May 2nd, 2013

Today was my first official day. Upon arriving at the park I went to orientation, where I signed all of my papers, learned the team policies, and received my name tag. A part of the internship includes getting all of the signatures of all of the employees and interns at the Whitecaps. It is a way for interns to meet everyone within the organization. After orientation I raked the inside of the warning track, by doing this I was removing the grass clippings from the dirt so it could be drug. After lunch, we set up for batting practice. Setting up for BP is pretty quick and easy. We put a screen at each base, put down mats at home plate and on the mound, and we put a type of tarp in front home plate so the grass does not get beat up from the ground balls. After BP is over, we tear down and head straight into our pregame routine. Pregame includes: raking positions, dragging the infield, painting the baselines, nail dragging the pit, and watering the skin. Once the game starts, we all hang out in the third base dugout and wait drag the field at the end of the third and sixth innings. After the game is over we have to patch the mound, home plate, and the bullpens. Patching is replacing the clay the players dug out with new clay. We also rake and drag the skin once more. On this night we put the tarp on the field because there is a chance of rain overnight. Overall, it was a good first day.