Ten years ago, Joe Carbone added a new member to his family that looks nothing like him, has a different last name and doesn't even have a pulse.
When the Ohio baseball team moved from Trautwein Field to Bob Wren Stadium in 1998, Carbone began treating the new field like one of his own.
That is his third child
said Tim Heneghan, faculties and operations director for Peden Stadium. He has two daughters and that's his third child.
Carbone has made the stadium his obsession.
He is the first to arrive at the stadium every day. He walks the field looking for possible dangers like sprinkler heads, uncovered drains or rain puddles. He even has an office in Bob Wren next to the press box so that he can watch over the field while
he works.
I'm a little bit eccentric Carbone said. A lot of people think a baseball field just comes natural
but it doesn't. You have to maintain it
you have to be careful on what you do on it.
As a child, Carbone's father took him to an Elmira Pioneers minor league baseball game in New York. Most kids would remember seeing a future superstar or an astounding catch or even a home run.
Not Carbone.
He only remembers the outstanding condition of the field.
I couldn't believe how nice (the groundskeeper) had the field looking
Carbone said. I couldn't believe how beautiful the baseball field looked.
Carbone has spent the last 30 years as an assistant coach for Ohio State and a head coach for Ohio, digging up new information to make sure the stadium is looking its best for the team's guests.
When he goes on recruiting trips to minor and major league stadiums, he seeks out the groundskeeper for tips. He reads books on weeds and even goes to national conventions to learn more about lawn care.
There are always new things and new ideas
Carbone said. Over the years I've learned what it takes to keep a ball field looking nice.
During games, Ohio has just two men from the grounds crew working on the field because of budget constraints, so much of the field's upkeep rests on the shoulders of the players and coaches.
Every player is responsible for grooming his own area of the field. If something isn't up to Carbone's standards, he lets the player know about it.
Responsibilities range from sweeping the dirt off the grass with a broom to using a tennis screen to drain every last drop of water off the field.
During the summer, the team even gave the field a new look, by re-sodding the outfield.
It's a standing joke here
Carbone said. I tell them if you don't get a degree and you never become a ballplayer
at least you'll know how to maintain a ball field.
During the summers, the Southern Ohio Copperheads college summer-league team uses Bob Wren for its home games. But that doesn't mean Carbone leaves the field-
Grounds Supervisor Scott Blower said. Sometimes we think he maybe worries about
