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