As the old saying goes, forget about the past and think ahead about the future. Well for me that was a reality as I was roughed up on monday june 27th, the worst part was I knew that I could have done better. There are just those days that you think you're throwing well and everything seems loose, but when I hit the rubber I just could string together good pitches. Worst of all my head was cluttered with outside distractions, being a ball player I know I should have shaken those out. Who legitimately can do a job decently if they were stressed or were just off topic of thought? Not me that's for sure.
Being a pitcher who bares down and keeps his composure I did a poor job on this night, although I did not seem shook, mentally I was. That night when the swif current indians lit me up, I knew I wasn't working hard enough. So after some lousy feelings and positive self talk ( yeah thats right, positive self talk, because as dirk hayhurst said in the bullpen gospels, "We punish ourselves with negative self talk to make ourselves feel better, when really positively is how we should think"). As the days moved and we started to slide ourselves as a team I picked up my work load and ran with it to the point I was feeling stronger, more mentally tough, and more game ready.
As Friday July 1st rolled around the towns and people in them were painted in a sea of red and white to celebrate canada's birthday. Today we took the road to Moose Jaw to play a team we were more than capable of beating. Everything seems serene on such a monumental day, but in reality us ball players were worried about 2 things, the win and the fun that came after such a win. Early leads were usually something we had trouble attaining, but today on Canada's day, we put up a 3 spot in the first then 4 more in the second. Rolling? yep, our pitcher #22 was dicing on the hill, every second we'd be yelling GOTTT HEEEEM! (a little brian wilson war cry explains the saying). So with a 10-3 in the bottom of the ninth, yours truly got the call. So I hit the ground running, my confidence back at 100% and I had done some scouting earlier in the game and knew that the first guy was a dead pull hitter so anything on the outside part he would roll over on, sure enough with the count 2-2 he rolled over to the second basemen. I peppered the strikezone on the next guy with a barrage of curveballs, up 0-2 he worked me back to 2-2, then I ripped a change-up that got him way out in front for the K. And last I jammed this guy with a 1-2 running fastball that he lollipopped to our second basemen. Game Over ! yep that was it I was back, all because of trusting myself and working hard even though it was a long week with no days off. ( just to fill you in, of course when we got back from the game me and the boys hit the old stomping ground the King George pub to down a few ales in celebration of canada day ) OHHHHH CANADA
