Diamond DaVincis

Thanks for the good run, folks! We had a blast and we hope to be back some day soon. Until then keep an eye on the Beacon Blog pages for some great, new content from us and others in the industry!! “I’ll be back, when the day is new 
And I’ll bring more ideas for you
 And you’ll have things you’ll want to do 
 And I will, too. 
I’ll think of you when I’m not here
 ‘Cause thinking of people makes them seem near. 
The friends who know you love you cheerfully,
 I do, too.” – Mister Rogers

Today’s Outta the Park interview is with Nicole McFadyen (Head Groundskeeper, Baltimore Orioles). We talk about her recent leadership award (Mary Pickersgill Award for Women’s Leadership in Business) and her take on groundskeeping with the Orioles.

Join us today as we work out the kinks on different format and welcome Larry DiVito (Head Groundskeeper, Minnesota Twins) to talk with us about infield cut outs. We’re talking design, shaping and how it’s about so much more than just creating a “look” on your field. Like our new format? Let us know!! Want the old style back? Let us know!! Find links and pictures from the show here.

It’s All-Star Break in the MLB, we all need a break and we took a break for the previous show – sorry about that. But we’re back! No more colds or vacation, it’s game on and we’re talking about taking to Brian Hall (Facilities and Maintenance Director, Sylvania Recreation District) about putting on extra-large tournaments when you’re not in an extra-large town.

Join us for a deep dive into baseball and soccer field playability while we explore infield ball roll and speed in the Outta the Park interview with Larry DiVito (Head Groundskeeper, Minnesota Twins) and discuss syringing for turf stress management in the High/Low Segment.

No, we’re not in a jam or a fix (thanks, thesaurus!), but pickles do manage to be mentioned a few times in today’s episode. We start off with a little Turf Science about seed head production, then we talk to Mike Carr and Jeremy Nelson from the City of Portland Parks and Rec. department about their unique management situations. Things are wrapped up with Turf Tech session looking at Paul’s favorite radar apps.

Coaches, players and groundskeepers all have a vested interested in our playing surfaces, who is listening to whom and what can we all learn from each other? Have you talked to your coach lately? Our Outta the Park interview is with Jack Warren, a veteran coach who hosts a very successful coaching podcast (Top Coach) about what we can learn from coaches and what coaches are interested in learning from us.

This is what happens when the busy season hits Paul head on. Theresa takes over and it’s all about finding the right balance on today’s episode when we discuss fertilizer and family. Plus we talk with Steve Wightman (former Head Groundskeeper, San Diego Padres and Chargers) as part of the Legends Series in our Outta the Park interview.

Episode 24 begins with a little Bullpen talk when we follow up our conversation about phosphorus soil testing. Then it’s time for an amazing Outta the Park interview with Al Capitos (Sports Turf and Maintenance Superintendent, Purdue University) who was part of the first MLB-Cuban exhibition game in 1999. Then it’s a weedy Turf Science segment to finish things off.

Have you been thinking about trying to breathe some new life into a worn field? We have been too. Today we’re talking with Steve Bush (Owner, Bush Turf) about what groundskeepers should know before they consider hiring a company to help with field construction or renovation projects. We also call in Mike Gigliotti (Owner, FixAField.com) to tell us about his new sports field oriented crowd funding site.