All-Star Weekend

We started out last week with Veracruz. We took two of three from them and I was dancing through the games, really feeling in the zone. I looked at my swings from the games and noticed something else I could get better at. When I make my stride sometimes I bend at the waiste a little, which causes my bat path to be longer or more indirect to the ball. The taller I stay the more direct and simple my path to the ball is. Beautiful.
I used the idea in the All-Star game and had success with it, driving in the first run for our team. The game ended in a 5-5 tie. Both teams played hard and the overall experience was good. I really enjoyed talking with the other players about ball or just joking around. I had a really cool conversation with a 37 year old Japanese player about hitting. During the few times we've played Mendoza I noticed he and I have similar swings and probably philosophies. I got a chance to speak with him before yesterday's game. After telling him I much how much I enjoyed watching him swing and agreeing upon a few things, he started to share with me some of his key points. He recommended visually seeing the ball as long as possible. In your mind it has to be slow to see it for a long time. Also at contact the swing should be at 100%, but not before. He and I both agreed many players start swinging at 100% too early which cause them to miss hit pitches. He also told me he noticed sometimes I overstride, but only sometimes. I listened and tried not to get too excited. I love talking about hitting, especially when it's someone who is so effortless and efficient with their swing.
Probably the best part of All-Star weekend was the publicity I got. This morning my coach was telling me how well they were speaking of me on TV last night. The were saying I could play in the Mexican League during the regular season. Just last week I was asking him how I could land a job here in the summer. He told me it would be difficult because I am a middle infielder and a foreigner with not a lot of experience at the higher levels. In my heart I know I could play at that level, but just need the opportunity. All weekend I was talking to everyone I could; managers, scouts, and radio to help my chances of finding a job here in the summer. Who knows what the future holds, but the Lord has his hand in all of this. Knowing that gives me peace, joy and thanks.
I've been thinking of my plans after this winter and next season. Hopefully I'll be able to come home and transition into training and lessons ASAP. I would like to have a facility and a schedule ready to go as soon as I get back to Texas. I'll be working on that the last month or so I'm in here in Mexico. Hope all is well there. Enjoy Thanksgiving with family and frieds. Eat a plate for me. Momma save me some pie. MMMM!

Feelin "it"

We ended up taking two of three from Soledad. The second game ended in a tie because the sun was setting and they don't have lights. The first two days were so hot and I woke up on the third day praying for clouds. There were clouds the whole day on Sunday. It was great. Saturday's game was awesome becuause I felt something in my swing that I haven't felt in a long time. It allows me to be so simple and direct to the ball. I've been feeling this feeling for the last three games. The hardest part is trying to describe the feeling, but I know it's right. It feels like a simple push when I'm swinging, one move forward. No pulling, no spinning. I probably still turn, but the focus is a relaxed simple move straight to the ball. This feeling transitions into my running, throwing, fielding, really everything I do on the field. In the past when I feel "it" I play great baseball. It allows me to focus more on the game, instead of thinking of what I'm doing. I don't have to worry about my moves or reactions as much, I trust them and the game becomes more of a dance. The feeling isn't as crisp and accurate as it has been in the past, but I have a good feeling it will continue to become more and more consistent. If it grows into what I have felt before, it's going to get real exciting.
On monday I went to Veracruz to change it up a little on the off day. We went to the mall, ate, and came back to Fortin. Yesterday we played Veracruz. There were a lot of emotions flying around, it was really intense. Some of our players from last year and this year were playing for Veracruz. Victor, our manager in Cordoba last year was managing Veracruz. It was great to see him, but not many people in Mexico like him. Everyone really wants to beat him bad. One of our players wasn't dressing out because he hasn't gotten paid. I started at short. We got a new ex-big league infielder. And it was raining. All that wrapped into a game causes a tense and chaotic atmosphere. We ended up loosing the game 5-4, but I was happy with the way I competed. It's always a little challenging for me to compete against people I have played with before. The team played OK. We play them two more times, it should be interesting.
After this series we have the All-Star break. Seven of us are going. It should be a good time. Check out the new swings. See if you can see a difference

You get what you get

A couple of days ago we finally got to play the Brujos after being rained out the first two games. We played a double header and they smoked us both games. That was the end of the first half. If we could have won one game we would have finished in 2nd or 3rd, but because we lost both we dropped to fifth for first half standings. It's crazy how much we jumped down, but because we had so many rainouts it really affected our winning perctage. So after loosing those two games the ownership met with the management of the team and released five or six guys. It's business. We'll see who comes in and how it affects the team.
Yesterday we took off to Soledad to play the first game of the second half. It was a 2 o'clock start and the sun was shining bright in center field, causing a shadow on the side of the ball we were seeing at the plate. Some of the guys were complaining about not being able to see the ball. It is what it is and we figured out a way to pull out a victory. We have two more games there at the same time, today and tomorrow. That sun aint' goin' nowhere.
Personally I've been struggling offensively the last few games. It's frustrating because I know what I want to do, but can't seem to find it. It happens. I looked at the film from last night and noticed during my stride my front hip coming up a little, which makes it hard to be direct with the barrel. It causes a upward swing, which makes it long and causes a lot of foul balls and pop ups. I'll see if I can make the adjustment. I have peace knowing I'm doing the best I can. It will turn out like it's supposed to. I haven't had energy to put up the swings from the last few games. When I feel it, I'll put em up.
One frustrating thing that has been on my mind is the respect everyone gives this big leaguer. Just because of his accomplishments they hold him so high. In my opinion a man isn't defined by his successes. I've been playing a second base for about five games now and they moved me because he asked to play shortstop. That's fine, but I still feel a little mistreated. I was handling short just fine, 0 errors and making every play. This happened to me once before when I was in Lowell, my first year in pro-ball with the Red Sox. I respect the peoples decision and do my best to move on and not let it affect me. I don't hold hard feelings towards the kid or the coaches, I understand why they did what they did. But, what ever happened to loyalty. It's things like this that really frustrate me because this is the way the world operates.
After writing the last paragraph I want to share something with everyone. Something a little more encouraging. I went on a beautiful run yesterday morning. I woke up at 7 and just felt like taking a run. I took off and started to try and run, but my heel was hurting so I just kept walking down the road. I came to this winding downhill road. It was awesome. I just let it take me. It felt like I was in the middle of the rainforest. I could feel the crisp air filling my lungs. Springs were dripping down the side of the moutain. Vegatation, green and bright flowers were everywhere. It was awesome. I got to the bottom of the hill and saw a river/stream just rolling down stream. There were huge rocks in the way and the water would gracefully move around the rock and continue along it's path downstream. Some of the water was being brushed by the tall grass leaning over the bank. It looked like the grass was dancing. As I looked at this wonderful stream I remembered Bruce Lee's saying, "Be like water, my friend". I realized that the water doesn't try and force it's path. Each piece of water has no expectation, it goes where it is supposed to go, with no tension and without fighting. Easy grace. I feel for a long time I have tried to force becoming something. It has caused a lot of strain and stress. I really like the idea of becoming what I am supposed to become. I am really living right now with no expectations. I'm just letting my feelings take over, letting the road take me where it is supposed to. Who knows what the future holds, or what I'll become. God knows.

2 in Mina and another rain out

That's right we won both games yesterday in Minatitlan. The day was challenging and enjoyable. It always feels good when there is a challenge and you find success, putting your best foot forward, giving all you have even when faced with adverstiy. We left at 9 a.m., arrived at 1 thinking the game started at 2. Mina thought the game started at 4. That's right, just adjust, "be like water my friends" - Bruce Lee - So we started around 4 and were playing in front of maybe 3 fans, it was hot and the other team was not that good. The games were slow, but the team did a good job respecting the game. It was challenging for us all because of the conditions. These are the hardest games to play sometimes. We did well. After the two, slow paced, long games we stopped off at a taco joint before we left for Fortin. We got in around 4 a.m. this morning. I got into my room, stretched out and did a little work out. Took my time waking up and had an easy day today. The game was cancelled tonight, which doesn't hurt anyone's feelings, considering the long day yesterday. I've been reading, studying, and eating in my free time today. We play the Brujos tomorrow, best team in the league. We'll see what happens. Cubiertos, the word of the day, utencils.

Mendoza II

We finished up the three game series with Mendoza today. We took the second game, loosing the first and third. It was a fun series. Each game had its ups and downs, always a good rivalry. Right now I'm tired and need some rest. We play a double header tomorrow in Minatitlan on what is supposed to be a day off, but because we got rained out all three games earlier this week we are going down there tomorrow. It's gonna be a long day. Four hours there, about five or six hours for the two games, and four hours on the way back.
My body's feeling good in the games. I feel strong, healthy, efficient and fast. I would like to be more accurate with my barrel and I think the lack of consistancy comes from too much tension. I think I need to relax everything a little bit more, which will help me see the ball better and allow my body to react much more accurately. It sounds good in theory, but doing it is another story. Hopefully the consistency will come. Keep enjoying the challenge.

Rain out

We've been rained out the last three games. I have had a lot of time to read, hang out with the guys, and do my excersizes. Yesterday we practiced at our stadium and I tried to hit like Chase Utley and Jason Werth and it felt pretty good. Have you seen them swing? Their follow through is cut short, it is bebut really cause they really try and put the barrel on the ball, instead of pulling the bat through the zone with their body. They really attack the ball with the barrel. It's hard to explain what I see, but I hit the ball hard yesterday. It was a blast focusing on something new and being able to do it successfully. I was driving balls off the wall and hit a homerun. The barrel was hitting the ball exactly on the sweet spot, not every time, but enough to show me that the swing has value. Taking grounders was a blast also. I worked on being efficient and keeping the moves as simple as possible. I was bouncing around out there. The ball would come into my glove, smoothly transfer into my throw, and out of my hand, right into the first baseman's chest in one smooth, effortless, efficient move. Man! Can you hadle it? Haha. I wish I could explain what I feel and see when hitting and feilding better so I could share it with everyone. In time it will become more concrete.
Congratulations Yankees. The Phillies looked scared.

Phillies staying alive

Yeah baby! The Phillies pulled it out tonight. I love the way they move. In my opinion they are the most efficient team in the league. I know that's a different reason to like a team, but that's me. Watch em, pay close attention to their movements compared to the Yankees. The only hard part is their facing the Yankees strong team. I went and watched the Yankees earlier this season and they looked horrible. I'm sure you all remember. To see them where they started and to see them today shows me a lot. They reallly have come together as a family after fighting through those hard and hopeless days. And that's something that is hard to ignore. I really respect them for that. Either way it is turning out to be a fun series.
We had an off day today. It sure was nice. I got a chance to sleep in, go to the gym and eat at a Japanese Restaraunt in Cordoba. Yeah! It was nice to mix up the diet a little. We took 2 of 3 from Cosomaloapan. The team is really starting to be explosive.
I'm really enjoying myself down here. There is something about being on my own right now that is really empowering. I get to study, read, write, analyze video, and just come and go as I please. It's always nice when baseball is going like I see it in my head. Right now when I go up to the plate I know exactly what I want to do and have a very confident feeling. The video analysis has really helped me with that. Check out the videos on youtube. I update them after every game. Give feedback and let me know how everything is going out there. Later