The Finale – 2017

While the rest of minor league baseball was packing their bags on September 4th, the Spinners were playing ball.

The rain that washed us out of New York followed us to Lowell.

Instead of a three game set with Hudson Valley it was condensed into a double header the first day and then a single nine the second. Following that series we ended the season with two games against Vermont.

With the double header messing up the pitching schedule I was pushed back until the final game of the day. The Finale.

The night before the final game there was rain forecasted for the entire day. We were all assured the night before that the odds we played a game were very slim. When we woke up that morning there was no rain. The rain was on the way but it was not going to be around until gametime which meant we went through the motions as if the game was going to be played.

The part that upset most of the guys was that we knew the rain was on the way. It was just a factor of when it happened. Another factor in all this was that Vermont had already clinched their spot in the playoffs. There was no way that they could improve their standings. This meant that these games were meaningless in the fact our record changed, but very meaningful in the fact you don’t want to ruin a good season the last day of the year. You don’t want to be the pitcher that goes out and gives up four runs the final day. That was old me in the GCL.

We started the game on schedule with the threat of all night rain in our face. As scheduled we made it through two innings before the game was cancelled. This meant that the only thing that happened was both teams lost a starter that they wouldn’t be able to use the next game. To make matters for us worse we now had to finish the game the next day plus a double header. The odds I am pitching were increasing.

In what can only describe the entire season, our first game was threatening us with extra innings. The game was moving along because it was a 0-0 up until the ninth inning. If we stayed tied I was told to warm up and potentially throw the 10th but for sure the 11th. Thankfully we ended up walking off on a base hit to right and that meant I only had seven innings left in the season.

I’ve been in a weird spot with the last game approaching. On one hand it can be the last time I see any of the guys on the team. On the other hand I could be offered another contract with Boston when they decide on me. Our pitching coach here had to head home for hurricane prep which meant the pitching coordinator was in town the last few days to run the ship. I took this as a challenge to pitch well and be fresh in his mind. I know he doesn’t make the decisions on who stays and who goes but it can’t hurt to make a good lasting impression.

The first outing I had was opening night in Salem. I pitched terrible. I pitched timid. This was not opening day, and instead it was closing day. April 6 – September 7 was my active season. When I was in the bullpen warming up I thought well this could be it, and I might as well try to throw 100 and get a good impression. It might have been the best I felt all season as far as movement and effort level going into a game.

I came into the game with a man on second and one out. We were losing 3-1 and it was the top of the 6th inning. I was joking around before the game with Charlie our catcher because I had made it the whole season without pitching to him. He had only ever caught my front tosses and never gotten the full effect of me pitching in a game. Today was the day thought that Charlie and I got to go to work together. I had alerted him of the plan to get the fastball going and then see what we can do from there and it worked out. If this was my last game with Boston I struck out the last hitter I faced.

Thank you Kelly O’Connor for the sweet pictures while I was in Lowell.

After we lost the game the attitude and mood in the clubhouse was relief. For many of the guys on the team they were glad the season was over. The can relax and get home for their first full offseason. No fall ball, no classes, no responsibility. The coaching staff came in and said thanks good luck all of that stuff. The only person who didn’t come in and talk was Ralph our pitching coordinator. I guess he was in a hurry because nobody saw him leave or say goodbye. I hope he put the report in for me saying I did a good job or else this last outing was a let down. I wanted to make sure someone who made decisions heard and read about it.

After everyone packed up the drivers took off and the flyers were not leaving until the next day.

The shuttle times to the airport were anywhere from 3:00am running all day for the later flights. My shuttle time was 8:30 am with 11 other guys on the squad.

We rolled in on this mini limo type bus that had a nice card playing table in it and enough room for everyone to relax. I had not been flown out like this before as in previous seasons I was just a driver that took off after the game. I had never flown in a propellor plane but there is a first time for everything.

The next step for me was stopping in Salem to clean my locker and move out of my apartment. The Salem locker room was empty as I expected and it was a sad moment. My locker was still untouched from when I left. It was nice that nobody took over my spot even though the odds I made it back were slim. It gives me motivation to get back to where I started if I am given the chance. From what I understand the season is over and that means I am a restricted free agent. Then after the World Series they will make a decision on me going forward. They can make a decision on me before then but I’m sure there are more important things going on in Boston right now.

From where I began this year Feb 3 going to an Indy ball camp to finish an entire season is an accomplishment to me. If you told me I would be throwing 3-4 innings during each outing I would not believe it. I went from being terrified every day thinking I might pitch to wanting to throw every night if they let me. I wish I would have felt like this earlier in the ear but better late than never. I have seen what the Red Sox just picked up and I know what they have in front of me. I can play with these guys. Like Ralph the pitching coordinator said to me, “You’re healthy, good arm, just haven’t put it all together yet”.

Whoever has me next year when I put it all together is going to be in for a pleasant surprise. Thank you everyone who followed me this season. It has been a crazy year and I’ve had ups and downs. I am going to keep playing until my mom tells me I suck, and I believe I have another year in me before that happens.

The Final Road Trip

In what felt like a blink of an eye is now here. The final road trip of the season to Brooklyn is winding down.

The Spinners were in Tri-City after our home stand and it was the last place in the schedule that I had not been to yet. The Tri-City team is in upstate New York near Albany. The hotel that we stayed at was wild and it was hosting weddings all weekend. The inside of the hotel had these large rooms that felt like they wanted you to be in a castle or something like that. What an interesting place to house a baseball team.

Their field was nice and overall not as bad as most of the set ups that I have seen in the other Penn League teams. Their bullpen was located down the right field line which meant the pressure of an on field bullpen was not there. That always gives me a tick of confidence knowing that if you let one fly it doesn’t matter as much. That is exactly what I did when I had to warm up.

It was our second game of the series and we were coming off an extra innings victory from the night before. The Greenville squad poached our starting pitcher for the day which meant that we called one up from the GCL. From what I heard he was a reliever here to start the season and when the new draftees arrived he was sent down to extended to be a starter. I knew that I was the first one available from the bullpen but I did not count on warming up in the first inning. The inning started in the best way it could have with him getting one out with one pitch. Then the next thing you knew it was 5-0 and he was out of the game.

The stage was set. Time for Mitchell to throw 4 innings and save the bullpen from complete failure. If you would have told me my role was someone who threw 3-4 innings every appearance before the start of the season I would not have believed you. When I threw two innings in the spring I was tired during the second inning. I did what I could and we made my four innings go by quickly. I felt good, didn’t feel any different than I did against Vermont the last time I threw. I can go out each outing and throw the same pitches I did the night before but the results can be completely different. You can only throw a fastball away so many times before someone makes contact. The hitters get paid to hit those.

It did feel good to get four scoreless innings under my belt. I’m under no illusions that my performance this year hasn’t been good enough. For my personal records it was nice to get some scoreless innings. The decision for me this offseason has already been made in my eyes and now I’m working on improving for next year wherever that will be.

My next outing was last night against Brooklyn. When we came into the series we had an outside chance at making the playoffs. If we were able to win each time Vermont lost then we would have a chance. Unfortunately for us the first game here we had a double header. It was a makeup game for the rain the last road trip. We left Lowell at 8:00 am and went straight to the field for a 6:00 pm double header.

I thought I might pitch the first game and that’s what I had planned but both starters threw the ball well and if I threw the first game I would only throw one inning. In my current role I’m not used in a one inning role as much as I would like to be. When we sit in the bullpen and joke about one of us throwing 4-5-6 innings because the starter gets knocked out I always say great that means I’m doing something right out there.

I was saved for the nine inning game last night and came into the game down 2-1 in the 6th. I figured it was my game for the rest of the way for four innings and then go from there if we can tie or take the lead. We did not.

My three innings went okay. Only one little nubber base hit and besides that not a whole lot of action. I had a couple walks my third inning which makes me upset but at this point I am chasing zeroes then I can worry about walks later. Neither of them scored which was nice but I don’t like those ugly walks by my name and I have a lot of them this year. I went three scoreless in relief and felt fine and if we did tie it or take the lead I would have been ready to go for a fourth inning.

The team has six games left in the season. One more here in Brooklyn then we have five home games to end the season. I figure I will pitch in one more game. Our bullpen is thinned out to the point where we lost our piggy back starter and then we lost another reliever to a promotion to Greenville. He threw four innings here and was moved up just like that. At this point the only chance I have to move up would be a playoff spot with Greenville but I don’t even know if I would want to do that. If that’s their plan then it would be nice to know but right now I’m planning on being in Salem September 8 to pick up my gear.

I am looking forward to my next outing to see what happens. I haven’t checked my velocity charts lately so I’m not sure where I am at there but I like to think it’s good based on their swings. In my last outing I might have to let some go and see if I can pump the stats a little and see if it earns me an invite back to camp.

We played tonight against Brooklyn at 6:00 pm. Instead of the overnight trip we took a loss in five innings due to rain. It was a 1-0 game and kinda crappy way to lose with a wild pitch in the fourth and then they said tarp on the field. Losing four games to the worst team in the league won’t help the confidence level going back to Lowell. Especially because there is more rain in the forecast for Lowell.

After the bus ride it is a quick turn around into a Sunday game against Hudson Valley. I don’t think I’ll throw in the next two days but after that I should be available at any time. One more opportunity to make an impression going into the offseason. With the rain out and only using one reliever today it pushes everyone back a day. We have our double starters throwing tomorrow and then what is supposed to be a double start that now is just a starter throwing three innings. That will be a big day for the bullpen. We are playing Hudson Valley who is very much in the playoff race.

The last five games could get weird. This is right around the time that the GCL is finishing and they might send a guy or two up to Lowell to experience it. I’m hoping I get to keep my corner locker space and if they send more pitchers hopefully that doesn’t mess with the rotation too much. That way I can still get my 3-4 innings in at some point and go from there.

I’m proud of myself for making it from Feb 1 – Sept 1 with no hiccups. My results haven’t been stellar but as far as development going forward I feel good where I am at. With everything that has been thrown at me this year I’ve handled it well whether or not I’m with Boston next year.

The numbers are the numbers but from day one I was told to throw it hard and learn a reliable slider. I believe I’ve done both of those more times than I haven’t. The next step is continuing to get more consistent.

That starts tomorrow playing Hudson Valley at the best short season ballpark in America.