The last week has gone by real quick. Last Wednesday I was moved up to the AA Birmingham Barons. I drove the 7 hours from Winston to here on Thursday. I definitely did not sleep much that night because of Game 7 of the NBA finals and all the packing I had to do for the early morning departure. We all watched the game in the Dash clubhouse after our game and it was a blast. We had all the Latinos in there goin nuts whistling and everyone talking smack to each other, it was awesome. When the Lakers won all the Lake Show fans jumped around in a circle like we would for a walkoff homerun celebration at home plate.

So all told it was a great day, the Lakers won and I got promoted. I started last Sunday against the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins) and went 4 innings giving up 2 runs. I felt like I pitched like crap and my mindset sucked. I got it out of the way though and now I will settle in. I pitched the Sunday day game so it was a little bit warm out there and I was on 3 days rest from my last start. However I pitched away from contact and was trying to be too fine with my pitches. The 4th inning I said something like "screw it" and just went out there and got pissed off and had my only clean inning with 2 strikeouts. I really need to take that mentality every time out and just attack hitters like I do and limit my pitch count so I can get deep into games.

We are the road now for 6 games against the Chattanooga Lookouts (Dodgers). I don't know why but they play a lot of long series in the Southern League. In most leagues you play 3 or 4 game series, but here its 5 games a lot of times. I will start again on Saturday.

One of the perks of AA is you get some more perks. Like you don't carry your baseball bag to the bus or take it off. On the road, the bus takes all our stuff to the field and the road clubbies unload it and put it all away for you in your locker. They also clean your spikes after the game. Drawback is you pay more in clubhouse dues its like $11-12 per day plus tip at the end. The food spread is similar probably a little better. Last night we had ribs, mashed potatoes and beans.

So I'm gonna do my best to make the most of this opportunity and just keep goin hard. The hay is in the barn as Coach Serrano would say. Now its time to let it work for me.

Read Philippians 4:13. repeat it 10 times a day

As the all-star break nears we are now 3.5 games ahead of Salem for first place. We played 3 innings today before being rained out so we have to finish this game next saturday when we travel to Wilmington. It was 95 degrees, and literally 20 minutes later was 80 degrees with some angry rain. I always tell me teammate who is from NC "sweet state bro" [insert your own level of sarcasm].

We dropped all 3 games in Myrtle Beach, we lost some close games but played pretty flat. There are lots of distractions there and whenever we go I just try to lay low, it would be a fun time if I let it be a fun time, but that type of fun doesn't really get the job done haha.

Yesterday was a long, long day. We had a night game on Friday, then this kids fun day event at the stadium at 730AM the next morning. It lasted from 8-1230 with a short break in the middle. We were assigned to random stations. I got the hitting station so for the first hour and a half I threw wiffle balls to kids...the arm was cooked haha. I paid another dude 15 bucks to switch with me for the second session. Best 15 bucks I ever spent. I signed autographs sitting down in the shade for the next hour and a half. I went over to the wall and looked down at the hitting station and it was a zoo...I WIN.

Then we stuck around and had a baseball game. 1-1 9th inning, dreading the prospect of extra innings Justin Greene hit a walkoff home run to win it. When we played our 20 inning game we pretty much went nuts in the locker room throwing over couches and tables and banging on chairs and throwing playing cards up in the air. We have had a few walkoff wins since then and everytime we do the same thing. We call them riots, its so much fun. This team is a blast we definitely have a good time.

One of our starting pitchers went on the disabled list so I will be taking his place in the starting rotation. I start Wednesday at home against Frederick (Orioles).

We are 5 games ahead of Salem for first place after just sweeping Kinston at home in a 4 game series. We just arrived in Myrtle Beach for a nice little 3 game road trip. Our last road trip was 9 games so this is real nice. I have continued to pitch well my last few times out . The last appearance I had against Kinston I felt terrible warming up in the bullpen. I had no feel for anything except a fastball and I just kept praying to God to help me because I was lost. I could not throw a changeup anywhere near the plate...for real not even close. I got out to the game and had some of the best stuff I had all year. Amazing. I just let go of myself and my doubt and rolled with it, first changeup I threw was dirty. Amazing.

I forgot to mention we had Kangaroo Court again...I was fined a total of 2.50 for taking a foam roll everywhere I go, eating "birdseed", and for something else I seem to have forgot at this time.

The legendary John Wooden passed away, he influenced so many people and there is no doubt his principles will live on forever. If you have never read one of his books read one.

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
John Wooden

If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?
John Wooden

Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.
John Wooden