It's June 22nd and we're about to leave for a three game road trip in Traverse City, Michigan. The Traverse City Beach Bums were the first team I played for in the Frontier League in 2007. It was good to be back there, I got to see many people that I haven't seen in awhile and it's a great atmosphere to play baseball, selling out almost every night, 3 to 4,000 people. Jeff Brown is one of my good friends from the other team; I stayed at his home in Indianapolis on the way to St. Louis before the season started. We got to hang out for a couple days we were in town and got to catch up on what we have been up to on and off the field. Everyone on the team stayed in suites at the hotel, so there were three to a room. My two roommates were our third baseman Adrian Canto and right fielder Travis Storrer. Those to guys are something else, probably the two funniest guys on the team, it was very interesting staying with them for 3 days. It was fun to play at Traverse City but we struggled hitting, we couldn't hit a lefty who threw 80 and a righty who threw about 84, as a team we struggle when we face pitchers who don't throw hard and throw a lot of change ups and sliders. I did alright, I got hit three times, walked a couple times and I hit a line drive up the middle, hitting the pitchers ankle, knocking him out of the game. I felt bad when I did it but its part of the game, you never want to injure another player but when you can get into the bullpen of another team that's a good thing. The bus ride back was terrible, we ride in a very old bus so there's not a lot of room and we just got the air fixed so it was really cold, normally its really hot and everyone is moody. We arrived back to Chillicothe at 6am and I got about an hour of sleep. I can never get any rest on buses so I had to sleep all day so I can be ready to play that day. We are home for the next six games and play Kalamazoo Kings for the first three, they are in first in our division so it's a big week.

It's June 26th and we just took the first two games from the Kings and have one more tomorrow for the sweep. The first game I got the day off, the three games in Traverse really took a toll on my body and I needed a day of rest. I did get to play however later on in the game. I was coaching first the whole game and we were playing really well but it came down to the bottom of the ninth and we were tired 10-10. Our lead off guy gets on with a walk, then we bunt him over and that's when are Manager, Mark Mason, decides to pinch run me at second. So with one out and our best hitter up, I take a chance at steal third and am called safe! The batter, Adrian Canto, then works a 3-1 count and the Kings decide to intentionally walk him and the pitcher overthrows the catcher and easily I come in to score the winning run. So I say that's a pretty good day off for me!

In game two I'm in the line up again playing centerfield. This game was a pitchers dual both giving up 2 or 3 hits both going into the 7 and 8th innings. We were down 1-0 into the 8th and scored 3 to win 3-1. We have one more game tomorrow, hoping we can win to get the sweep and pitchers get to take batting practice.

- Jeff

Hello Everyone, It's about a month into the season now and things are going well, a few changes have occurred since opening day. I have had a pretty good start playing with the Gateway Grizzlies but have been moved around in the field and the lineup not knowing my role on the team. Manager Phil Warren and I thought that it would be best for my career to fine a place where I can be in the outfield everyday. They needed a catcher and the Chillicothe Paints needed a centerfielder. So about two weeks in I got traded to the Paints where I am enjoying my new team and role as an everyday centerfielder and am now hitting in the two spot. At first it was hard for me to get comfortable but I am excited to be with these group of guys. They were happy to find out I was coming and took me in like I have been playing with them from the beginning. Our record is about 500 but we are defiantly a better team then we have shown. I have been playing well putting the ball into play and not striking out as much but not getting the results Id like. Baseball is all about ups and downs and I am player who doesn't let the downs get to me and know that things will go my way, all I have to do is to keep working hard and doing the things I know I can do.

This past week Gateway came to our park and it was good to see my old teammates. I did very well against them, going about 6-13 with about 10 runs scored. Then we came to there place and I struggled a bit but still hitting the ball hard, just right at people. It was good to see my old host family and a lot of the friends I made at Gateway. It's great playing all over because the more places you play the more good people you meet and relationships you develop will stay with you for the rest of your life. We took 2 of 3 and are 3 and 3 on the road with a 3 game serious at Evansville, Indiana wrapping up the road trip. It's great when you're on the road because it gives you a chance to get to know the team a little more, a little team bonding.

My buddy Alex Merricks made the same move and now is playing in the United League with the San Angelo Colts. He is going to get the opportunity to start and I am looking forward to see how he does. Like Alex, I have my friends who I like to check up on, seeing how guys are doing; from guys I played college with, to guys from the Red Sox organization. Its always nice to see players doing well that I know, that I can say I played with them and hopefully guys look me up and do the same. Yardbarker is great for this, it's like facebook or myspace, giving me the opportunity to follow players throughout there careers.

If anyone has any questions on Independent Baseball, life on the road, anything, I would love to share my knowledge with anyone. It's very interesting and I think a lot of people don't know what we actually go through and experience. I am going to try to update my blogs more often now and am looking forward to your responses.

-Jeff

After much anticipation I finally have become a part of the Xclusive family. What I am hoping for with Matthew Vuckovich, as my agent, is to extend my presence in the baseball community to those who are not familiar with "Jeff Vincent." I plan on taking this opportunity and using it to the fullest. I will not back down and I will not stop working hard until mine and Xclusive's goal of making it to the major leagues is met.

I'd like whoever is reading this blog to first know a little about me. I began playing baseball at a young age like most ball players and continued to excel up the ladder. I played high school ball at C.W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, New York. My senior year we finished 18-2 and I was named Central New York Player of the Year. I received scholarships from different schools and had to make a decision to play baseball, basketball or football and I am glad I choose to play baseball at Niagara University. I was very fortunate to be under head coach Mike McRae. He taught me a lot about the mental side of baseball, which I carry with me today. When I was a junior, Chris Chernisky, took over and I continued to progress with help from Reed Easley who spent that summer in the Settle Mariners organization. I learn a lot of the mechanical adjustments I needed to change in order to make it to the next level. That season, my senior year was one to remember projecting me to a top prospect and getting drafted in the 43rd round by the Boston Red Sox.

In the New York Penn League I encountered many difficult obstacles in which I was not familiar with. Not being able to play all the time and having a tough time adjusting was something I had to over come. I was very fortunate to have excellent coaches that helped me with my understanding of the system. I played with many talented players and will never forget that summer with the Lowell Spinners.

The off-season was a battle not being able to have a set schedule of practices and workouts. I went back to school in the fall and would make my own decisions on when to get myself ready for spring training. I worked very hard that winter and I think it definitely showed in spring training. Unfortunately I did not get the results I was expecting. I showed up a month before the report date of Spring Training in Fort Myers to show how dedicated I was to the game. I wanted to continue my success within the organization. I was told by coaches of my improvement and the professionalism I carried on and off the field. I played with the low and high A teams and was under manager Gabe Gapler in which I owe a lot of my knowledge of how the game of baseball should be played. Then on the last day of training I was released which was tough but it was something I had to overcome. A month later I was back out on the field with the Traverse City Beach Bums of the Frontier League trying to make my way back into a professional organization. I am now with the Gateway Grizzlies and I can't wait for the season to start!

- Jeff Vincent