Superstitions---ya

My last start in Kalamazoo went great, I am happy with how this season is turning out, I have really grown more confident on the mound here and have really progressed as a better all around pitcher. I have been a middle reliever, setup, closer, and starter here...that about covers it huh. I still havent played shortstop dangit haha.

I get asked about superstitions a lot. People ask me if I have a lot of them, I say no not really. I have a feeling that I have way more than I think we will see. I am just going to list what comes to mind---

1. The night before I pitch I have to do 2 rotator cuff stretches for 30 seconds for my arm while lying in my bed

2. I use the same ankle socks under my regular baseball socks every game.
-the one with less elastic goes on the left foot....i must say these socks are gross but do work
-put the left ankle sock on first

3. Here is the ritual of puting on the uniform after batting practice
--take of shirt, put on dri-fit
--take of shorts and UCI sliders, put on padres sliders
---put on jersey
---put on socks, left one first
---put belt through pants, put on pants
---tuck dri-fit into sliders
--- pull pants over jersey and buckle belt
----put on hat
---douse uniform with axe bodyspray---gotta smell good to play good

4. I have to stretch in the same order or its bad news bears

5. I wear my Phiten necklace EVERYWHERE, but i have to take it off and put it in my right pants pocket before I start throwing off the mound.

6. Never step on the foul line and if i do, i must cross back over and then back over again to rectify it. I hop over the line with my left foot landing with my right.

7. Before throwing first pitch in game i stand behind the mound and say a prayer for my mom and grandma thanking them and asking them to be with me.

8. draw a J in the dirt for my mom and the big guy

9. In between innings I sit down and put my glove over my left knee and my hat on my right knee.

10 . thats all that come to mind, not many right?!

Hey its mid-July, im currently in Kalamazoo. Yes, despite what you may have heard, Kalamazoo is a real place. I always wondered if Kalamazoo and Osh-Kosh were actually real places or just bad attempts at a joke...now we know.

I am doin fine, having fun with my teamates and trying to ball as much as I can. We are in second place in our division, on pace to make the playoffs.

I had the honor of going to the all-star game last week in Rockford, Il. It was a good time, the most fun I had was rooting on J.T. Restko in the Homerun Derby. He was one of 5 from our team to go to the all-star game.

Hopefully I will have some more news to share soon.

I must go to sleep now, I am starting tomarrow.


Words of Wisdom:

Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.-William Shakespeare

Okay its been awhile which is my bad. Anyway we are approaching the halfway point of the season here, the all-star break begins Monday. We are sitting in third place at 24-19. We have lost a lot of close games, hopefully we can start winning those. Former MLB manager Tony Muser used to tell us with the Padres that 1/3 of games are easy wins, 1/3 of games you get blown out, and its the other 1/3 that make or break a team.

I will be playing in this years all-star game in Rockford, Il. Myself and 3 others from the 'bolts were selected. Hopefully I will get some exposure there and make a good impression on a few scouts and enjoy the experience. It can be frustrating always wondering if I will get signed out of here. I try to put it in the back of my mind so I can focus on just pitching.