I'd walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball. - Pete Rose

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.
- Rogers Hornsby

I take this game very seriously, I take my preparation very seriously, I take my nutrition, my workouts, I take how I train, I take all these things very seriously. I will not be outworked. I will not be out-prepared...  
- Matt Holliday

I want to be in the lineup every day. Playing anywhere is better than playing the bench.
- Albert Pujols

Baseball was, is and always will be to me the best game in the world. - Babe Ruth

If my uniform doesn't get dirty, I haven't done anything in the baseball game.
- Rickey Henderson

When I was in the big leagues, I was a big fundamental guy. I moved runners over. I squeezed them in. I played good defense. I've seen a lot of guys who didn't make the major leagues because they didn't know how to play the fundamentals. - Jose Oquendo

Steven Jackson
Marshall Faulk
Eric Dickerson

Bull Durham
Major League
The Natural
Field of Dreams
The Dark Knight
Anchorman
The Boondock Saints
Wedding Crashers
Oceans 11, 12, & 13
American Gangster
Rocky 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6

Eric steps to the plate with the bases loaded and the Peacocks down by two.

For the very first day out of the last three months, Eric reported that his ankle finally felt great. While it will take some time to get the lost speed back, Eric is at least happy to be able to finally run without pain. Eric played left field in both games of a double-header sweep of Kirkwood College on Thursday. In game one he belted a bases loaded double to tie the game for UIU. In game two he was hitless, but hit the ball very hard, driving one blast deep to the center field warning track. All of Eric's power has been upper body lately as he has had to forgo his lower half due to the ankle injury. With the ankle healing now, Eric will be able to regain his physical mechanics and refine his swing back to where it was before the injury.

Eric Ties Game Up With Bases Loaded Double

Despite No Lower Half Leverage, Eric Drives The Ball Very Well
 

Watts Has Walk-Off Game Winning Double In Extra Innings
Rehab Game Frustrating, But Fruitful, As Eric Decides Game Two For Peacocks
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Eric steps to the plate before depositing a 2-2 slider into the right-center gap.

Eric was able to test his right ankle out on Thursday in a scrimmage game against Kirkwood. Originally scheduled to DH for the afternoon double-header, Coach Danker made a last minute switch and put Eric in left for both games. Seeing his first live pitching in three months, Eric was 0 for 2 in the first game, but was able to find his groove by the end of the second game with a walk-off game winning double that got to the wall in right-center. Eric also had two walks and two stolen bases in the second game, but was stranded at third base twice. After the games, Eric said his foot and ankle were sore, but the real test comes the day after when trainers will evaluate his progress. The Peacocks split with Kirkwood for the afternoon, losing a lopsided 10-run game one, but winning the nightcap 5-4 in extra innings on Eric's game-winning double.

Eric dives safely back into 1st base after a pickoff throw in the 6th inning.

Eric With Extra-Inning Walk-Off Game Winning RBI Double
 
Eric drives a 2-2 slider to the right-center gap for the game-winner.

Eric Seeks Second Opinion On Ankle From MN Sports Medicine
Return To Minnesota For X-Rays And Orthopedic Consult
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UPDATE: Still experiencing significant pain in his right ankle, Eric returned home to the Twin Cities to seek a second diagnosis and x-ray from his sports medicine doctor, an expert with baseball injuries and also orthopedic consultant for many Minnesota Twins players. Fortunately x-rays have ruled out any fracturing of the bone, however, it is believed that it could be another six weeks before the ankle fully heals. This doesn't bode well for the rest of the 2010 college season.

Eric recently played right field in an exhibition to test the ankle, but felt extremely sharp pain whenever he had to push off and make a long throw. In order to hit, Eric has compensated by opening his stance considerably and crowding the plate more. Even though he's not totally comfortable with the approach, it has allowed Eric the chance to bat while not putting a lot of torque on his right pivot foot, using primarily just his upper body to finish the swing. Eric has had success in recent practices since adopting the approach, hitting a number of doubles, as well as a couple of home runs, while rehabbing at Upper Iowa's Robertson Field.

Eric is now hoping at the minimum to be cleared to hit DH for the team as he waits for the ankle to fully recover.

Severe Ankle Sprain Sets Eric Back For Season Opener
Eric Rolls Ankle During Outfield Wall Drills, Misses Opener in Minneapolis

Eric is fast learning that it isn't just about preparing to play the game, you have to be ready to play physically as well, and that includes preventing injuries. Shortly after returning from Christmas break, Eric severely sprained his right ankle during outfield drills in the Upper Iowa athletic gymnasium. Outfielders would be tossed balls that they would have to go up high against the wall to get and then bring back down. Unfortunately for Eric, he came down and landed squarely on a pipe used for the temporary gymnasium retractable wall. Eric suffered severe bruising and swelling, but has been rehabbing with the team trainer for weeks now to regain his mobility and strength. He is just now able to finally exert pressure on the leg so that he can pivot off of his right foot during his swing.

Eric traveled with the team to the Minneapolis Metrodome on February 18th for the season opening exhibition with perennial conference powerhouse Wayne State, but he did not play do to the injury. Eric hopes to be back at 100% in time for the team's annual spring trip when they travel to southern Missouri the second week in March.

(L-R) Coach Danker, Eric, Lane Timmerman, and Coach Post in the Metrodome.

Eric Makes 25-Man Traveling Roster For 2010
Watts Earns Spot On Varsity Roster For Upcoming UIU Season

After a solid Fall season of baseball, Eric has learned from Coach Danker that his performance on the field has earned him a spot on the team's 25-man roster. A redshirt freshman for 2010, Eric will DH and also play left field for the Peacocks. On a team that carries over 40 players, not everyone gets to travel or play on the 25-man varsity roster, some playing a JV schedule instead. Eric is thrilled to get the opportunity to play in the NSIC Conference this coming season. Eric practiced with the team in 2009, but took a redshirt year due to a shoulder impingement injury. With his arm now fully healed, Eric played well in the Upper Iowa Fall league to earn a spot on the Peacock varsity team. The team will begin play the last week of February, traveling to Missouri and Kansas until the temperatures begin to warm in the upper Midwest. 

	2010 Peacock Schedule - 57 Games For Season
	Listen Live To Peacock Baseball On The Internet

Eric Working Hard For Upcoming 2010 Season
Training With Former MLB Player, Now Saints Hitting Coach

St. Paul Saints Hitting Coach Lamarr Rogers talks plate approach with Eric.

With the 2010 college season fast approaching, Eric has been working hard to not only perfect his swing, but to meticulously replicate the perfection of that swing, to maximize his production at the plate. Eric approaches his passion with the desire to be the best. To realize the full potential of his talent for hitting, Eric trains with not one, but two top hitting coaches. Eric's winter break has been spent at his favorite hitting facility, formerly Blue Chip Sports Academy, but now owned by American Association baseball team, the St. Paul Saints. (See training video farther below in the video section.)

Eric works on a hand path drill with Saints batting coach Lamarr Rogers.

Under its new name, the Saints Sports Academy, Eric has been working with Saints assistant coach and batting instructor Lamarr Rogers, a blue-chip high school prospect and one of the nation's top college players during his playing days at Long Beach State, as well as a former major league player with the Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, and Detroit Tigers. Injury cut Rogers' MLB career short, but he immediately caught on with the Saints. Since being named batting coach in 2004 the Saints teams have finished in the top three in batting four times. The instruction has been an invaluable resource for Eric's development as he too works to achieve the blue-chip status once enjoyed by Rogers. Eric also still trains with noted top notch Apple Valley State Champion high school coach Al Iverson. Watts looks forward to his first official season for Upper Iowa in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

Eric drives the ball hard during a live throwing drill at the Saints Sports Academy.

Watts Goes High-Tech In Swing Analysis
New Image Analysis Software Breaks Down Swing Components

St. Louis Cardinals' Manager Tony LaRussa once said that the biggest advancement in baseball in the last twenty years has been the use of video analysis. More and more hitters now turn to digital video breakdowns of body position and swing mechanics. The software lets you compare swings side by side, actually synchronizing and locking the two together for a careful slow-motion frame-by-frame analysis. Software such as this is being used by all Major League teams, especially in their minor league development.

There are many packages out there with hefty price tags, but the best overall program with ease-of-use features and a top notch professional programming interface is from JC Video, called StrikeZone. Like many teams and professionals from Major League Baseball, Eric has turned to the folks from JC Video, using StrikeZone as a tool to help study and refine his mechanics as he works to perfect his swing.

Swing analysis: The subtle differences in a three-run homer (left) and a two-run double (right) for Eric.

Watts Named To UIU Student Athletic Advisory Committee
Coach Danker Appoints Eric To SAAC As Team Representative

In just his second year with the Peacocks Eric has been named as representative for the Peacock baseball team in the SAAC, Student Athletic Advisory Committee. Eric was tabbed by head coach Mark Danker for the post and will act as one of only two reps for the team. Eric will attend once a month meetings in his advisory roll on issues regarding NCAA Division II athletic and scholastic issues. Eric will report directly to Coach Danker with the details from each meeting. The SAAC is made up of two members from each sport in the Upper Iowa Athletic program.

 

UIU Fall Season Ends; Eric Plays Well As Redshirt Freshman
Fighting For A Spring 25-Man Roster Spot Among 40 Players

Eric gets set to drive in two runs against Ellsworth with a single to right.

The Fall season has officially ended and the Upper Iowa coaches will now begin the difficult task of whittling down a jam packed 40-man roster as they select their team for the 2010 season. Eric is hopeful that he will be traveling this coming spring as a red-shirt freshman for the Division II Peacocks. Watts is part of a loaded outfield and is hoping to make the 25-man roster as DH and a left fielder. He made a strong case for himself by hitting the ball hard in the Fall season. Even though he played with a severe right quad pull, Watts still hit well. As a result of the quad pull in his right thigh, Eric wasn't able to pivot on his back foot like he wanted to, but he still hit .273 with six RBI in four games, scoring three runs of his own in the process.  He also had a double, two walks and one hit by pitch, as well as three fly outs. Eric played left field and designated hitter for the Peacocks. (Fall season was two games short with the Muscatine rain-out.)

Watts Has Three-RBI Day And Scores Twice
Eric Hits RBI Single And Two-RBI Double As Peacock DH

Eric scores the first of his two runs on the day, crossing the plate in the 2nd inning.

A two for five day at the plate by Eric Helped Upper Iowa to a Fall season victory over Kirkwood as Eric drove in three runs and also scored twice himself on a sharp single to left and a double to the right-center gap. Eric just barely missed a second double to the same right-center gap, but a very good diving defensive play from the center fielder robbed Eric of his third hit for the game. Eric has been hitting the ball well for the Peacocks in Fall baseball action as he fights for a spot on the 2010 Upper Iowa roster.
(See game film in video section below.)

Timeout: Coach Danker and Eric await a new pitcher after Eric's 2-RBI double.

Upper Iowa Fall Practice Season Is Underway
Eric Is Opening Some Eyes With Work Ethic And Solid Play

Eric at the plate in the 2nd inning versus NIACC, picking up an RBI in the at bat.

The fall practice season has begun for NCAA Division II baseball and Eric is making the most of it. Showing a steady stroke at the plate, Eric has impressed with his bat so far, gaining praise from his coaches as he seeks to nail down a spot in the starting line-up for the 2010 season. Eric has also played well in left field, showing more speed and a solid throwing arm. Eric was red shirted in 2009 with a shoulder impingement which affected his throwing. He played through the shoulder and bicep pain his entire high school and Legion career, but some much needed time off last year, along with daily rehab conditioning, has now healed the shoulder.

Eric at 1st base after a 4th inning walk against NIACC.

While the shoulder impingement has finally healed, Eric has unfortunately now been hampered with a right quad strain which has limited his full speed ability, nevertheless, he has already shown greater range in left as he works through the rehab. He hopes to be back at full speed before the end of the fall schedule in early October.

Eric walks into his position in left field as he readies for the pitch.

Watts Hits Three-Run Homer In The Bottom of The 9th
Eric Has A Day With Four RBI; Takes Over Team RBI Lead

Left fielder Eric Watts launches a three-run blast in the bottom of the 9th.

A 2-for-4 day by Eric led all Athletics hitters as Lakeville dropped a close 6 - 4 game to Cannon Valley League leader the Eagan Bandits. Eric bounced a hard hit single over the infield past shortstop in the 2nd inning for his first hit. He then led a 9th inning rally, trying to overcome a 6-1 deficit, by crushing a 2-0 pitch well over the left field fence into the pond for a 3-run home run, estimated at 360 feet. Eric was responsible for driving in all of the Athletics runs on Sunday with four RBI, taking over the team lead in that category with 16 in 26 games.