Dave has been in relief twice this week and done well. Really well. Of course last night with a 12-1 lead there was no reason to NOT do well, but it has been good experience for him. He is learning to adjust his routine, and understanding what it takes to come into the game under all situations (which he is doing) as a relief pitcher.
The Sunday before we left, it was Pink at the Park Night. The players wore pink jerseys which were auctioned off and signed after the game, lots of stuff going on, silent auctions, giveaways, all in honor for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks(bcfo.org), the local organization that gives support for breast cancer patients. The fans in red were now in pink, lots of stories we heard that night, it's amazing how many people's lives are touched by breast cancer.
My son was sent pink cleats this year by one of his sponsers, reebok. He finally got a chance to wear them. We had no idea what he intended to do with them after the game.
Let me jump on to something first.
That night was also about being Cardinal fans. You probably couldn't meet a nicer bunch of fans, and I am not saying that because my son is a redbird. It's part of being from the midwest, part of being a fan of a team that has a rich history. Part of being "America's Team" before there was one, part of Musial, Whiteyball, Hornsby, Busch, Clysdales and the Gashouse Gang, Albert, Yadi and "That's a Winner". And about a whole lot more.
Last year Dave introduced us to the huggy sisters, two elderly woman who have attended almost every game for 7 years since Cardinal baseball came to Springfield. They stand in line at every game to meet and hug the players who are at the entrance where they enter, everyone knows the huggy sisters, who sit way down in the front row close to the field, rain or shine, hot or cold. Great examples of diehard Cardinal fans.
About 2 months ago, one of the huggy sisters died from breast cancer. I heard that it touched everyone at the park, including the players. Of course my son has been there pretty long compared to most. After the game, he quietly sought out the surviving sister and gave up his pink cleats, in honor os her sister. We had no idea, we saw her leaving the stadium, she opened the box under her arm, there were the pink cleats, and she told us that this would become one of her great Cardinal treasures and thanked us for sending Dave to Springfield to play (we actually didn't send him but you get the idea). She cried, we cried, people standing by us cried, it was just more than baseball that night for sure.
A few days ago a fan we met alerted me to an article written on Tuesday in the local paper, I usually read the online addition of teh game teh night before but I some how missed this one. The press hasn't been all that kind to him this year, but this made up for some of the tough articles written.
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011107180350
I knew after reading this that he was ok (he doesn't say much these days about his game), we didn't have to worry about him, no matter what he decided to do, he would be fine.
We are proud of DK, after all that the game has taken from him lately, he still found a way to give back. That's what life should be about, giving back.
Thanks all for dropping by, I am going to put this aside for now, I will let you know when something out of the ordinary night happen, between now and end of season.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Trip To Springfield
We decided to go take a trip to see for ourselves what was going on. There had been some tension in conversation with DK, perhaps something was bothering him and he didn't want to tell us. He's had 3 operations to improve upon issues that were not very serious, so you automatically think, ok what's wrong now.
Listening to games had been painful, not really sure what to say to him after each outing. I know he really didn't want us to come see him when he was down but we decided that it was time. There were some things that were going on that he had no control over (very young team), but we felt that he needed support whether he wanted it or not. It wasn't like he has never struggled, but as he told me one night it had become a bit more like embarrassment to him, I have never heard that from him before.
The first night that we were there he came in and did a great job, the other two times were fair outings, one in which he got the win. Last Thursday two solid innings and a hold. He still is not happy with his total performance, but there has been improvement. I really feel that getting out every few days rather than carry it in his head for 6 days has helped, less time to think about what you did or didn't do wrong. As a releiver he doesn't have to chart, doesn't haven't to do some other stuff required from the startersso he likes the change.
I am learning the difference between starter and releiver mentality, it's interesting, you don't have to think quite as much, just throw the ball, get through 3 or the most 6 outs and you are done.
Listened last night to see if he would go in. Dave seems to have more of the "let's see if we can get the pitcher out of the jam" kind of role. He began to warm up as the pitcher looked like he was toasted, but he got himself out of the jam, then the birds scored, so he didn't get in. Tonight the birds were ahead, now a tie game in the 7th and I am assuming he is going to get in, maybe?
Listening to games had been painful, not really sure what to say to him after each outing. I know he really didn't want us to come see him when he was down but we decided that it was time. There were some things that were going on that he had no control over (very young team), but we felt that he needed support whether he wanted it or not. It wasn't like he has never struggled, but as he told me one night it had become a bit more like embarrassment to him, I have never heard that from him before.
The first night that we were there he came in and did a great job, the other two times were fair outings, one in which he got the win. Last Thursday two solid innings and a hold. He still is not happy with his total performance, but there has been improvement. I really feel that getting out every few days rather than carry it in his head for 6 days has helped, less time to think about what you did or didn't do wrong. As a releiver he doesn't have to chart, doesn't haven't to do some other stuff required from the startersso he likes the change.
I am learning the difference between starter and releiver mentality, it's interesting, you don't have to think quite as much, just throw the ball, get through 3 or the most 6 outs and you are done.
Listened last night to see if he would go in. Dave seems to have more of the "let's see if we can get the pitcher out of the jam" kind of role. He began to warm up as the pitcher looked like he was toasted, but he got himself out of the jam, then the birds scored, so he didn't get in. Tonight the birds were ahead, now a tie game in the 7th and I am assuming he is going to get in, maybe?
Friday, July 15, 2011
From Starter To Reliever
Hi everyone!
For those of you that are unaware, Dave has had a pretty difficult season since returning to the mound mid May. Originally everyone thought that he needed a couple of outings to find his mojo and then off to AAA, but that never happened.
Probably feeling the best he has in years, there was no explanation to the lack of command that had taken place, other than an arm feeling better means an arm thowing harder. Wild.
Dave was removed from the 40 man roster, that was a big blow for him, but business is business and they needed his spot, so after being designated for assignment, passing waivers, he's now back to square one.
Recently, Dave was removed as a starter and sent to the bullpen, some say it was a demotion. Ok if that is how they perceive it fine, it does appear that way. It was not presented that way to him. One night after a really bad start, a discussion was held with upper management and his current manager and it was decided that he might be more successful putting in fewer pitches 3-4 times a week, rather than 100 in 6 days. He did come out of the bullpen as well as close at Clemson. He also was very unhappy, so much so that he told us at one point he might need to walk away. That would be his decision but I knew that they wouldn't let him do that.
It's been an adjustment but he seems to be coming around, and he REALLY likes the pressure situation he finds himself in. He has two holds and a win as a reliever, just within this past week.
It's been an adjustment for us as well, no more planning around listening to starts every 6 days, and to be honest, actually seeing him pitch 3 times in 5 games while out to visit was a treat!
For those of you that are unaware, Dave has had a pretty difficult season since returning to the mound mid May. Originally everyone thought that he needed a couple of outings to find his mojo and then off to AAA, but that never happened.
Probably feeling the best he has in years, there was no explanation to the lack of command that had taken place, other than an arm feeling better means an arm thowing harder. Wild.
Dave was removed from the 40 man roster, that was a big blow for him, but business is business and they needed his spot, so after being designated for assignment, passing waivers, he's now back to square one.
Recently, Dave was removed as a starter and sent to the bullpen, some say it was a demotion. Ok if that is how they perceive it fine, it does appear that way. It was not presented that way to him. One night after a really bad start, a discussion was held with upper management and his current manager and it was decided that he might be more successful putting in fewer pitches 3-4 times a week, rather than 100 in 6 days. He did come out of the bullpen as well as close at Clemson. He also was very unhappy, so much so that he told us at one point he might need to walk away. That would be his decision but I knew that they wouldn't let him do that.
It's been an adjustment but he seems to be coming around, and he REALLY likes the pressure situation he finds himself in. He has two holds and a win as a reliever, just within this past week.
It's been an adjustment for us as well, no more planning around listening to starts every 6 days, and to be honest, actually seeing him pitch 3 times in 5 games while out to visit was a treat!
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