Released - 5/21/13

Released - 5/21/13

Two weeks ago, I was released from the Blue Jays organization. It's just like getting fired. I lost my job. After coming back from the World Baseball Classic, I was pitching in Spring Training and doing just fine. My first two outings in AA were all right, but then I hit a rough patch. Although I was pitching better than my numbers showed, I was not pitching as if I was better than AA. The goal of anyone in the minor leagues is to play in such a way that you show you are more advanced than the league you are in. I have had many, many great months throughout my baseball career. Last month was not one of them. For now I am working out and throwing at Cressey Performance, which is a dedicated baseball training facility run by Eric Cressey. This is going to keep me in shape as well as improve my pitching. They have indoor throwing cages with a full video analysis setup. It's ideal, especially considering Cressey is a friend of mine. The training has been going great and I’m feeling strong. Sometimes it doesn't take very long to find a team that needs someone. Sometimes it takes awhile. So, we just have to be patient and see where we end up. As long as I am in the baseball world, I am going to work hard and do the things I know I need to do to prepare myself the best way that I can.

Do you ever wonder about your future? Wonder about how things are going to turn out, where your story is going to go? Of all career paths, I think that a professional athlete's life is one of the more unpredictable ones. If anyone's future is uncertain it is a professional athlete's. On ESPN these days, they spend more time talking about each player's performance than they do showing the performance itself. A player can go from superstar, leading the franchise, to the failure that isn’t helping the team in a game or two. But all lives are unpredictable. People all over the world lose their jobs, lose their loved ones, are uncertain if everything is going to turn out okay, are trying to figure out how they are going to get through the situation that they are facing right now. There is a saying, "A person is either in the middle of a storm, just passed through a storm, or is about to enter one." Some people try to say that if I follow Christ, if I love Him and are faithful, that He will make my life good and easy, but when I read the bible I come to a different conclusion. Many of the heroes of the faith had rough lives. Whether it was Joseph, or Elijah, or Job, or Paul, who said of His own life, "Five times I received from the Jews 39 lashes, Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep, I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food, I have been cold and naked." (1 Corinthians 11:25) What is promised is what my wife and I like to remind each other: "Your future is secure". Not that my life is going to be secure or comfortable here on the earth, but that my future with Him is secure.  Nothing, not the loss of a job, or poverty, or the betrayal of a friend, or the alienation of a child, or the loss of a loved one, or a serious illness, can change my future. It is secure with Christ. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:4-6)

WBC 2013

Pitching in the WBC against Team Mexico

In HD

A little friendly international scuffle

versus Team USA

Superstars - 4/18/13

Superstars - 4/18/13

In early March, I was given the opportunity to pitch in the World Baseball Classic for Team Canada.  Of all of the Team Canada tournaments I have participated in, this is the big one.  I played on the same team as Canadian MLB all-stars against MLB all-stars from other countries.  Getting to play against Team USA was like facing an all-star team.  And we almost beat Team USA.  We were so close! I threw 2 innings against Team Mexico.  I gave up a walk as the only blemish to the 2 innings.  2 IP, 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Strikeouts, 1 Walk.  The three games we played were some of the most intense that I have ever been apart of.  The regular season in the MLB is 162 games long, so that the best team over a long period is the one that gets to participate in the post season.  In the WBC, there were 3 games in the first round.  Blink and they were over.  Before my 2 innings in the WBC, I threw 6 pitches in a big league spring training game, giving up a hit and striking a batter out.  My next outing was the lead up to the WBC.  I pitched 1 2/3 against the Reds big league spring training squad and I struggled really badly.  My pitches were up, were flat, were slow, weren't sharp at all.  It's a good thing that adjustments can be made, because it was not the lead up to the WBC that I wanted.  Since the WBC I have been pitching alright, but not great. Not where I wanted to be. Although my last outing was getting much closer.  As I have told you before, I want to dominate, I do not just want to be competitive.  Being "competitive" in the minor leagues says that you will get crushed at the highest level.  Just like at any sport, if I want to be able to play, and stick at the highest level, I have to dominate, totally dominate, at the lower levels.  So, adjustments and work are the name of the game.  I am studying to try and recognize where I come up short, what I have to do to be my best.  To be better than I have been in the past. Change is the name of the game.  The one thing I noticed when I compared my video from the WBC to how I was pitching with the A's was that it looks like I was moving in slow motion when I was in the WBC.  Smooth and controlled is good, but it has to be a smooth and controlled explosion.  Velocity, movement, and location is the name of the game.  So, I've been working on being more powerful, more explosive.  As I head into the season in AA with the New Hampshire FisherCats, that is my goal, I want to be powerful and commanding on the mound.

One of the things I noticed the most in the WBC was the number of fans in attendance.  Not only that, but the intensity with which they were seeking autographs.  I guess that is what happens when there are so many MLB All-Stars in one place.  I even took part in the autograph collecting by taking my jersey around and getting everyone on Team Canada to sign it as a momento to the tournament.  As a kid, my first memory of being star-struck was taking part in a University of Manitoba hockey camp.  I remember thinking the few players that were there were incredible, all-stars, set apart.  These guys lived in a different world than me.  One of my favorite things to watch on TV is when ESPN does a little segment on a Make-A-Wish kid meeting his favorite athlete.  Many times the kids are so star-struck that they don't know what to do, what to say.  They are all smiles as they try to wrap their minds around the fact that their superstar hero is talking to them, addressing them by name.  Now, if you were to offer one of these kids the choice between being given stuff by the atlhlete, genuine autographed stuff that no one else has, or the chance to spend the day with the athlete, what do you think the kid would choose?  Do you think that there is anything at all that the athlete could give them that would compare to being in the athlete's presence, to being talked to directly by this superstar athlete? I don't think there is anything in the world.  If someone gave me the choice between a Keith Magnuson (my great uncle and for those of you who don't know, he played defense for the Chicago Blackhawks from  1969-1979, was the captain of the team from 1976-1979, was later the head coach from 1980-1982, and in our family and in my heart there is no one that I've heard more about, no athlete I look up to more) a Keith Magnuson signed jersey, signed skates, signed Sports Illustrated with him on the cover, with the chance to get to spend another day with him, the stuff isn't even an option.  There is so much I'd like to ask him about, so much I'd like to hear him talk about, so much time I'd like to spend with him.  And yet, don't I totally do the reverse when it comes to God?  I find that I am so much more concerned with the things that God can give me than the fact that I can spend time with the Lord almighty.  We get caught up in asking Him for things, asking for His help with some problem we have, asking for Him to change something for us, when He, the ultimate superstar, the Almighty God, is talking to us directly, addressing us by name, spending time with us.  As I think about it, I guess it comes down to the question, do I regard the stuff He gives me as awesome or do I regard Him as awesome, set apart, so far above anything else? As Oswald Chambers has said, "If we wait, we shall see that God is pointing out that we have not been interested in Himself but only His blessings." "God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.  To Him be honor and might forever. Amen." 1 Timothy 6:15-16

Spring Training 2013 - 2/8/13

Before Spring Training 2013 begins, here is a summary of what happened this offseason and where things are heading as the season approaches.  I was not picked up by a different team in the rule 5 draft.  I did not receive an invitation to big league spring training with the Blue Jays.  I did, however, receive an invitation to play in the World Baseball Classic with Team Canada.  This is an honor.  It is the highest level of international baseball that I could play.  All of the experiences with Team Canada were leading up to this.  The World Baseball Classic is the time when all of the big league all-stars get to compete for their country.  It is a once in a lifetime event for a baseball player (unless you are good enough to be invited to play for more than one).  Players like Joe Mauer, Ryan Braun, Mark Teixeira, Craig Kimbrel, just to name a few, will be playing for Team USA.  Team USA also includes one of my good friends, Tim Collins, who I was teammates with for several years.  Players like Adrian Beltre, Robinson Cano and Edwin Encarnacion will be playing for the Dominican Republic. I will be playing alongside Russell Martin, Justin Morneau, Brett Lawrie, John Axford, as well as many former Team Canada teammates that I am incredibly excited to play alongside again.  This is going to be a blast.  Team Canada will be playing in the first round in Pheonix, AZ against Mexico, Italy and USA.  I can’t wait.  If you are wondering what I am working for right now, that is it.  After playing in the WBC, I will return to Spring Training with the Blue Jays for minor league spring training.  From there, no one knows where I will end up.  AA is again in Manchester New Hampshire.  This year AAA is in Buffalo, NY.  And of course MLB is in Toronto.  If anyone has paid attention to what the Blue Jays have done this offseason, it is an exciting time to be a part of this organization.  I really want to contribute and be a part of what is going on up at the highest level.

I recently spoke at a middle school FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).  I had spoken to them earlier in the offseason, so this time I just wanted to talk with them.  I love to ask people’s opinions and learn from them.  So, I asked these kids, “What should my goals be for this season? It’s a really important season as far as my career is concerned, so what should I be focusing on and making my goals?” One of the kids said, “Work hard.”  I agree with that kid.  “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23) Regardless of the good results that come from working hard, we work hard because we want to show others what Christ’s integrity and honesty and honor look like.  Working hard is an honorable thing that brings glory to our heavenly Father.  Another of the kids said, “To make some money.” I chuckled a bit and said, “Yes, it is important to make a living, to provide for yourself and your family and those in need.” (1 Thess 4:11, 2 Thess 3:10) I told them, “The most crucial aspect of setting goals for the season is to think about what sort of goals God would set for me.” And I asked them, “If God’s will was what I was trying to accomplish, what goals would he want me to set and pursue? When I search through scripture for what God wants from me, I find that first and foremost He wants me to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.’ And the second thing is like it, ‘Love my neighbor as myself.’ (Matt 22:36-40) So, most importantly is to keep focus on what is important to me.  If baseball or success or winning or being famous or any of these things become more important or even as close to what God means to me, then I am outside of where I want to be.  If my worth or what I think of myself hinges on my success or my value in other people’s eyes, I have missed the mark.  If my success or lack thereof changes how I treat people, then I am outside of where I want to be.  I must always treat people with respect, dignity, and love, whether they are treating me well or treating me terribly. If I keep these things as my goals, I am going to have a successful season.  I am going to work hard and give my best for my employer, I am going to provide for myself and my family, I am going to Love God more than anything else in the Universe, and I am going to treat other people the way I would like to be treated regardless of how they treat me.  That sounds like the recipe for a successful season in my eyes and in God’s” Sometimes we can look like a complete failure in the world’s eyes, and yet a complete success in God’s. I want my worth and everyone’s worth to not be found according to what others think, but aligned with what God thinks.

“Teach me your decrees, O Lord;

I will keep them to the end.

Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;

I will put them into practice with all my heart.

Make me walk along the path of your commands,

For that is where my happiness is found.

Give me an eagerness for your laws

Rather than a love for money!

Turn my eyes from worthless things,

And give me life through your word.

Reassure me of your promise,

 Made to those who fear you.”

Psalm 119:22-28 NLT

Good People - 10/29/12

This is going to be an interesting offseason. But, it might also not be that interesting. In baseball, a lot can happen in an offseason. 2 years ago I was traded about this time to the Oakland A's. I was placed on their 40 man roster and invited to big league spring training. Last offseason, I was still hoping to get my shoulder sorted out, I was traded back to the Toronto Blue Jays, I avoided surgery on my shoulder, started my shoulder rehab 3 days a week with Dr. Kibler in Lexington, Ky, was placed on the Blue Jays 40 man roster, and invited to big league spring training again. This offseason is going to be a very interesting one because there are so many possibilities. I have told you about the rule 5 draft before, but as a refresher, it is a draft that happens for players who are currently in the minor leagues and not on the 40 man roster (after 3 years for college players and 5 years for high schoolers). This rule was put into place so that one team cannot stockpile talent in the minor leagues and hoard players who should be playing at a higher level. The rule is that if another team drafts a player they have to place them at a level higher than the one they were at. So, if in AA, the new team has to place them in AAA. If in AAA, the new team has to place them in the big leagues. So, teams have a couple options to protect players. By placing them at AAA it would force the new team to put the player in the big leagues, which they might not want to do. Also, being placed on the 40 man roster restricts you from being available for the rule 5 draft. All this to say, I am currently not on the Blue Jays 40 man roster, so one of these things will happen: I will remain off the Blue Jays roster and in the minor leagues, I will be placed on the Blue Jays 40 man roster and therefore protected from the rule 5 draft, I will be traded before the rule 5 draft and then placed on the new team's 40 man roster (like I was with the previous trades), or I will be unprotected by the Blue Jays and drafted by a team in the rule 5 draft and placed at a higher level than where the Blue Jays have me. I could end up anywhere. But, one thing I know is that I am working hard this offseason, I am healthy, and I'm looking forward to dominating next season wherever that may be. 

Sometimes I hear someone tell me that I am a good guy.  Do you ever get called a good person?  They tell me, “Trystan, you are a good guy.” I tell them, "no I am not." "Now behold, one came and said to Jesus, ‘Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.’” (Matthew 19:16-17) Notice, Jesus does not say that He is not good, He says that God alone is good.  So, He didn’t deny the man's statement, but just wanted to clarify that God, and His Son Jesus, are the only One that is good.  For the rest of us, Jesus is saying that we are not good.  To which I agree whole-heartedly.  Ever wonder how some of the thoughts you think get into your mind? Where do they come from? You never have to teach a little kid "mine", you have to teach sharing.  You never have to teach a kid how to be mean, you have to teach kindness.  We, at our very core, are not good.  And we see our nature displayed in all its ugliness on the news, in others, and in ourselves.  Ever get mad or say something mean? Ever look at something you shouldn't have? Ever treat someone badly? Ever wanted to? Ever been jealous?  Ever been unsatisfied? Yeah, we are a sorry group of good people.  In an episode of Star Trek, Captain Kirk is confronted by a world that is at war with another planet.  And they have been at war for over 500 years.  But, they have done away with they ugliness of not being good people by conducting their war through computers.  Attacks and counterattacks are launched and recorded.  Casualties are computed and people have to report to disintegration machines.  There is no damage done to cities or land, there isn't the messiness of injuries or disease or famine.  They have done this because they realize that they are not good people.  That at their very core they are savage and are killers, just like you and me.  Listen to this conversation between Captain Kirk and their First Councilman, "ANAN: There can be no peace. Don't you see? We've admitted it to ourselves. We're a killer species. It's instinctive. It's the same with you. KIRK: All right. It's instinctive. But the instinct can be fought... We can admit that we're killers, but we're not going to kill today. That's all it takes. Knowing that we won't kill today." You and I and everyone on this planet are sinners.  We are not good people. "Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.  Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against You, and You alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in Your sight.  You will be proved right in what You say, and Your judgment against me is just.  For I was born a sinner-yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.  Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:1-7 Yes, you and I are sinners from our birth.  Born to do things which we aught not to do.  Born to want to steal, to want things other people have, born to want to be selfish, to want to think about and take part in sex outside of God's design, to be greedy, to be lazy, to be unloving, untrustworthy, born to be deceitful, to lie.  All right.  It's instinctive.  But the instinct can be fought. We can admit that we are sinners, but we're not going to sin today.  That's all it takes.  Knowing that we won't sin today.  "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not whither." Psalm 1:1-3

World Baseball Classic Qualifier - Regensburg Germany - Team Canada

Act of Valor - 10/8/12

Act of Valor - 10/8/12

My season ended last week after my participation in Team Canada's World Baseball Classic Qualifying Tournament in Regensburg, Germany.  We won the tournament and qualified for the World Baseball Classic which is in March of 2013.  I only pitched 1 inning because we dominated.  We beat Great Britain by 10 runs, Germany by 9 runs, and in the last game beat Germany again by 10 runs.  We are now looking forward to Canada doing some work in March.  My season was an interesting one.  My doctor told me in January that my arm was probably going to hurt until at least half way through the season and that is exactly what happened.  So, in the first half of the season it was slow going and plodding work.  Although each time I took the mound I competed, I was not myself.  But, my arm started to respond about halfway through the year and I finished really strong in AA New Hampshire.  I was in Extended Spring Training until joining A Dunedin Blue Jays in May.  I pitched in 13 games, throwing 18.1 innings for Dunedin going 0-4 with a 5.40 ERA, 25 hits, 11 earned runs, 4 homers, 26 strikeouts and 3 walks.  I joined the AA New Hampshire Fishercats and went 0-1, with 5 saves, while posting a 1.95 ERA in 25 games, 32.1 innings, 26 hits, 7 earned runs, 1 homer, 24 strikeouts and 7 walks.  The most important stats I think come from the 2nd half of the season, after the all-star break in AA.  In the 2nd half I went 0-0 with 5 saves while posting a 0.82 ERA in 19 games, 22 innings pitched, giving up 16 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 homer, 15 strikeouts and 5 walks.  Like I said, my arm felt better the 2nd half of the year.

Not long ago I watched the movie "Act of Valor".  It was a fantastic movie.  I really enjoyed it.  It did such a good job showcasing the sacrifice, the service, that so many of our armed forces give.  It is the ultimate act of service, the ultimate act of love, just as Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13) There are husbands, fathers, wives, mothers, sons, and daughters, who put themselves in harms way to protect us and on the behalf of others.  They are heroes.  They live lives of valor.  Am I a man who is going to live a life of such courage?  Each one of us has the opportunity to live with honor and courage.  Not only with physical acts of courage, but also mental and spiritual acts of courage.  Soldiers are called not only to act with courage in a physical way, but mentally as well.  In fact, it is the mind and heart that needs to be trained so that the body will act the way it is supposed to. God is looking for men and women to act with valor. He is searching for people who want Him, who desire Him, who desire His peace and goodness. But, goodness and living for Christ requires valor.  It requires courage. He develops us into people with backbone.  People who have found such a treasure in Him that they can act with bravery and determination  in the face of the world. "The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.  They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one." Psalm 15:2-3 Am I going to be a man of valor in the lockerroom, on the field, in my thoughts, with my actions, with my finances, with my time? I don't want to be a part of the "all" who turned aside.

Turning Corners - 8/4/12

Turning Corners - 8/4/12

I think my shoulder has turned a corner.  In the last few weeks I have been hitting 94 and sitting 92-93.  My cutter has started to get good depth and I’ve been getting ground balls with my splitter.  I’m debating whether to throw my slider again.  I’ve been having great conversations with the other guys in the pen and I’ve learned a lot about throwing breaking balls.  One aspect of my game my teammates brought up a few days ago was that all of my pitches are hard.  It might be good to have something to get hitters moving forward and backward, not just having a pitches that are all hard.  So, we’ll see.  I’ll play around with my slider and try to apply what I've learned.  The good news is that I’m getting great extension.  My fastball is moving, my cutter is late, and so is my splitter.  I’m really happy with how my shoulder is doing.  Yesterday I pitched 2/3 of an inning.  The day before I had thrown 2 innings.  So, when I pitched well yesterday and felt like I hadn’t missed a step, everyone was very happy.  So, lets keep getting strong and feeling good.  I’ve been lifting harder recently (more weight and fewer reps) and I really like how that makes me feel.  I feel stronger.  I think as pitchers we get a lot of work during the season at lower intensity, that sometimes it is good to lift to maintain that maximum strength threshold.  If you don’t stay strong during the season, you will lose whatever strength you have. My last 10 games have been fantastic.  1.38 ERA, 13 innings pitched, 8 hits, 2 runs, 13 strikeouts, 3 walks, .174 opponents avg for the New Hampshire Fishercats, AA Eastern League.

When we go on the road in the minor leagues, the key thing we all ask is what's around the hotel? Restaurants are good, stores are good, but teams try to find a mall. There are many options for everyone and it gives us things to do. Recently, our hotel wasn't ready when we got to the new city, so the bus dropped everyone off at a mall. Pretty standard procedure. It's fun to people watch in a mall. The best is when you find a Brookstone and get time in one of the massage chairs as you people watch. We wonder what other people are thinking, what they are there for. Many people are busy, looking at things, checking out new products, hanging out with friends. When walking around a mall, the things that run through my mind are things I want, most of the time. Other times, like recently when I found a breath freshening spray that also gives you an instant Irish accent, I thought it would be fun to get that for someone else.  I think most of the time that is where our agenda lies, with what builds us and our kingdom. In other words, I am building my kingdom and not Christ's. Isn't it true though, as we live our lives, we are either building Christ's kingdom or we are building our own. We cannot do both, just as scripture says, "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (2 Timothy 2:4 NKJV)" and "“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24 NLT)" Are my thoughts about what I can do to further His kingdom or how I can build a life for myself here on earth? We can spend so much time thinking, planning, decorating, acquiring, and is all of that for ourselves or for His kingdom. Many of the things we acquire can be used to build Christ's kingdom if only we use them to serve Him and others. Where are my efforts and ingenuity going? Am I using my life to serve Him, to serve others? Where are my thoughts as I walk through a mall, walk through this life?

Approval - 6/14/12

Approval - 6/14/12

I think my shoulder has turned the corner.  In my last update, the situation seemed pretty dire, with my shoulder feeling tired and not having much life.  The life has started to come back and so have the strikeouts.  In my last 4 outings I have had at least 2 strikeouts.  I pitched in both of our last two games. It was my first time to pitch back to back games this year.  I was still 91-92 yesterday, with 2 strikeouts and a lazy pop fly in one inning of work.  It was a really good outing.  So things seem to be coming around for the better.  Not quite back to where I want to be, but definitely on the right track.  I received a really good piece of advice from my catcher a few games ago.  He said, “You need to throw your offspeed pitches harder.  You need to throw them as hard as you can.  You’ll eventually get the feel even if at the beginning you bounce them, but right now they’re not doing much.”  He was totally right and since then I have been working on my slider and my split finger.  I have been trying to throw them as hard as my fastball, not holding back, no tentativeness, not trying to throw them in the strike zone, just throwing them.  They have been excellent! Yesterday I struck out two batters, a lefty and a righty, on my split finger fastball.  It was really enjoyable to see the ball dive down and the hitters swing over the top.  When throwing a breaking ball, a pitcher must throw it hard just like his fastball.  You have to grip the ball and apply pressure with the fingers so that you impart the tight spin you want on your breaking ball.  You also have to stay firmly on top of the ball.  Don’t let your wrist slide underneath because then anything you throw will be lazy and will not have the sharp downward action you want.  I am really encouraged by how my last 4 outings have gone and I’m looking forward to continuing the process. 

As we live life, we are surrounded by people who influence what we believe.  Sometimes their influence comes directly with direct comments about how we live or what they think we should do in a certain situation.  Sometimes it comes indirectly through conversations that we overhear, the content of conversations the people around us are having, or even just the way other people conduct themselves. Regardless of how you try to conduct yourself, the people you surround yourself with, voluntarily or involuntarily, affect you. This is especially the case on a sports team and in a sports locker room.  You very well may hear and see things that are shocking, sad, disturbing, and evil.  It’s shocking enough to hear the conversations being had, but it is also shocking to see who is approving of them.  Paul describes them, “knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things [sin] are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:32.  Not only do they do things that aren’t honorable or what the bible says, but they also approve of people who act that way. This can even come from people who claim to be followers of Christ.  We need to pay attention to what we are approving.  Think about the movies or TV shows or stories or conversations you are in.  Am I laughing at the jokes, am I approving of the conversations that people are having, am I approving the shows that are crude and immoral, am I approving of people who act in a way contrary to what God wishes for us? A long time ago, I told a joke to one of my friends and she called me out on it.  She said that it was inappropriate.  At the time, I didn’t think it was that bad.  I had heard many jokes that were a lot worse, but I had to realize that I spent most of my time in a locker room.  I am so thankful she called me out on it.  This is really important stuff because not only does it reflect upon my Savior, but it also reveals my heart.  What does my heart look like?  Does my heart delight in sin?  Is my heart enticed and entertained by things that I wouldn’t want my parents or a child or my pastor or my God to be a part of? “8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 I will search the bible so that I know what is praiseworthy.  I will examine what it says so that I am not swayed by anyone who may be approving of things that God does not approve of. I will pray and ask God to reveal in my heart where I am not true or noble or just or pure.

Florida Fishing 2012

The nice thing about having spring training, extended spring training, and high-A, in Florida is that there are fish here.  And although most of the fish that I really want to catch, Snook and Tarpon, have only just arrived here in the Tampa Bay Area, my teammates and I have had some fun catching some fun and interesting fish. I was able to help two of my teammates learn how to fish and I got to take pictures of their first fish.  Now that's fun!

My teammate Wes caught this puffer fish along Gulf to Bay

Just practicing for Emily.

This was one of my favorites from a couple years ago.

http://exposfan.mlblogs.com/2012/05/29/q-and-a-with-trystan-magnuson/

Q and A With Trystan Magnuson

Trystan Magnuson is a relief pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He is born on June 6, 1985 in Vancouver, Canada. He weighs 220 lbs and he is 6′ 7″. He was recently traded to the Jays last year from the Oakland Athletics. He made his major league day view last year for the Athletics and had a 6.14 ERA in a mere 14.2 innings pitched. Before getting called up, he played for the Sacramento River Cats in AAA and he was 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA in 45 innings pitched. He is rehabbing from an injury so he is in High-A this year with the Dunedin Blue Jays. He is 0-4 with a 5.25 ERA. He will keep going up the minor leagues once he is 100% healed from his injury.  He took the time to do a Q and A for my blog. Here it is:

1. At what age did you get interested in baseball? At what age did it become serious for you?

I always enjoyed playing baseball. When I was young, my family lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba,Canada. We played hockey in the winter and baseball in the summer.  My dad always loved baseball.  We listened to the Blue Jays on the radio and really enjoyed watching them win the 1992-1993 World Series.  When we moved to Louisville, I was in middle school.  There is not much ice hockey in Louisville, but they did have fall baseball, which we thought was great.

2. Who had the biggest influence on you in baseball?

My dad has had the biggest influence on my baseball career.  A close second is my brother.  Even now we enjoy talking baseball and the things I am working on. Every once in a while, I talk to my dad on the phone and we talk about how to improve my pitches.

3. Who was your favorite player growing and why?

My favorite player growing up was John Olerud.  That guy was an incredible hitter.  He never got intimidated or influenced by what was going on around him.  Steady as a rock.  When I decided to really focus on pitching I really paid a lot of attention to Nolan Ryan, naturally.

4. You were drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1st round (56th pick) of the 2007 amateur draft. Where were you when you got drafted and what was the moment like when you heard you were drafted?

I knew from all of the scouts and the interest, that my advisor was saying that there were many teams really interested in drafting me.  To get drafted by the Blue Jays was a dream.  I grew up watching them in Winnipeg.  To hear that they had drafted me with the 56th pick made me wonder if it could all be real. I was thrilled.

5. This is your 6th big league season. Do you have any goals by the end of the year?

I was injured at the end of the last year and I’m still coming back from that.  I am really close.  That is my goal, to be 100% healthy by the end of the year and make myself valuable to this organization whether it be in the big leagues or elsewhere this year.  I want to do my job and do it well.

6. What is the feeling like getting promoted to the next minor league level?

I remember thinking, as I was struggling in Low-A my first year, it’s going to be tough to get promoted to High-A.  I thought AA was out of the question.  So, when I got promoted to AA at the end of 2009 I was thinking, “Yeah! I made it!”

7. What did it feel like when you got traded from the Oakland Athletics to the Toronto Blue Jays?

My experience with Oakland was a very positive one.  I made some great adjustments that allowed me to have some good outings and experience in the big leagues.  Getting traded back was nice because I know the Blue Jays know what they are getting and that they want me. It’s nice to know that they value me.

8. What is your favorite movie?

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

9. What is your favorite TV show?

Star Trek, the Original Series.

10. What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career so far?

Some of the most memorable times for me have been conversations with fans who ask me for my autograph.  I ask them how they are doing and if they are enjoying the day or ballpark.  One of the most important times to me is when I have someone come up to me that I have signed for before and they tell me how much they appreciated the time I spent with them and the things I signed.  Every year I sign a different verse of the bible with my autograph, that way anyone can tell what year I signed the card or ball.  This year I am signing Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you.’”

11. Finally, what advice would you give to kids that are just starting out the dream of playing professional baseball one day?

I would tell them to have fun, work hard, and enjoy every minute of it.  It’s really important for every kid to know that baseball is about having fun.  I would tell them that if they don’t make it to a certain level or on a certain team, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t any less valuable or important than anyone else.  Talent doesn’t define significance.  The important thing is to be significant wherever God has placed you.  Even God himself took the role of a servant and washed his disciples feet.

 Follow him on Twitter @TrystanMagnuson

The Boxscore - 5/16/12

The Boxscore – 5/16/12

A few days ago, I was told that the Blue Jays were taking me off the 40-man roster.  This is a significant happening in my baseball career.  If you remember last November, the A’s took me off their 40-man roster and the Blue Jays picked me up and placed me on their 40-man roster.  Being on the 40-man is significant because a major league team can only use players that are on their 40-man roster.  Within the 40-man, there is the 25-man active roster, which is the roster of available players that the team can use that day.  The 40-man is a selection of players that the big league team has protected and who are available to then be selected for the 25-man active roster.  The 15 players who are not on the 40-man roster are in the minor leagues, but can be called up to the big leagues or sent back to the minors with relative ease.  To sum this up, if you want to make it to the big leagues you want to be on the 40-man roster.  If you are not on the 40-man and the team wants to call you up, they have to make room on their 40-man for you, which allows whoever they are taking off the 40-man to be eligible for another team to claim them.  A team protects its most important players and prospects from other teams by placing them on the 40-man roster.  I had a great outing a few days ago. I threw 2 innings, giving up 1 hit, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts.  But, my last few outings have not been good.  I haven’t had much “life” on the ball.  I have given up a bunch of runs.  In my two previous outings, I entered the game with the lead or with a tie and I gave it up, thereby getting the loss for both games.  One outing wasn’t as bad as it sounded in the box score, but I’ll tell you more about that in the next paragraph.

In this outing, my box score (my statistics for the outing) read 0-1, 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K.  This all means that I got the loss, throwing 1 2/3 innings while giving up 1 run on 1 hit with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.  Now to a reliever and to my team, this says that I gave up the lead by giving up a run when we were tied and I was the one who gave up the run, thereby earning the loss for the team.  What the box score doesn’t tell you is that the one hit I gave up came in the 1^st inning and the walk wasn’t the guy who scored, but actually an intentional walk.  What really happened was I threw my first inning well and only gave up one hit.  The 2^nd inning started and I threw well getting the 1^st out easily.  The next batter I struck out, but the ball took a funny bounce and got by my catcher, so even though I struck the batter out, he got to 1^st base.  He then stole 2^nd base (barely).  There was a fly ball to center field and the runner tagged up and got to third.  So, now it was runner on 3^rd and 2 outs.  We then intentionally walked the next guy (my walk) and they brought in a new reliever.  The runner then scored on a bloop hit off the new pitcher.  My runner, my fault, my loss.  But isn’t it funny that the one walk I have on my record this year is an intentional walk and that the loss and earned run for that game came from a guy I struck out on a good slider?  The box score doesn’t tell the story.  The way things look doesn’t tell the whole story, whether that’s the way someone else appears to us or the way God is working in our lives.  Everyone has a story that is so much deeper than what appears on the outside.  Likewise, God has a story for each one of us that is so much deeper than what we are experiencing on the outside.  Our box score might not look too bright, but God’s writing the story for His purpose and there are some good things going on in the real story.  What’s His purpose? I think it’s probably exactly what His purpose was for the Israelites: “For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.” Psalm 78:5-7  “That they may set their hope in God.”