a trade I’ll gladly make.

I’ve spent the better part of the last three years trying to tell your stories.

The player who nobody saw coming.

The senior who finally got her chance.

The coach celebrating that milestone win.

The volunteer who chalks the fields before sunrise.

The parents living out of lawn chairs every weekend.

The Little Leaguers dreaming about Bristol and beyond.

Those stories aren’t going anywhere.

In fact, if anything, this little timeout has reminded me why I started the CT Softball Blog in the first place.

Three years ago, I wanted Connecticut softball to have a place where every level mattered. Every player mattered. Every story mattered.

That’s still the mission.

So, while I may miss all the games up at the New England Little League Softball Regional, where I’ll rely on ESPN+ a little more than usual, and occasionally type with an ice pack balanced somewhere on my body, the stories will keep coming.

Maybe not quite as fast for a little while.

But they’ll keep coming.

Besides, I’ve got a feeling this surgery is going to let me enjoy the game a whole lot more. Walking from field to field without wondering where the next bench is? That sounds pretty good.

And who knows?

Maybe next spring I’ll even beat a coach to the concession stand.

Although let’s not get carried away.

For now…Time out, Blue.

I’ll be back before too long.

(From The Dugout is a regular column written by CT Softball Blog Publisher John Nash)

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