May 2021 – A Baseball Blog

Hodgetown – Week Three

Baseball is back in Amarillo. A 2020 layoff and an organization change happened between now and then but the Sod Poodles are back. As the warmup hype video says it is time to bring the ruckus.

When we returned to Amarillo from Wichita the weather was not cooperating with opening night. What was supposed to be the return of the Soddies turned into a waiting game. The original start time of 7:05 turned into a 10:15 start time. We all figured there was no way this game was being cancelled because it was opening night and the hot dogs were being sold.

The opening game we came out hot and won 10-0. It was nice being back in Amarillo and returning to a familiar stadium. I am still learning how this organization does things and how everyone here operates.

I was still waiting for my first opportunity and to officially be part of the team. My time would come on the third game of the series on Thursday night. We were down 7-1 and I was tasked with throwing the seventh inning. Was I nervous? Not nervous I would say but anxious to make a good impression and become a member of the team. What was interesting to me is that nobody knew what to expect when I came in. Nobody had seen me throw yet and I was the new guy.

It was time to see what I could bring to the table without much prep and my body answered the called. It usually does when it senses that hey it is game time. The normal aches and pains of the body disappear for an outing. I’m pleased with how I’ve been feeling the day or so after throwing also. Any burnout further down the line is future Mitchell’s problem.

The first hitter I faced had a swinging bunt and tested me right out of the gate. Also, after my outing I thought that I was the first person to throw for the Sod Poodles and against the Poodles. Do I have historical accuracy to back this up? No, but I figured that since I pitched against them in 2019 when they were San Diego, and now they are Arizona, and we haven’t played the Padres yet, I am claiming that title for the back of my baseball card.

My first appearance as a Soddie went well as it was a clean 1-2-3 appearance. I’m glad it went well and I am now officially in the stat book as a member of the bullpen. I was thrown right back into the mix on Saturday in a higher leverage situation and unfortunately it didn’t go my way.

The next appearance was on Saturday and it was a 1-1 game in the top of the 8th. The funny thing is I felt even better than I did before on Thursday. My pitches were better and I was feeling confident but with one swing I gave up the lead on a home run. The 30 mph winds to left field didn’t help, but that isn’t an excuse. The rest of the pitchers throwing on Saturday limited the damage. I said I was part of the team and back into baseball after the first appearance, but now taking a loss for the team means I am officially back and part of the gang.

The series between the Soddies and Midland ended in a 3-3 split. It feels good to be back in the swing of things and chasing the ultimate goal of pitching in the MLB. Like I’ve said in the previous posts, it doesn’t matter why or how they brought me in, they don’t check your ID when you pitch, and each day I get to show up to the field and do my work.

We left Amarillo to head on a two week road trip starting with the Corpus Christi Hooks. I am the wise old veteran of the bullpen that has been to most of these stadiums and fields. I remind myself that the guys here have all known each other for a few years at this point and I’m the new guy, but I’ve been the new guy everywhere. I keep my head down and do my work. There are guys here who this is their first full season of minor league baseball. I’m excited for them and we can bounce ideas off each other.

I’ll be reporting from Whataburger Field down in Corpus for the next week before we head up to Frisco. The setup for the minors this year is nice and we are in one spot for the whole week instead of going here there and everywhere in between. It gives us time to settle in.

Thank you again everyone who is following along. Great to be back and updating!

The 2021 Return

The gripping conclusion to the return story is finished. Without further delay I present…

There I was sitting around and prepping to head back to independent ball when the Diamondbacks put an offer into the universe. It was from left field as they say. I still don’t know exactly when or where the decision was made to bring me in but I am grateful for whoever stuck their neck out and said hey this guy still has gasoline in the tank.

It was a whirlwind few days of packing and recognizing and hopping flights to get to Arizona. I missed my first connector out of Chicago due to mechanical error but we made it work. I arrived the same day as my fellow pitcher Alex Powers. He has a very similar story as I did. Almost exactly the same. Was training for indy ball when the Diamondbacks called and say hey come on out.

The next step for me was to get up to game speed on the extended spring training schedule and then get shipped off to an affiliate. I was throwing in March in Arizona but I had been taking it light since the independent league report and season did not start until middle May. Spring Training just finished up which to me meant that teams had their guys ready to go and would not be looking to free agents. Whatever the case is and whatever role they expect me to fill I am here and I’m ready to make it happen.

The getting up to speed went quicker than I thought. I threw a few bullpens in extended spring and threw one game when I was deemed worthy to join the Amarillo Sod Poodles. It is a team that I played against with Springfield but now I am in the other dugout. I checked their schedule and unfortunately we do not play each other the entire year due to Covid protocol and limited travel between divisions. Oh well.

When I finished my one inning I was thinking okay I will get one more shot at this then it is onto AA again. I’m ready either way and the team knows I had no spring training to prepare but if they deem me ready to go then I am ready to go. What am I going to say? No it’s okay Id rather stay in Arizona. I’ve been in this league before which comforts me as far as knowing what to expect at each ballpark. No where is a new place to me except the two new teams that were added. Which is where I flew to meet the team an old summer baseball stomping ground of mine, Wichita, Kansas.

The Wichita Wind Surge were suppose to be the AAA Marlins in 2019 but with Covid and no baseball that did not happen. Instead with the realignment to make teams closer to their affiliates it is now the AA Minnesota Twin team. Strangely enough in the flurry of offseason moves and teams filling their rosters I played against a few of the Wind Surge last year in Fargo. Baseball world gets smaller and smaller each year I play.

I arrived in Wichita around 3:00 for the 6:45 game and when I arrived the pitchers stretch had come and gone. Nothing like playing catch with your new pitching coach on day one. Speaking of my new pitching coach, Doug Drabek, former Cy Young winner. He will be a good guy to learn from.

I thought for sure the first game or two I would be in the mix to dip my toes back into the Texas league but the games came and went. So far with Mitchell in attendance the Sod Poodles are 2-0. Not saying but I’m just saying.

The MILB is following a similar set up to the American Association last year. What I mean is that every Monday is an offday for the league and we play six straight games against the same opponent. This upcoming week we host the Midland Rockhounds for six games for the first series at Hodgetown.

Where I Have Been – Part 2

When we left off I was returning from Charlotte empty handed. I went to Charlotte and all I got was a cool HD video of me throwing. Was the trip worth it? Yes. Did I enjoy meeting new guys who are pursuing their passion like me? Yes. Throughout my career I have met people from all over the country and you never know when someone from the past will make an appearance.

I was starting my rehab for my elbow in Jupiter when I had nowhere or no one to throw with. Longtime readers will remember the days when I went to random baseball tournaments asking random summer ball players if they would stand 45 feet away so I could get my throws in. One of the first people I met on my recovery was Connor Rooney

Connor and I met behind the Marlins backfields at an outdoor racquet ball court. He was doing some baseball drills with the plyo balls and I was throwing into the wall. It was one of those hey let’s be friends and since then we have kept in communication. Where does Connor fit into my latest journey?

Connor mentioned to me that Driveline baseball was keeping their “pop up” shop open for all players to come to Arizona and train. Normally the building is only open before spring training and for Driveline athletes. In this case because of the pushed back spring they were going with the flow. In my case I thought what an opportunity. I could be in Arizona training, when my chances of being seen are much greater there than in Illinois.

I couldn’t do any of this without my support system back home behind me. I know my chances are slim, and I’ve had my ups and downs, but I’ll be 30 this year if I am playing or if I am not.I’m going for it.

The schedule for Arizona Training Trip 2021 was to throw live to hitters on Wednesday and Saturdays. Once I felt comfortable and decently built up on the mound I would see if any teams would send a scout over to say what’s up. The first day I threw live it was about 10 people and next thing you know we were at the field from 3 pm to 11 pm on Saturdays. There were 30+ guys throwing because there was no spring and teams wanted their minor leagues to be ready to go. Shout out to our catchers who wore the long days and nights.

This was the routine and the plan was to take this momentum straight into a spring training out here. We joked how it’d be funny if I came all the way out here only to get a call I needed to fly out to Florida or something like that. It was a good time training and being around like minded guys. I enjoy my solitude at home in the basement gym and throwing into a net but nothing beats being outside on the dirt.

I ran into former teammates while I was here as well as what I hope will be future teammates. The longer I play the more people I know or know of and that’s one of the best perks of the gig. Shoutout to Desert Edge High School for hosting.

What was the result of Arizona Training Trip 2021? Well nothing. It came and went. I enjoyed my time. When Spring Training started I figured it was time to head back. I didn’t think teams would be releasing anyone right away because most of the players they were waiting to see had not played since 2019. Teams would take inventory and then by the end of spring have a better idea of what they have and what roles they need to fill.

The best course of action was to regroup and get ready for another independent season since now teams are playing again in a non shortened Covid season. What does this mean for me? Well in part 3 I have good news, but I want to drag it out a tad longer for content. I was given a lot of cool video clips and data metrics about my pitches which going forward will be nice to look at one day as an old retired player. Show my team that I used to have it when they try to talk crap.

Yoink. He ended up hitting a single.

Thank you all for ready and I look forward to updating in the final installment of “Where in the World is Mitchell San Diego”