The title of this entry might be a little misleading. Although I do regard the game of baseball as a beautiful creation, a perfect balance of control and aggression, power and finesse, explosive instant gratification and slow burning satisfaction, it has its way reminding you just how fragile success can be. I mean this both from an individual and team aspect.
Since my last entry, I've had quite a roller coaster ride in terms of personal performance. My outing in Huntsville ended up with 5 runs over an inning and two thirds with possibly one hard hit ball to account for the damage along with 5 seeing eye singles. I've thrown 3 times since them with much better results. In a lot of ways, my past 2 weeks epitomize the life of a reliever. One tough outing may take weeks to undo, and that's only if you have no other slip ups along the way. The best thing one can do is remain positive and remain consistent in one's approach. The second you start stressing and second guessing your abilities is the second you start losing ground on the competition. I feel confident more and more that I can pitch successfully in this level and the next, but it requires a level of focus and execution that is elevated from previous levels of pro-ball. But personal struggles aside, our team is 3 for its last 13 and is currently on a 5 game slide. This type of run, as you may imagine, doesn't do much for a team's confidence. I've been on streaks like this before and its always the same situation. There is never one symptom that is the cause of the problem, rather a combination of poor execution on a variety of levels that keep victories just out of reach. The only blessing is that it is a long long season and even the struggles we are having now will not doom us yet. We still have plenty of time to "right the ship" and make a run to put us right back in playoff contention.
In other news, the girlfriend is coming in to town when I return from this current road trip for Memorial Day weekend. For whatever reason, the distance seems harder on her this year and the previous year. I'm think the time together here will certainly be beneficial to ease the stress. The rising gas prices (and plane tickets) are not making things any easier on our attempts to see each other though. It's just another tough reality of being a minor league ball player. We simply don't make enough to be buy plane tickets every month and still manage to break even, let along save any money. Its certainly a test of responsibility and self denial when you get your paycheck and basically must dedicate it all to bills. I'm not sure if its a produ`t of today's society or my personal selfishness, but I find it difficult save every last dime. To put it bluntly, sometimes I just want to spend some of the money I make on me. I guess at some point that is no longer a good excuse. That point is usually about the same time my credit card bill comes.
Time to tighten up. Another game in Jackson, Tennesee tomorrow.
Until next time...God Bless.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
May 4, 2008 (Day 99) - Hotels and Road Trips
I am currently sitting in a La Quinta hotel in Huntsville, AL. Its funny to think of the hundreds of hotels in hundreds of cities that I've stayed in since the beginning of my freshmen year of college. That was six years ago now and it feels like it was yesterday. I would have to say that 90% of them are identical. Their only differences coming in small variations in room design and whether or not they offer continental breakfast. They are all "OK" for a day or two but get very old after a long road trip. We are smack in the middle of a 10 day haul, having completed a series win in Birmingham earlier today. The La Quinta we are staying probably falls in the middle of that 90% of mediocrity. Plenty of places to eat around (which is huge) but not much for a morning breakfast and our room kinda smells like urine. It always bothers me a bit when I get used to the smell. I don't think urine is a smell I want to get used to.
Incidentally, the other 10% of hotels are like a treat and can make any road trip a little more bearable. There are always one or two a year that are awesome. The Sheridan in Norfolk, VA, Fun City in Burlington, Iowa, The Pruneyard in San Jose, CA are all top notch. We've yet to visit an upper echelon (sp?) hotel this year, but the older guys say there are a few places which are great. I am looking forward to those.
The team is still trying to find its groove. We play really well (pitching, hitting, and defense) for a game or two but then can't seem to put a team away. As I said, we won our last series 3 games to 2 which is definitely a plus. However, we were up 2 games to none and then didn't win again until the end of the series. As soon as we start putting a few games together where we score early and maintain solid pitching and defense, we will be very tough to beat. I've thrown once this trip so far. Didn't give up any of my own runs, but gave up a foul ball that the ump called fair that scored 3 of my starters runs. As a reliever, I take pride in maintaining the score when I get in the game. I couldn't do much about the bum call by the ump, but its frustrating none the less. I will likely throw tomorrow or the next day in this series.
Other than baseball, I am looking forward to seeing my parents in June when they come to Tennessee (Knoxville) to see me play and to seeing my girlfriend when she comes to visit over Memorial Day. The distance is wearing on us both some this year. I am not sure if its because the honeymoon is over or because we both are tired of being apart, but its been tougher this year on both of us. I've come to understand that times like these are trying and its getting through these things that make you stronger as a couple. I also feel it necessary to deal with these things now instead of trying to avoid them and sugar coat them. Again, I think it will benefit us both in the long run. Either way, Memorial Day can't come soon enough.
Until Next Time.
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