By Clifton Mandrake, National City Examiner
Saturday, April 4, 2015

Felipe Lara, the longtime mainstay of the Palm Springs Codgers‘ pitching rotation, is making a new move – into the coaching ranks. Lara has joined the Codgers’ Single-A affiliate, the National City Bankers, as pitching coach for the 2015 season.

Reached on Wednesday, Lara was effusive about the development. “Yeah man, let’s face it, this is something that was way overdue. I was getting tired of just sitting around the house, you know?  My wife and kids were really starting to get on my nerves.”

What about the position itself?

“I told them I wanted something to do with the organization, and they said, ‘How about pitch ‘n’ coach?’ Well, I knew I could do the pitching part. For coaching, I’ll just tell them to do what I do since I’m pretty much the best ever. Even the ones that aren’t from Chile should be able to pick it up,” he laughed.

One senses a bit of confusion with regard to his actual duties, but National City’s new employee disagreed.

“What? Just because I’m 40, it don’t mean I can’t pitch no more. As long as I don’t get hurt and can take the ball every fifth day, it should be pieces of cake for us to make the playoffs,” he enthused.

The reporter inquired once more, delicately, if Lara wasn’t perhaps a bit fuzzy on the details of his new role.

“No, man!” he shouted. “Don’t be ludicrous.  The title is ‘pitching coach’; that means a coach who pitches. It’s as clear as some crystals.  I don’t know, man; sometimes I think everybody is crazy except for me.”

Asked about the prospects for the future, Lara brightened once more.

“Well, you know, when I was with Palm Springs, we went to the playoffs every year when I stayed healthy,” Lara commented. “So I figure it will be the same here with the Bankers.

“That’s, like, 98 percent for sure.”