From the Left to the Right: Colorado Rockies’ First Base Coach Lachemann Teaches Kids at the Park

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Colorado Rockies’ First Base Coach Lachemann Teaches Kids at the Park

Written : July 4 and 10, 2013

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Rene Lachemann, The Colorado Rockies’ 2013 first base coach.

Last year my wife and I bought into a share of home game tickets for the Colorado Rockies. Each of the members of our group can’t afford 81 home games, so we attend about 10 games a year. We’re lucky enough to sit close enough to hear the players at times, but I didn’t expect what I saw and heard from Colorado Rockies’ first base coach Rene Lachemann.

One kid at a time.

This year I won the drawing for attending the opening day game. During that game, between innings, Lachemann brought a ball over to the stands. He curled his finger at a young person and the kid walked down to field level. I could hear Lachemann speaking, “Do you go to school? …Yeah, well, listen to the teacher. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Uh, huh. Don’t start any fights with her… Listen to your mom and dad… and don’t play video games all the time…” Great advice, and then he gave the kid the ball.

Eat your vegetables, clean your room, and take the trash out.

At the next game, I saw a young boy sitting across from us. I told the parents about what happened at opening day and said I didn’t know if this happened all the time. So, during a pause in the action, some people in the other section got the coach’s attention and between innings, he came over with another ball. “Hey kid, come here.” I couldn’t hear any more, but asked the parents later and they said Mr. Lachemann told their son to wipe his nose! That was nice to hear, and everyone smiled.

It’s not easy, but someone’s got to do it!

I watched the Rockies’ broadcast on July 3, and they had the Rockies first base coach mic’d up. I think he asked a young girl if it was alright if he gave her a ball. Of course, she responded in the affirmative. Using a stern voice he said, “Don’t you lie to me!” Then he asked her, “Do you live with your mother and father?” She said yes. “When your mother says take the trash out you take it out, when your father says to clean your room you clean it up. You got a cell phone?” No. “Don’t get one…because you can’t. You play video games?” Yes. “Don’t do that either, you’ll be a dummy like the rest of these idiots, that’s all they do is play video games. When you come home from school the first thing you do is your homework, all right?” He said all of that in one breath and all the adults around her appreciated his message and smiled.

At least one person has the guts to teach children.

Later in the game, Lachemann (his nickname is “Latch”) spotted a young man dressed in a Dodger uniform and hat. He used the stern voice, “Turn that hat around first!” He did. “When you go to the bathroom you lift the toilet seat up. Don’t be peeing on the toilet seat, you understand that? You have a cell phone?” Yes. “Well, get rid of it. …When you eat your dinner, you eat up all your vegetables, all right? Once again everyone was smiling…

Lachemann has the right idea. When will the rest of us catch on?

The third time was a charm. Rene Lachemann has a routine, and said basically the same things. He prefaces his questions with, “Hey, don’t you be lying to me.” He’s firm, but great with the kids and it’s nice to see someone in a position of authority have the guts to tell children to do the right thing. “The first thing you do when you come home from school is your homework. And, don’t fight with your sister.” Nice, and each kid gets a $30 baseball. Maybe it’s time for my grandson to meet him!