Cloudy May Experiences

The 2010 season has not started off with fireworks as I had originally envisioned but everything is okay and I'm continuing to work hard. This young season has proven to be extremely frustrating for not just myself but for the team as well. We are on quite a skid right now and are hoping that a return home will turn around the direction of this team.

At the present, I find myself in the terminal of the Kansas City International Airport after two weeks on road in Louisiana, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Its 5:45 am local time and the plane does not leave for another couple hours.

I would like to update you on my personal endeavors over the past few weeks.

My first start was just over two weeks ago against Sioux City at home. I cannot remember ever having a start where I was so nervous, which proved to be detrimental to my overall results. The end result of the game was the largest number of runs I had given up in my professional career and the shortest outing (I believe) in my three years with El Paso. As you may believe, it was quite a let down and I found myself reeling after the game. Rest assured, I bounced back.

The fifth starter was skipped to begin the first stretch of games so my position as the third starter landed me a start right on schedule. For those of you who may not know what this means, a normal pitching rotation features starters to throw every fifth day. I came into my second outing determined to prove that I was still the starter that was a 2009 All-Star. The nerves were much less and I felt much more comfortable. I went into the seventh inning and allowed only two runs to come across before I was taken out with a 5-2 lead. We ended up dropping the contest but it was a great introduction back to success.

After a series in Shreveport, La., we headed north to Sioux Falls, S.D., for a three-game series against the league leaders. I was slated to throw the second game of the series against the Pheasants and came out of the gates strong. A quick 1-2-3 inning was exactly what I wanted to start off the game. A two-run homerun in the second and a few runs in the fifth and sixth would chase me after six innings of work. I buried my head into my locker that night wondering what in the world happened to me. I sat around long after the game trying to figure out what I was doing wrong.

The answer was simple.

Man up. What happened happened and there is nothing that can change that.

I went back to look at the chart the next day and there lay in front of my eyes my biggest problem. Out of the 29 batters I faced that night, I threw 26 of those batters first pitch strikes. Of the 26 first pitch strikes that I threw, 19 of those were swung at by the opposition. I was pitching to a trend and that is a problem. Hitters knew I was flooding the zone early and capitalized on this tell. I'm understanding this game of baseball better each day and I'm learning more as I play.

Throughout my entire experience, I've learned that the past never needs to be forgotten as it can be a tool of great drive. Let's take that drive and use it to attain the results that I've worked so hard to achieve.

My next start is in two days (June 1st) against Shreveport at 7:05 pm at Cohen Stadium. If you want, you can listen live at www.diablos.com.

God Bless.

Returning to Cohen Stadium

Two sessions of seeing live hitters has already passed me by and that time of making my season debut is quickly coming up...

I'd like to share with you what was going through my head on that first day of seeing live hitters (Wednesday, March 6th) at Cohen Stadium again. I stepped on the hill that day and everything felt fine. I felt overwhelmingly comfortable and fresh.

The mound felt the same, the slope looked the same and so did the pitching rubber and the trajectory towards home plate. My arm felt good and the landing was still soft. I was still carving up hitters. Nothing seemed to feel any different. The outing marked my third year in spring training with El Paso. I was back at Cohen Stadium again

Back to the place where it all began.

We opened up our exhibition schedule on May 8th with a big win over the Military All-Star team. The pre-game festivities saw each team come together before the game and partake in a ceremony that beautified the life of a fallen solider. The fallen solider's family was on hand and we all had the chance to watch a video of remembrance of him. It was an emotional day for sure. By the end of the night, we had claimed an 18-4 victory.

Our second (and final) exhibition game was played last night as we fell to the Sioux City Explorers by a minimal margin. The game was a tuneup for Thursday night's season opener in which D.J. Mattox will take the mound for the Diablos.

I'm set to start Saturday night's game. Saturday nights always seem to draw a nice crowd and I'm super pumped because I think a few more may be on hand to witness my return to Cohen Stadium. I would like to get up to University Medical Center before Saturday to see the crew of doctors that did my surgery last July.

Everytime I slip away from reminding myself how lucky I am to be where I am today, I seem to have something come into my life to put me back on track again. It brings me back to my feet and gives me strength.

I'll leave you with a quote that was spoken yesterday from our team doctor to our trainer, "David Whigham's case is a miracle. There are some times in the medical world where you can't explain how someone can come back from something so tragic. His recovery is definitely a miracle."

God Bless.

Anticipation, Appreciation, and Remembrance

As I write today, I find myself on board the long-awaited flight to El Paso. It’s about halfway into the flight and I’m guessing that we are somewhere just before East Texas. This flight, unlike any of the six I’ve had in the past eight months, seems and feels a little different.

It really brings me back to a moment that I had months ago. I’ll never forget that day for as long as I live.

On that late August day, I remember looking out the window of the airplane just after takeoff and being so thrilled that I was finally going home again. When I sat in that ICU bed, I never really knew when I was ever going to be back home. I've got a new sense for that "home" feeling as I never truly knew how important being home is until it was threatened. It is often quoted, "Home is where the heart is"

The feeling that was inside of me, as I peered down the mountaintops on my connector flight to Denver, was very ecstatic. I felt the comfort and warmth of a greater being as I was not in this battle alone. I've been safe hands the entire time.

It’s been nine months and with each passing day, I find myself feeling more gracious and thankful for coming out okay.

I tallied just about 70 innings altogether in Australia and feel more than ready to start this new season. I learned many things in both life and on the mound with Essendon and I'm sure that it will be fun to incorporate them into my world in El Paso. I’m excited about the opportunity that lies ahead and for people to bear witness to this miracle.

The Diablos are calling for a team meeting tomorrow to go over some minor business before camp opens on Saturday morning. I’ve got a pretty packed schedule with community events over the next couple weeks as I’m planning on heading to Ft. Bliss, Thomason Hospital, a few local schools, and maybe a little league or two.

Another chapter in my life looms ahead. Let’s see if we can’t make this one the best one yet.

God Bless