The Roller Coaster

Every day this sheet outlines the lineup, duties and report times.
I finally had to look to the top right corner to find my name!

Welcome aboard the Padre express, please make sure the shoulder harness is tight across your chest and get ready to get thrown for a ride!  I can vividly see this imagined roller coaster beginning with a few easy twists and turns, like reworking a swing that managed to produce a .390 average at school.  I can see the first little drop as I struggled through my first live BP session in 2 weeks.  I can feel my heart sinking through the huge drop as days passed without any version of an idea as to when I'd be able to play.  I didn't see the double loop-d-loop that was coming in the form of July 11th.  I arrived at the ballpark later than usual because I came with all the pitchers, and they didn't want to arrive early.  We walked into the cafeteria and ate our lunch. Chick-Fil-A.  I was given the kick in the gut that is finding out your once again coaching first base.  And that was where the predictability ended. 

I walked over to the board to check who I was splitting coaching duties with.  I saw that I was splitting with Kreuter. Then, for whatever reason I checked the lineup. Low and behold I was in the lineup,playing second base, hitting second.  I was stunned, shocked, completely blind sided.  I didn't even know I had my visa yet, and all of a sudden I found out from a piece of paper on the cork board that I was to make my pro debut.  I ran outside to call mom and dad and instead was cut off by our manager Jim Gabella.  Gabby told me that Juan had received my visa and that I was to get two at bats in our game against the Cubs.  The came the double loop-d-loop. "Head inside and find Ricky, he'll get your flight info for you, you joining the Eugene club on the road tomorrow.  You and Otto will fly up there together."  I'm not used to being speechless, but I'm also not used to getting promoted in professional baseball either.  I walked back toward the complex and got out of sight before calling mom.  I then called dad, texted Nicole and headed inside for my flight info.  Keep in mind my later than usual arrival and this turned into quiet the circus.  I had to hit in a live batting practice at 3, and it was already 2:30.  I hadn't gotten dressed, I hadn't done my prep work in the weight room, I hadn't taken any swings off the tee.  The roller coaster flipped me over, spun around a few times and left me flying toward my debut at 100mph.

I had four at bats in the live BP, and hit 2 balls hard, drew a walk and hit a really weak jam shot into center field.  We had our normal meeting before stretching, and then Vern ran us through our warmup paces.  Naturally the roller coaster wasn't finished. "For those of you that have been to spring training before you'll know this drill so you guys go first.  The rest of you, its a 270 foot shuttle. Get it done in under 12 seconds and we only do 3.  Fail it, and we'll do 6. " So here I was, frantic about my debut and now about to run a "hell test" as Blanco put it, in 117 degree heat. LOVELY! I passed all 3 of the shuttle runs, but because of a few false starts by the guys we were given a fourth rep.  I managed to survive it, pass it, and then throw up twice while trying to gulp down water.  Just a lovely start to the day.  Practice was a bit of a blur because I was quite sure that if I swung full speed or threw full speed that there was a chance I'd barf farther than the ball traveled. 

We rode in the vans out to Mesa, the farthest trip an AZL team will make in any given summer.  We arrived to find that HoHoKam Stadium was in a state of disarray.  The grass was dead, brown and patchy.  The outfield fence appeared to be falling apart.  It wasn't exactly how I imagined my professional debut.  I walked up to the plate in my first at bat and I managed to keep cool.  I was actually way more relaxed than I thought I would be.  I got in a good count, 2-1 and then faced a pitch I had never seen in my life.  A 91 mph cutter.  It started out looking like the pitch I'd whack into the right field gap for my first hit.  Then out of nowhere it dove in at my hands and became the first pitch to shatter one of my pro bats.  I grounded out weakly to first base.  I was happy the first one was over.  Naturally, the 1st inning had me get my defense tested too.  The second hitter hit a chopper behind the mound that I had to pick on a short hop and throw to Tejada at first for the out.  Nice play.  We finished the inning with Jairo Gomez making a perfect throw to second base and I snapped the tag down on the runner. My next and final at bat was no better.  I was ahead 3-1 and swung over a fastball that bounced, not my usual patient self.  The 3-2 pitch snapped yet another one of my bats. Just like that I was done.  0 for 2, down 2 bats and waiting for Jaff Decker to get his second at bat so we could leave and drive back.

I got back to the clubhouse to find my new luggage waiting for me.  A giant navy blue bag with the SD logo found on Padres hats on either end.  I threw my baseball stuff into the bag and headed back to the hotel, walking back alone for the first time in almost three weeks.  It was weird not being with the guys, not sharing a laugh about some stupid comment made during the game.  Not going to grab Tilted Guilt's from The Kilt for a late night dessert.  I got back to the hotel and really didn't know where to start in terms of packing.  After sitting around thinking about it for an hour I started.  I got it all done, and Max finally answered my call to figure out what everyone was doing for food after they got back.  He brought me back one of the rice bowls with beef from the clubhouse, and we sat at the table in my room looking at the comics on 9gag.  We had some laughs, said goodbye and good luck and then I went to bed. I tossed and turned until around 2 before passing out, only to be woken up by Zidie's phone call at 5:30.  I jumped in a shower and headed to the front of the hotel to catch the shuttle. 

A short 45 minute flight brought me to Vegas where I'm writing this post.  This airport is a zoo, first of all its way too big.  Me and Otta got lost trying to find out gate.  What we had no trouble finding was the slot machines and casino tables that are scattered throughout the terminals.  Bizarre.  So there they are, yes, real live slot machines located outside gate B12.  I guess the reason they say "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" is that people will invariably leave all their money behind at the bottom of these neon lit machines.  Alright, one more flight for today, off to Spokane to meet the team and play against Pat's team.  Should be a lovely night, at least it won't be 115!