July 2016 – A Baseball Blog

I Jinxed Us

Remember how last week I said that we were in good shape after we broke the curse of me being on the team? Well I might have jinxed the team because we hit a tough stretch of games this week and went 1-4, with a rain out that we have to make up later.

The first series of the week was against the Southern Illinois Miners out of Marion, IL. The Miners are the other first place team in the West Division and the guys were hyped up to play them in what we hope will be a championship match up in September.

The contest went to the Miners, although we did threaten them in the second game as well as the third game. What it looks like for the Miners is that each team can build differently while staying under the salary cap. Their strategy seems that they have a couple good starters, very experienced hitters, and then a weaker bullpen based on what we saw. Once we knocked the starter out of the game we were able to rally for runs in the eighth and ninth inning. That is the problem though, by the time we get to the late innings the game is already out of reach. The third game of the series was a tight one that ended in a rain shortened affair, to be made up in a couple of weeks at their place. The next time we head to their place we will finish the game, top of the 8th, 7-7, and then play the following three game series. I’m not sure if this is the truth, but our starter wants to finish that game, take the break, then start the next game, so realistically he could get two wins on the same day. That reminds me of my NAIA days.

We left on Friday for the Florence Freedom, then team who I let up my first run, and I was looking forward to facing them again. They must have my number because the only time I pitched this week was against the Freedom and they tagged me for one more. They are a team that likes to ambush the pitcher going after the first pitch and my strength is getting ahead with my fastball. I made a bad 1-2 pitch on the leadoff hitter that he was able to squeak down the line for a flared double that ended up coming around to score. The reminder that I need to make a better pitch with two strikes is always there, and up until that point I felt like I had been commanding my fastball well in every outing. Also, hitters see that I live around the plate and are able to know that they will get pitches near the zone. Being able to productively expand the zone going forward will help me put hitters away, as well as keeping them off balance for a first pitch strike.

Hotel, only one case of bed bugs, room 116 dodged them

Florence was the host of the Y’all Star game festivties this year, and from what it sounds like the players that went did not enjoy their stay too much. For one, each player was given a $5 card to Meijer, but then the cards did not work. Last year there were cool backpacks that each all-star received, this year they received door mats. Also, the players had to share bus back to Joliet from Florence, making stops along the way that ended up doubling the length of the trip for the Joliet guys. It didn’t sound like a pleasant way to spend an all star break.

Anyways, unlike our field the Florence locker room is very far from the actual playing field. When you walk down to the field you have to walk through the opposing teams bullpen, and generally give the guys down there a what’s up to be polite.

The field is entirely turf including the mounds, which I heard is in part because someone in Frontier League ownership owns a turfing company. Their field was the first one this year that did not have the bullpen on the field, but it was behind the left field wall. The only problem with that is the sun sets directly into the catchers face when pitchers are being warmed up. When I went into the game on Saturday we had to switch spots, and I did not pitch off the mound before I went into the game. Not an excuse by any means, but still it was annoying that they didn’t think of that before putting the bullpen there. It is all about that home field advantage.

Before one of the games our manager Jeff mentioned that he had a talk with an old friend of his that is in the Royals organization. The question that his Royals friend posed was “Why do guys play Indy ball? What is the point?”. Jeff relayed this question to us, and there were about five or six answers that guys spoke up about. Answers from, competing, love of the game, chance to play minor league ball, meeting new people, learning new tricks of the trade, and seeing how good you can be. All of these answers were approved, but ultimately we were told that the big leagues is the ultimate reason. Everyone wants to play in the big leagues at some point, which is the same goal that minor league guys have. There isn’t a difference in goals between us, just the fact that minor league guys have a light at the end of the tunnel for the majors, while I am seeing that here we haven’t even boarded the train. One of my goals is still to play in major league baseball, and right now my process is pitching tomorrow. If I go with the process over the ultimate goals then the process takes you to the major leagues. I’ve been doing well so far adjusting to the lifestyle here and the league, but I think that I can be better going forward for the five or so weeks of the regular season that is left.

Going forward we have a nine game home stand starting tomorrow going into the first few days of August. The team is somewhere around 2-12 since I joined, but we are still in first place in the division. The nine games at home will be fun, and not having to travel is a good time to get back on track as a team. If we can get momentum going into August we can carry it over and have an impressive finish to the regular season.

Joliet Week 2 – Off the Schneid

The curse has been lifted, and the Joliet Slammers have won a game with Mitchell on the roster. We actually won 2 of 3 this week and put ourselves in a good mood going into the second half of the season. The five game losing streak is over, which means I am not cursed and allowed to stay on the team.

Before our weekend series with the Florence Freedom we had Monday-Thursday off for the Y’all Star Break. The All-Star game was hosted by the Florence Freedom and I think we had around six players in the game. Represented well as the first place team going into the break. During the break, we had a softball game against the Chicago Bandits. The Bandits are a professional fast pitch team, and let me tell you the crowd was rooting for them the entire night. I went back to my roots for the game playing third base and batting fourth. I looked silly for my first at bat, sizing up how to hit the pitcher, and then made good contact my second and third at bat.

The softball game ended in a 4-2 victory for the Bandits, much to the applaud of the crowd. All in all it was a good experience for the guys, and especially the pitchers because we got to hit and play the field. It is funny playing the exhibition games because at first nobody wants to play, nobody wants to take time out of the day to do it. Then the lights kick on and they see guys having fun and next thing you know everyone wants to play. There is also the fact that there is always someone who is competing even though it is just for fun. The different levels of will to win can cause some funny conversations in the dugout, but overall I hope the guys that got to play and the guys that came to support the team had a good time.

After the Tuesday exhibition game we were back at Friday against the Freedom. We won the opening game of the series without me pitching, and then my turn came yesterday when we were trailing 3-2 in the 9th. I had been pitching well before the break, looking to carry that over into the second half. I didn’t feel like I had my best stuff yesterday, and I ended up surrendering a home run, but then pitching out of a jam in the 10th after a crazy 9th inning rally. My catcher said the pitch was good, but I thought it was more middle than in, which the little guy turned and burned on me for a home run. Being off the schneid for runs isn’t fun, and my only solace was the fact that it didn’t cost us a loss. When we scored the 3rd run, I thought that if I got the chance to pitch the 10th I would be ready to go. As you can imagine most people were going crazy in the dugout and feeding off the momentum. I thought about that, but I decided it would be better to stay seated while thinking about what pitches I would use in the 10th.

The 10th was a little dicey for me in terms of having runners on base, even though a ball never left the infield. I had a hit off my foot, a tough double play that only resulted in a force out, a broken bat single to third, and managed to get out of the inning without surrendering my second run in as many innings. I pitch and rely heavily on my fastball, and a few of them trailed back over the plate. Next time, which we play Florence next week, I will have to mix in more offspeed to keep them guessing off my fastball. When I was watching them hit over these three games our guys were flipping in a lot of change ups/curves in the 70s that guys were swinging out of their shoes. When a team sees me enter the game they know I will go with my fastball because the velocity is there, and being in the zone challenging hitters they know they will get a few pitches in the zone during their at bats.

I’m still learning a lot about myself in regards to what kind of pitcher I am going to be. How to warm up correctly in the bullpen, knowing what pitch to throw in a certain situation, and being able to read the game have all been focuses of mine this year. There are less than two months left in the season, but the way these guys play for each other I think we will be together for a longer time than that. Taking it one pitch at a time is what will work for me. When this slider I have been working on becomes more consistent I think that hitters will find that they have a difficult time sitting on fastball against me. Being able to show that pitch, and then put people away with my curveball are going to be huge for me going forward. Having both is always good, if one doesn’t feel like it will work then I can use the other one more, but I want to be the pitcher that dominates with a fastball. What I have been doing is throwing each pitch with conviction, no messing around and no second guessing myself. The good thing about pitching is I have the ball, and the game doesn’t start until you want it to.

The stadium is sweet if I haven’t mentioned that yet. The backdrop is nice, the train station runs basically parallel with the left field line, and seeing those freight trains run by is fun. Adds some noise and excitement to the game. The bullpen is on the field down the right field line, and our clubhouse is connected with the first base dugout. Behind the bullpen is a berm where kids play and roll around, then an empty building that I am going to renovate into player housing one day.

This upcoming week we have a three game set at home Tues-Thurs. Then hit the road to Florence for the weekend set. I’m looking forward to getting back on the bump each time I have the chance, and it appears that I will be pitching in high leverage situations near the end of the game. That is the best time to pitch, each pitch is intensified, and hitters are locked in. I’m glad that the coaching staff puts me in those spots, and that they believe I am the guy to get the job done. The goal isn’t to have a good second half, the goal is to have a great second half. I have to standout in someway if I want to get back with an affiliated team. I don’t think being average or good will get the attention of anyone, so striving for excellence is what I will do.

The plan continues tomorrow during catch play working on different pitches and finding out what grips and mechanics will work going forward into Tuesday!

Lake Eerie Road Trip

In the Frontier League we play six games a week. There are no Monday games.

However, this week the team had a day game Monday for July 4th. This is enough of a change to mix up the schedule and throw guys in a loop. After the game Tuesday, we had a Wednesday 11 am game. Then our final game of the series on Thursday was cancelled due to rain.

The next morning we left at 6:00 am for Avon, OH, home of the Lake Eerie Crushers. I knew that there would be a lot of same day travel in the league because there is not as much money as affiliated minor league ball. Paying for that extra night at the hotel is not in the budget option. Anyways, the bus trip was great the seats were nice and comfy like the overnight bus that Rome rode into Charleston overnight. Seats lay back, outlets, enough space to breath, it was a pleasant surprise from what my expectation was at.

The bus ride was great, however the series with Lake Eerie was not. When I first arrived with the team we were in first place in the first half standings. Since I have arrived we have gone 0-5 and fallen from first place. The good news is that the All-Star break just started and I think the guys are getting the rest that they need. For me, it is a bummer that the break is happening because I want to pitch as much as possible to get noticed, and to work on my craft. If I am in the groove I want to stay in the groove.

I made one appearance this weekend on Saturday night. The scene was set, bottom of the fifth, two outs, bases loaded, 5-5 game. This would be my first appearance on a turf mound, but I always pitch my bullpens off them so not much difference there. The hitter that was up is a former Slammer himself, which I knew the guys on the team wanted to make sure he didn’t beat us. I figured I would go right at him and challenge him with fastballs to get ahead with runners on base. He ended up popping out to the catcher.

My next inning I faced off against my old Rome Braves teammate Connor Oliver. I had been talking to him the day before the game, and again in batting practice about what he could expect during his at bat. I let him know that I would give him one fastball down the middle his first at bat, then we would go from there depending on how it went, or if he received another at bat. My second inning I threw six pitches and got three quick outs.

The good news about my outing was that my pitch count was kept low due to their aggressiveness at the plate. I made it through 2.1 innings with only my fastball but was able to mix it in and out to keep them from looking in one spot for the ball. My third inning of the day I finally found my curveball for a strike and was able to get two strikeouts swinging. If I would have gone deeper into counts with the first few innings I think I would have had more strikeouts. The slider has been good in practice but it did not translate into the game on Saturday.

In this league, from what I have been told, that strikeouts are good. That is what they want to see on the stat sheet. Understandable, if you aren’t punching out guys here then why would they think you are going to able to punch guys out at the higher levels.

I am having a good time with the group of guys we have up here in Joliet. Sometimes it is weird because guys will ask me for pitching advice, or want to talk strategy, when I feel like I am the last person to ask. I am still barely understanding my own body and pitches, let alone someone elses. It is nice to know that guys respect me when I am around in the clubhouse enough to ask for my advice though.

Tomorrow we are playing an exhibition game against the Chicago Bandits. The Bandits are a professional fast pitch softball team. It is my understanding that I am playing 3rd base and hitting fourth. The game plan against a softball is to spread my feet out and get the hands working because the ball will be coming in awfully quick.

I will have a lot more pictures of the ballpark tomorrow because I will be more of a fan before the game rather than being in pitching mode. I feel good about how the rest of the season is going to unfold, and finishing out the summer on a high note is my goal.

The Lost Month – PSML – Joliet

Hello friends.

It has been a bit since I commented here but there was not much to update on my status. When I first returned home from Arizona I wasn’t sure what I wanted from baseball. When people get released I think it is natural to have your mind wander to what life without baseball could be like.

The week after I got home I reached out to a friend of my dad Brad Meier about playing on his men’s league team. I wasn’t sure what to expect in the Peoria Sunday Morning League, but I figured if I pitched twice a week I would keep my arm in shape when a team called. The league plays on Wednesday nights and double headers on Sunday mornings. It was a good way for me to get my baseball fix in a stress free environment while working on my game.

A bonus of playing in the PSML is that they said hey you’re here and if you want to DH for the first six inning then pitch the seventh that is cool with us. Now I could get the juices flowing while swinging the bat. Two long years without hitting a baseball but it’s like riding a bike. After my first two at bats where I swung and missed at all six pitches I connected with a home run to center field (sweet brag, I know). It felt great to hit a ball again. Since then I have been one of our regular contributors to the offense in month of June.
I refer to June as the lost month because I wasn’t sure what to do. I want to play, but I felt like I exhausted most of my options in the area. I emailed every teams scouting director to the best of my email guessing ability, and I had a success rate of two teams respond. That way I am fresh in their minds.

In the middle of June I was alerted that the Frontier league was having a two team tryout + the Diamondbacks would be in attendance. I have been to a few of these open tryouts, however I had never been to one as a pitcher. The pitchers play the waiting game when they arrive for these because each pitcher gets their opportunity to showcase.

We had around 40 pitchers in attendance as registration was around 11 am. I was slated to be in the middle of the pack alphabetically around 19-20. One fun interaction at these tryouts is the stories you hear from different guys. My 2-3 hour drive was short compared to some of the guys who made the trip to small town Indiana to have a chance at pro ball.

My outing went well enough to have each Indy ball coach say they would keep me on their minds. Actually one coach said I would be a top of the list guy for them, only to go and tell someone else that there was about a 0 chance of them signing me. Even in these tryouts it is hard to get a feel for who likes you, and it was a bummer to find out that they basically lied right to me. If they weren’t honest up front that is on them, and if that’s how they work then I guess it’s how they work.

This tryout was a few weeks ago and I hadn’t heard back from anyone about playing. The month of July rolled around and still I haven’t heard anything until Sunday. On Sunday I recieved a text from the Joliet Slammers coach about coming up to pitch for their team. He said that it could be short term could be long term results pending. Good to know that it is in my control to get the job done.

The Joliet Slammers are an independent league team which is a compete 180 from affiliated baseball. It is independent in every sense of the word. There is less emphasis on player developing and more emphasis on winning the game. You might throw 2-3 times as a reliever in a minor league week because of pitch counts, but out here it is anyone’s guess when you will pitch. You might pitch 3-4 days in a row.

My experience so far has been good and I want to get some pictures up of the clubhouse as well as the stadium to chronicle the journey. Yesterday was a fun day because I drove up for my introductory experience to independent ball and I even got the pitch that night in the game.

It went well, I came into a jam and did alright getting out of it. After that I pitched a clean ninth. Anything I can do to get noticed as well as improve my pitching is good with me. Maybe not having a coach critiquing every move will do me well, and I can learn myself as a pitcher rather than being told to fit inside a certain mold.

I’ll update more tomorrow when I have some good pictures and when we finish my first home stand as a Slammer.

Another hat, another jersey, but still the same game. Hitters hit, pitchers pitch, and I am still battling my way back to affiliated and ultimately the major leagues. That’s why everyone is out here playing, one way or another, we all have the drive to compete and hold onto that hope of being picked up again, or for the first time.