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BUHS Baseball Coach Tim Reid urges you to make a trip to the Bullpen

Tim Reid, Bishop Union High School class of ‘81, current BUHS varsity baseball coach and a former pitcher in the Chicago Cubs’ minor league system, also owns and operates the Bronco Bullpen Batting Cages on Willow Street.

The cages opened for business last July, and feature two pitching machines, one for softball and one for baseball. (Phone: 760.937.0208)

The setting on each machine can be adjusted to throw anywhere from 45 to 95 miles per hour.

But here’s the catch. You don’t have to set the machine at 95 mph to make it feel like a 95 mph pitch. Why? Because the distance between the machine’s arm and the hitting mat is 45’, as opposed to the standard major league distance of 60’6” between pitching rubber and home plate.

According to www.efastball. com, a pitch thrown at 70 mph from 45’ has the pitch speed equivalence of a 95 mph pitch from 60’6”.

In other words, it would require roughly the same reaction time to hit either pitch.

Reid kicked around the idea of building batting cages for years, but didn’t commit to the project until 18 months ago, when he was laid off from his dairy sales job after 21 years.

He then cashed in his 401K and invested about $60,000 in the pitching machines and tenant improvements to the warehouse space (It was necessary to raise the floor slightly so the balls would roll back to the machine after they’d been delivered and hit/missed).

Though business has been pretty good in the spring when high school baseball and softball teams are playing and little league season gets underway, Reid said he has had trouble sustaining the business in other months and is contemplating shutting his doors.

“I don’t need to get rich, but I gotta pay my bills. The community needs to realize it [the cages] needs support or it’ll go away.”

Given that it’s precisely the type of healthy, family-friendly activity that community members say we need more of, this shouldn’t be too hard a sell.

Especially when it costs a mere dollar for every 20 balls.

And there are plenty of success stories.

Bishop resident Chris Conn said he took his son to the cages about once or twice a month during the winter, just for something to do and to keep the rust off.

But when little league opened this spring, other parents noticed a difference.

“People came up to me and remarked about well he was hitting … it seemed to make a huge improvement in his overall game.”

“The Bronco Bullpen is a great resource,” Conn added. “It’s also got air hockey, foosball … it’s just a fun place for kids to go and hang out. To even have a batting cage in the Eastern Sierra is priceless. It’s a place to keep kids active and out of trouble … and Tim’s a longtime local doing right by his community. I just like to support a guy like that.”

Another success story involves an overweight boy whose family got him a month’s membership. During that month, the boy came in to hit 200 balls every afternoon and dropped 20 pounds.

Still another family came in because their son was afraid of balls that were pitched to him. Reid worked with the boy for an hour (at no charge) to make him more comfortable facing live pitching.

A lot of Reid’s desire to help others stems from his own abbreviated playing career. He readily admits that he drank himself out of baseball, even though the Cubs tried to get him to seek alcohol counseling on several occasions.

The Sheet: You played in the ‘80s during the era where they made the film Bull Durham. How realistic was that depiction of life in the minor leagues?

Reid: That’s exactly the way it was.

Reid grew up locally. His father was a miner at Union Carbide. He attended the Round Valley school K through 8, and played football, basketball and baseball at BUHS. As far as he knows, he’s the only local to have played pro ball, though he says former major leaguer Matt Williams grew up in Big Pine before moving to Carson City in middle school.

Reid says he also offers free pitching lessons with memberships ($400/year for families, $300/year for individuals, $40/month for individuals), which offer unlimited batting.

He also does birthday parties. You can rent both cages for $40 per hour.

The Sheet: What’s the main thing you try to impart to young pitchers?

Reid: Just throw strikes … and I teach them proper pitching mechanics.

The Sheet: It’s kind of ironic that a pitcher opened up a hitting business. Were you one of those rare pitchers who could hit?

Reid (smiling): I was 3 for 8 in my professional career. I always swung at the first pitch, and I always figured the first pitch would be a fastball.

So what kind of coach is Reid? The Bishop Broncos are currently 12-2 overall, 5-0 in league and ranked 4th in CIF Division VI. They play Kern Valley on Friday, May 6, at home at 3:15 p.m.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (Photo: Business Week)

After Board Chairman and Mono County Supervisor Bill Reid passed away in October, his fellow Supervisors decided to ask Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who according to state law is obliged to fill such openings, to avoid making an appointment and further let the Board know in a timely manner if he does not intend to appoint a replacement to Reid’s seat.
Statewide, eight other counties have open seats from supervisors who have passed in office, but Mono County, it turns out, is the only one asking him not to make an appointment. While no formal decision from the governor has been communicated to the Board, during a recent visit to Sacramento late last week, Supervisor Hap Hazard reported that he did speak with the governor’s office about the open seat.
During the call, Hazard said the governor’s office told him Schwarzenegger is “very sensitive” of having a 2-2 vote on a critical issue, as happened recently in another county with a similar open seat on its board of supervisors.
“The Governor has heard our concerns and positions, but said he’s also looking at the larger statewide concerns,” Hazard said. According to his office, the governor doesn’t want Mono (or any other county) to go through a new budget cycle without a full dais of supervisors.
The governor may well decide to make filling Reid’s seat more of a priority, and is reportedly being lobbied by an unidentified “third party” to make an appointment quickly.
Indications are that five people have either spoken to the governor’s office or whose names have been submitted for consideration, but he added there has been no confirmation as to who those names are or how they were presented to the governor.
Recent word from Sacramento indicates the governor may be leaning toward making an appointment. “Of course, we’d prefer he didn’t,” Board Chair Byng Hunt told fellow Eastern Sierra Council of Government members during its last meeting of the year on Dec. 18. “The Board would rather see the voters decide who they want and hold off until the June election.”
In other news, Supervisors approved roughly $131,000 in “adjusted base compensation,” or salary increases, to existing contracts with several County employee groups, including unions and bargaining entities representing law enforcement, paramedic and public employees.
Those may be viewed as an anomaly, given the state’s economic prognosis next fiscal year, but the increases are not reckless spending, and are in fact accounted for in the County’s current budget. The Board, however, qualified the adjustments with a big BUT, saying it wants to honor both its contractual agreements and County employees, but if things go badly, such increases could be sidelined indefinitely to avoid more drastic actions, such as layoffs and other cuts.
“We’re looking at some potentially dark days ahead,” Hazard said, a warning he’s issued a few times before. “We’re doing the best we can, but we did want to give you a head’s up that things could get difficult in times to come.”
Tom Farnetti agreed. “The state is looking as though it will be $25-35 billion in the hole again next year, and property and sales taxes may be on the decline,” Farnetti reminded County staffers. “We had to take 1.3 million from reserves to balance the budget and we may have to dip into that again next year to help make things equal.”
“I’d rather freeze salaries and benefits than have to lay off people,” Hunt said. “Employees should know that we have a responsibility to be fiscally prudent.” During the final meeting of the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments, Hunt told his fellow Council members that the County may well have to get used to hearing the Board use the word “no” a lot during 2010.

Reid’s seat may not be immediately filled

Filling the open seat left vacant in the wake of the sudden passing of former Mono County Board of Supervisors Chair Bill Reid won’t be easy.
And as it turns out, the process may not be quick, either.
According to an update from County Administrative Officer Dave Wilbrecht at the Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday, finding the right person for the post could conceivably take a year, depending on what scenario ultimately plays out.
As counties in California are essentially, as Wilbrecht put it, “subsets” of the state, pursuant to California Government Code § 25060, the Governor has the authority to fill a vacancy on a county board of supervisors until the next general election cycle, which doesn’t occur until June 2010.
Wilbrecht said that it’s possible a list of names and qualifications could be sent to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in Sacramento for his consideration. However, governors often don’t like to make such appointments, fearing political fallout from them.
This may not necessarily be the case with Schwarzenegger, who has something of a history where such matters are concerned. In April of this year, the Governator appointed Andrew Vasquez Jr. to the Yuba County Board of Supervisors to represent its District and fill a vacancy that opened when Supervisor Dan Logue was elected to the California State Assembly.
Another potential issue is Mono County’s size and influence, or lack thereof. Will Schwarzenegger really get around to such a relatively minor housekeeping detail for a county that lacks the profile or economic caché of Los Angeles or Orange?
Even if names are submitted, it’s not a given that the governor will act on them. If that’s the case, nominees will start surfacing sometime in or around January for the June election. If that election leads to a runoff because no candidate reaches 50% plus one, the seat would not be filled until the next general election in November, one year from now.
Wilbrecht said one option could be that the Board will operate with four supervisors for however long that may be. He said this was a likely scenario – adding that it’s personal feeling and not one based on anything he’s heard from the Board.
“What’s unfortunate is that those living in District 4 will have to be provided with another quick, expedient way to deal with their issues until a new supervisor is found,” Wilbrecht said. “It’s just happenstance, the way things are designed at the state level.” Wilbrecht said he was confident the Board would look out for the north county’s interests in any case, be it by another supervisor assuming those duties, Wilbrecht himself stepping in to help out or some combination that would allow constituents direct and timely access to the Board.
All options to be considered will be on the table when the Board meets to decide what they will do going forward starting this coming Tuesday, Nov. 3, during its first regular meeting following the untimely loss of Chair Reid. Supervisor Byng Hunt will take over as acting Chair in the interim.

By Dublino

A celebration of life was held on Sunday, Oct. 25 for Supervisor Bill Reid, who passed away suddenly Wednesday morning from a pulmonary embolism. The celebration was held at Bridgeport Barns and Terrace, where hundreds of friends, family and colleagues turned out to honor a man who touched a great many lives in this county. Complete with a 21-gun salute, CHP aerial flyover, uplifting eulogies and shots of single malt aside his urn, it was a fitting tribute for a man who devoted his life to enjoying relationships, to public service, and to defending his righteous beliefs against an insufferable liberal onslaught (wisecrack in memoriam).
I was fortunate enough to get to know Bill over the last few years as a reporter, and then as a colleague within County government. In that relatively short time, I was impressed by his ability to meld two oft-repellent forces: passion and temperance.
While he succeeded in doing this from his seat as Supervisor, I am told he exercised far more passion, and far less temperance, from his seat at Rhino’s.
Nonetheless, he possessed extraordinary capabilities as a moderator and a political strategist, which contributed to his truly rare effectiveness as the District 4 Supervisor — something that has been admired, and perhaps coveted, by allies and adversaries alike.
Bill’s reputation preceded him into his recent foray into county politics. Those who were there will recall stories of titanic clashes with Andrea Mead Lawrence on environmental issues, and an unyielding right-wing perspective. Hearing these tales, one can practically feel his fist crashing down in the Board Chambers with a demigod-like resonance.
Boisterous, opinionated, influential and effective, he was adored by the right. As for the left, they were made skittish and nervous at the mention of his name.
But as his left-leaning daughter pointed out on Sunday, Bill had a history of defying expectations, and when he returned to the District 4 seat in November 2006, he did just that. He had “mellowed,” some have said, and actually supported legislation that 15 years prior would have brought down the fist.
During polarized deliberations over recent years, the only unyielding aspect of Bill Reid was the respect and decorum he brought to the table — whether at community meetings or in the Board chambers — and for this, he received nothing less in return.
The masses present at his celebration were proof of that, and it was offered from all ends of the political spectrum. Without citing names, I am pretty sure five of the most right-wing individuals in the county were in attendance, along with five from the far left.
Although Bill didn’t share each and every opinion, he believed in the forum where all could speak, and when those forums were flooded with perspectives contrary to his own, he was not afraid to reconsider his position. During his recent term, those positions were occasionally sacrificed when they did not win the day, and for that he garnered a surpassing respect.
A theme that was brought up on Sunday was Bill’s honesty and integrity — qualities not easily maintained in politics — but Bill held those qualities in much higher regard than any desire to be re-elected, and spoke to his constituents with a refreshing and sometimes brutal honesty.
It didn’t matter what you wanted to hear, when you asked Bill Reid a question, you’d better expect a straight answer. This led to more than a few dejected constituents over the years, but was also cause for great enthusiasm when Bill proclaimed something would happen.
For better or worse, his word was bankable, and it helped build confidence in county government in District 4, where the fan base is, well, less than robust.
The day before he passed, Chairman Bill Reid made a speech in the Board Chambers. It was not uncharacteristic, but did seem inspired. He had listened to his fellow board members, heard from the proponents, and invited the input of detractors before he commented.
The subject was the Bridgeport Indian Colony’s request for Board support of a land transfer, a historically controversial subject upon which he, as usual, did not tread lightly. He covered a host of issues, including the community’s fear of a casino in Bridgeport, the dire need for economic development, and above all tribal sovereignty.
Bill asked the audience whether or not they would be willing to give up their constitutional rights, as some had suggested the Indian Colony should. In this case, it did not come down to what his friends wanted. It did not come down to the arguments of vocal community members.
All of those issues mattered immensely to Bill, but in this case it came down to one issue: what was right. Under normal circumstances, those comments may not have echoed as long as they now will.
His ability to divine the bottom line from a confounding pile of arguments will not be easily replaced. If these traits were all that made up the man, he would have been exceptional, and I considered him such based solely on that capacity.
Having come to an understanding of the countless friendships he built over the years, the family he provided for, and the joy he provided those close to him, I realize with sadness just how much of the man I didn’t know, and unfortunately will not come to know.
Sometime soon, we should all raise a glass to the legacy of integrity, joy and statesmanship he has left behind.
Sheet contributor Tony Dublino covered numerous Mono County Board of Supervisors meetings during his tenure as a staff writer.

A memorial service in Bridgeport on Sunday afternoon drew hundreds of mourners, who turned out to remember and celebrate the life of late Mono County Supervisor Bill Reid. Some 300 family, friends, fellow Supervisors, County staff and colleagues turned out to honor the popular public servant, whose work in Mono County dates back decades.

Reid passed away early Wednesday morning from what the Coroner’s office indicated was “natural causes.”
The California Highway Patrol air squad performed a fly-over at the ceremony, clustered in the traditional “missing-man” formation in memory of a lost member. Reid’s service in the CHP dates back to the early 1970s, during which he rose to the rank of Area Commander.
Eulogies, tributes and accolades punctuated the Reid’s family and professional life, and there wasn’t a dry eye to be found when his favorite song was played: Don McLean’s “American Pie.”
Vice Chair Byng Hunt will take over for Reid as work on the Mono County Board of Supervisors continues on Nov. 3. The Board is expected to hear more details regarding options for filling the open seat during that meeting.
As many have already observed, Reid can be succeeded, but will never be replaced.

Bill Reid (Photo courtesy Mono County)

Apparent heart attack claims Mono Supervisor

Family, friends, colleagues and constituents across Mono County were staggered by the sudden death of District 4 Supervisor Bill Reid early Wednesday morning, the victim of an apparent heart attack. Details are still pending, but Reid, a long-time Mono resident, public servant, business owner and former CHP Officer, apparently died sometime around 4 a.m.
Reid moved to Bridgeport in 1973 when he was assigned as the CHP Area Commander. Active in the community, and in Mono County government, among other distinctions he served as foreman of the Mono County Grand Jury, president of the Regional Council of Rural Counties, representative for Inyo-Mono Area Agency on Aging, as well as on numerous committees.
Reid was first elected to the Mono County Board of Supervisors, representing District 4, in June 1980, sitting on the Board from 1980-1984, 1988-1992 and 1992-1996. In 2006, he filled the unexpired term of the late John Cecil. Most recently, Reid was re-elected to the Board in June 2008, and became Chairman in January 2009.
Supervisor Byng Hunt, who issued a statement on behalf of the Board, wrote, “His strong commitment to integrity, his personal values, and his dedication to his community will be sorely missed. The Board of Supervisors and County staff wish to express their sympathy to his wife, Lyn, his three children, and his grandchildren, and to all those who knew him. We will miss our friend, Bill Reid.”
Reid was noted for his impromptu bursts of impassioned comment, and had delivered a particularly good one during Tuesday’s regular meeting. He later said that his throat was bothering him, but indicated he felt better by the time he called the adjourned meeting in June Lake to order later that evening.
Supervisors reeled at the suddenness of the loss.
“It was a shock. We really had a nice day, nothing unusual. We were all relaxed and in spite of differing votes we were all friendly all day,” Supervisor Vikki Magee Bauer related.
“I was just sitting with him at the [Board’s] adjourned meeting in June Lake on Tuesday evening talking about his upcoming hunting trip. I’m just stunned,” Hunt said.
Bauer and the other Board members were, however, uniform in their admiration for him. “Bill made us all better supervisors,” Bauer said. “He and I would shake our heads sometimes in disbelief that we really were so much alike. I always took that as a compliment. I learned a lot from him and will never forget his influence on me.”
“He was just a good guy, very honest and forthright,” Hunt observed. “When I first started working with him 20 years ago, there were environmental concerns and we had different opinions on things, and if you’d told me one day I’d get to know him as I did, I’d have said you were crazy. Time changes things.” Hunt went on to say that during the past three years, “I’ve had a great respect for him. Maybe we didn’t agree on everything, but he didn’t speak until he’d done his research and he was a straight shooter.”
Hunt also recalled Reid’s ability to unify even those whose views he sometimes didn’t share. “He worked closely with Andrea Mead Lawrence and they were frequently on opposite ends of the spectrum, but they had a great relationship. He was also one of the organizers of the Collaborative Planning Team, which has turned out to be a great thing.”
“Some of his previous experiences being on the Board had been somewhat adversarial,” Supervisor Hap Hazard recalled. “When he joined this Board, Bill thought at first that this was going to be more of the same, but that didn’t happen. He really enjoyed working with this group.”
Hazard was quick to point out the sheer volume of work Reid and the Board accomplished, including a recent key reversal in the Walker River water rights grab attempted by Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), and his ongoing work with the Bridgeport Indian Colony, as well as looking after north county concerns, such as Walker senior center. He was also instrumental in helping the Board and staff steer the County through what could have been troubled economic waters during the state budget crisis.
“I liked him as a person and as a leader,” Hazard reflected. “He threw himself into his public service. Bill was absolutely and totally dedicated to his community, his district and the county as a whole.”
Supervisor Tom Farnetti was traveling as this story was being assembled and not available for comment, but his office said Farnetti was profoundly saddened upon hearing of Reid’s passing.