Speaking of cups...
Can anyone put into words that feeling if you've ever been really hit hard in the cup?
I've had a couple of close calls, but my awakening came about five years ago. I was working the slot off the catcher's left shoulder, set up firm in the box stance. Wearing one of those old yellow banana cups.
Runner on first takes off on the pitch, which was about a 58-foot fastball. This kid could throw smoke, and later pitched at an SEC school. The catcher came up out of his stance to make a play on the runner, and the ball went straight between his legs.
I took a hard shot straight to the cup.
The catcher scrambled back and grabbed the ball which was between my legs and slightly behind me.
I was OK until the play stopped. The pain was minimal, but I had a sick feeling in my stomach knowing how bad this would've been without my little plastic friend.
I am man enough to admit that I flinched at pitches in the dirt the rest of the game.
