I Know That
Guy – 4/24/12
I am still
here in Dunedin. I am getting
really close to leaving, though.
My arm is bouncing back quicker each time I throw. I am pitching more often and for
longer. On Thursday, I threw 2
innings for the first time this year. I am finishing up my rehab throwing
program before heading out to a full-season team. This is the wonderful world of Extended Spring
Training. It is a place where you
forget about a baseball season because all of us are stuck in an unending
Spring Training. Our days look
just like Spring Training, practice in the morning and games in the
afternoon. Although, now we have
Sundays off, which is looked forward to with much anticipation. The soreness that I have been describing
is fading with every day even as I increase my workload. The thing that hasn’t been so great is
my consistency in my pitching. I
haven’t been throwing many strikes.
I haven’t been consistent with my cutter or my changeup. This is rather frustrating and not much
fun. It is a bummer when I have to
compete against myself, just trying to throw the ball close to where I want it
with the type of movement I want.
I think this will come, though.
As with any rehab and throwing program, progress is made through practice
and patience. I can’t throw with a
full-season throwing program because my arm cannot take it yet (I’m close
though). As I get stronger, I am throwing more in between my outings and I’m
getting the chance to work on my pitches again. I’m reestablishing the feel. I remember watching some of the great relievers in the game
when I was up with the A’s and they threw a flatground everyday to establish that
feel. A flatground is a short time
of pitching right at the end of your throwing program. Your throwing partner, or if you’re
lucky a catcher, will crouch down as a catcher and you will practice your
pitches. I really enjoy throwing
flatgrounds and finding the feel of my pitches. I am looking forward to joining a full-season team soon and
I look forward to getting that feel of my pitches that comes with repetition
and practice.
It’s amazing
how many guys I know are now in the big leagues. A few of my former teammates have made it to the big leagues
recently. And you know what, I
have had short periods of envy, jealousy.
It’s amazing how we can see someone’s good fortune and immediately we
are tempted to be bitter about our situation. We can stew about things that have gone wrong, how things
aren’t quite coming together, dwell upon the things that are holding us
back. In my heart I’m thinking,
“How cool is this, I’m so happy for these guys that they get to experience the
thrill of playing the best baseball in the world and are getting paid.” But in
my mind, I think, “This isn’t fair, I should be there,” and I am tempted to be bitter
and mad. We can always find ways
in which our lives are not matching up to what we want or have imagined. Where does my bitterness come from? It comes from wanting something that
someone else has. It comes from striving for something. When the thing we want doesn’t happen,
we become disappointed, frustrated, sad, or mad. God’s goals for us are that we Love God with all our heart,
mind, strength and that we love our neighbor as ourselves. We get distracted from His goals by
things like jobs, success, athletics, looks, illness, relationships, etc. The damage done is not through the
success or failure in these areas, but by how they affect our relationship with
God and with other people. The
struggle we should be undertaking is not for our health and wealth, but can we
demonstrate God’s love towards others through our lives in every circumstance. I
have had parents and kids who come up to me after hearing my story about being
cut in high school and tell me that I am an inspiration. They have always dreamed of playing
College baseball or playing Professional baseball or playing in the Major
leagues. To them I reply, “Playing
high level baseball is fun, but sometimes the best thing ever is to get exactly
what you have always dreamed of because you will still be unsatisfied.” The gifts
and pleasures we have here on earth are a dim sample of the treasure God
is. He created all of the good
things we have here on earth so that we can have a glimpse of our great Father
and know that one day we will get to be in His presence. That is our treasure. That is our dream. That makes me forget my bitterness. That makes me happy for the enjoyment
that my friends and teammates are getting by playing the best baseball in the
world. That makes me pray that my friends and teammates enjoy baseball and
recognize the One who gave us all our good gifts. He is our good gift.
I am so thankful for Him. “Why spend your money on food that does not
give you strength? Why pay for food that does not satisfy? Listen to me, and
you will eat what is good, You will enjoy the finest food. Come to me with your
ears wide open, Listen, and you will find life, I will make an everlasting
covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.”
(Isaiah 55:2-3 NLT)
