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My pitching arm is on fire. I forgot what it felt like to have this bad of arm pain – it hasn’t been this bad since I threw on back to back days when I was training in the offseason three years ago. I threw too many pitches yesterday – laboring in the fourth and bearing down really took it out of me. Six ibuprofen and some *cough* caffeine pills helped me through today’s game, but I couldn’t have played anywhere but second base. After I warmed up with Jake, it was really inflamed and I was happy to not start the game in the field.

I went 0 for 3 today with a HBP, but my at-bats were pretty solid after the first one where I struck out on four pitches – looking on a curveball away. The wind was blowing in, so anyone who hit fly balls was punished, which unfortunately includes our #4 and #5 hitters (Steve and I). We’re both below-average runners that profile as power hitters who walk a bunch, and the conditions today were not right for it. I mashed a ball to LF that I squared up, but the wind carried it foul and 30 feet short of the warning track, to boot. On a regular day, that ball is fair and will bang up against the fence no problem. I flew out to RF on a changeup away, which I was pretty proud of, as I went the other way with it, and smashed a hard and low liner that the third basemen just plucked 2 inches from the ground. It’s a bummer, but I hit the ball hard three times and there’s nothing you can do besides that.

We lost the game by one run in the bottom of the eighth, which was a huge bummer. Our rookie struck out with me at third base. They had a pitcher in who was laboring and pitching from the windup, and had he continued to pitch from the windup, I would have stolen home and tied it up (I make up for my slowness with decent baserunning skills). Alas, they brought in a lefty who pitched from the stretch, and I had to hope for the base hit that never came.

Our team is now 1-5, but we’re playing a lot of close games and the team is starting to gel. It’s hard to get something going when you lose in a lot of different ways – today we made a lot of errors, last week we couldn’t hit – but the team has a lot of new people every year while the other teams in our division have been together for awhile. It takes awhile to play solid team baseball, so I chalk a lot of our losses up to that.

In related news, both Steve (aforementioned power hitter) and I have gained about 20-30 pounds of pure fat in the offseason and we’re both disgusted with ourselves. While it hasn’t really affected my hitting (lack of practice in the winter did that), it’s still embarrassing and a big letdown to our teammates, even if they don’t say anything. He’s been in the gym 4-5 times a week, and I’m about to head out to LA Fitness and put some time in on the bench press and the squat rack. If I have time, I’ll sit in the whirlpool and swim a few easy laps to rehab my pitching arm, but it’s more likely that I’ll just jump on an elliptical trainer for a half-hour and watch an episode of 30 Rock on my iPod while I do so.

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While Jake was busy playing for the White Sox (we play for the same three teams), I opted to play for our Nandemoya team on the east side. I started the game on the hill and found success pretty early – I had great command of my slider, and it was biting hard. When I properly located it, batters swung through it and had no chance. My fastball velocity felt lively, but it was probably below-average compared to where it’s been in the past. I still struggle with my changeup, so I used a slow overhand curve to keep hitters off-balance. Unfortunately, I left it up more often than not, and it got clobbered as a result.

Through the first three innings, I let up 2 runs and struck out 3 – two on sliders that they swung through, and one on a fastball away that froze the batter (I know the feeling). In the fourth, I tired and started walking batters, but they left me in to pitch since we were thin on guys and I had a 10 run lead. Eventually I bared down, got pissed, and threw the hell out of the ball – just like my teammate on the White Sox (Andreas) likes to do. It resulted in a lot of strikes! Over time, I think it’ll become evident that I’m built to be a reliever, even though I desperately want to start. I feel as though if I get pumped up and throw the hell out of the ball for two innings with good command of my fastball/slider combination, I’ll be pretty effective. Still, I’m extremely out of shape – probably the worst I’ve been since I moved to Seattle. I’m overweight and my arm is not built up. I’m lucky that my hitting is coming around in a big way, otherwise I’d be nearly useless.

We won 14-10, and I went 1 for 2 with a double at the plate. Overall, a pretty good day, and it encourages me to get out more often and build my arm back up. I need to get in the gym, too…

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Today was a really good day.  Everything didn’t go perfectly, no shutout or anything like that, but I was pretty effective through four frames against the best lineup in the league.  The first two innings went down real easy, but they started to figure me out by the time I started to get tired.  Gave up a few runs, but some of it was on the defense, so we were all in it together.

We ended up losing again, but it was a close game throughout.  Plenty of good pitching and hitting, with only a few miscues.  I had a great day at the plate but couldn’t help my cause too much, went 3 for 4 with three barrel-contact singles.  Felt really comfortable up there.  I still have no idea what my average is, but I kinda like it that way.  I know it’s up there, so all’s well.

Time to relax with fatty avocado boursin salad and the Mariners game.

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What an interesting day of amateur baseball.  Full of drama, intrigue and subterfuge.  We lost, after our manager started himself and promptly gave up 3 runs in the top of the first, exiting with the bases loaded and zero outs.  The first reliever was equally ineffective, leaving us in a 8 run hole after two frames.  Our normal starter entered the game after that and we almost made another huge comeback.  Man this team has some fight in it.  We lost, and the aftertaste was pretty bitter, considering the way things started.

I had a great day all around in the loss, going 2-3 with 2RBI’s and 2 runs scored.  In the field I made several plays that should be made at SS, nothing too flashy.

The Nandemoya game and the White Sox game overlap tomorrow so I was pressed as to which one I should show for.  Nandemoya pitches me every time and our manager of the Sox had been resistant to putting me in games… yet he would pitch himself.  I don’t want to brag too hard on myself, I’m strictly amateur, but there’s a huge, real difference between my stuff and this guy’s stuff.  So I gave him an ultimatum in front of the team, either to start me in the game tomorrow (he was planning on using the last reliever we used tonight as tomorrow’s starter, despite knowing I could pitch) or I was going to start for Nandemoya and defend my complete game winning streak.  He finally undestood how serious I was about pitching and decided to give me the ball tomorrow.

I’ll have a big humble pie waiting to be consumed if I fail…  we’re playing the best team in the league tomorrow.

I can’t wait.

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Winning streaks are fun.

After an 0-2 start the Mariners are 3-2. Last Sunday we one of the teams ahead of us in the standings 14-12 in a game that was not that close by the end. They scored 4 in the bottom of the last inning off our tiring pitcher. However, there was a time when we were down 8-3 and again it was yours truly who was on the hill giving up runs. But our bats persevered, our reliever was stellar and we played great defense after a shaky start. All that added up to us putting up numbers while they flamed out offensively and taking a 6 run lead into their final at-bat.

Despite being on the hook for 8 runs (not all earned) I did not feel it was an awful pitching performance. The first started with a double and he got stranded. The second featured only one walk, a bloop RBI hit, 3 errors (one on me trying to field a bunt and throwing it away) and one very long HR (gulp). I left after getting 2 outs in the book and having to get 6 to get out of it. I don’t sweat getting pulled, I did not want us to get into too big of a hole. I will take away some good things–throwing better out of the windup, which I had mostly abandoned; good control on my 4 seam FB  grip, changing speeds nicely and not walking too many. Tip your hat the guy who homered, he took one that was right in his wheelhouse and drove it way out.

At the plate I had an average day. Got a 2 run double my first time up, bouncing a hot grounder right over the bag at third. My other ABs were a walk, an error and a FC. Never hit the ball that hard except for my first AB. In the field I played 3 innings at 3B, making 4 straight outs at one point. That might have solidified my place as a reliable left sided infielder based on glove and in particular arm strength.

Can’t make our game this weekend and we have July 4th weekend off so this latest win is the last diamond action for me until July 11 weekend.

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You don’t see many 1 -0 games in amateur baseball.  I honestly can’t remember ever having played in one, at any level.  My high school didn’t have the dominant starter that you need for this sort of effort, let alone the defense.

This game was strange in the fact that neither pitcher’s performance was truly dominating, but the overall level of play was high enough that all of the sure plays were made… as well as a few great ones.  I myself mostly led the cheerleading squad from the bench, but I DHed for our GM who played catcher.

Was really suprised and pleased about being in the lineup only to hit.  Usually defense is my calling card but my offensive prowess has been steadily improving over the years.  I’ve been mashing the ball in the other leagues, but not in a Mustangs jersey. With this team having a sort of ‘what have you done for me lately’ dynamic, I figued exactly the opposite would happen.  I had a horrible game, 0 for 3 with two K’s.  Their SS made a great play on a ball I hit deep in the hole, but you have to tip your cap to great plays…  just like great pitches.

I’m starting to understand the difference between teams who ‘really try hard to win’ and teams that ‘know they’re going to win’.

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Well we were riding high this week due to last weekend’s huge comeback, but we were facing the same team again.  Needless to say they had a score to settle.  The O’s were coming off a huge 13- 4 victory against the Dodgers the day before in which they used their ace, so we thought we had a decent chance of taking the rubber match.

It was not to be.  Shoddy defense in the form of dropped flyballs was the main culprit, but our offense never really clicked, either.  When the manager puts himself in for mop-up duty you know it ain’t pretty.  It was still nine innings of baseball on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon with plenty of family on and to enjoy it.  I have no qualms with anything, win or no.

Had a pair of singles and almost dropped a phat throw on a would-be runner, just didn’t get the call.

And I didn’t have to use my AK.

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We faced the Eagles today in our second week of action. This was their first game ever as a team in the Seattle League, and it was pretty competitive until our big inning.

We gave up five in a forgettable first.  It was hard being on the mound for this inning, but we tuned our defense up and kept everything positive…  for the most part.

We chipped away their lead with a 4-run second, during which I had a 2 run single.  We won the war of attrition after that.

We bounced their starter in the third and the relief was really psyched up.  I lined a single to greet him and we ended up having a biiiig inning, it was awesome.  The final was 11 – 5, we held them scoreless after the first.

It was totally ironic that the defense became so solid after the wacky first frame.  A testament to keeping a good attitude, I guess.

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This is the life, 3 games every weekend for a good chunk of the summer.  My poor wife, at least I’m a good cook…  Got the usual fare going on, Nandemoya, White Sox on Saturday and Mustangs on Sunday.

I’ll try to get some stats, but I won’t publish them unless they’re good.

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