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Players truly appreciate bringing their kids to work

Sporting News, The, June 24, 2005 by Jones Todd

With Father's Day coming up, I want to take some time to talk about the kids.

My 10-year-old son, Alex, has never had it this good. He's at the park regularly. My 8-year-old daughter, Abby, can't get into the clubhouse, but as long as I get her a Slushee in her favorite flavor, things are OK.

Marlins manager Jack McKeon knows how important family is to the players, and he graciously allows the kids be a part of clubhouse life. The players, in turn, know how much of a privilege that is.

Alex's day at the yard begins around 2 o'clock. He dresses in his own locker at Dolphins Stadium, then joins about a half-dozen other kids at the indoor batting cage to plot the day's activities. That's where he learns how to play well with others.

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The kids stretch with the players on the field before B.P., then go shag in the outfield. They stay out of our way as we get in our pregame work, but they're still running around like there's no tomorrow. After all, they're shagging flies in a big-league stadium; how much would we have given to do that for our favorite team growing up? In fact, it's difficult for me to not sit Alex down and tell him how unbelievably lucky he is to be doing this--and how thankful I am that I can spend time with him this way. But I'd just be messing up one of his big games, and I don't want to do that.

When the visiting team is taking B.P., we have to go meet Alex's favorite players. Rest assured, I'm not in his top 10, but that's OK--I'm just Dad. This is where, as a dad, I take full advantage of being able to introduce him to the players he wants to meet. Last week, with the Mariners in town, it was Ichiro. I'm always hesitant to bother guys or disrupt their routines, but everyone is more than happy to say hi between rounds in the cage. Alter Alex meets someone, he gives me a blow-by-blow of how it went and whether he got an autograph.

If we win, the kids are paraded into the clubhouse afterward to join their dads. It's cool to have your son jump in your arms and ask you if you won the game. Our clubhouse manager, John Silverman, doesn't mind having the kids around as long as they stay out of the way, don't eat too much and pick up their towels. I just wish Alex would pick up his towel at home.

Todd Jones is a reliever for the Marlins. E-mail him at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Players truly appreciate bringing their kids to work

Sporting News, The, June 24, 2005 by Jones Todd

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