Jays Prospects Interview

I told you guys awhile back that Jaysprospects.com interviewed me.  Below is the link to the interview.  I think they did a really good job on it and it was a fun interview.  I'll admit, some of the questions really made me think!

http://jaysprospects.com/2011/07/30/an-interview-with-bluefield-bluejays-ian-kadish/

Update #2

Ok, I admit I have been slacking again on the blog, but i promise this will be the last time...I will start updating everybody more often.  Ill give everybody a quick update as to what I have been doing lately with this post.

Since my last update, we have played a 3 game series vs. the Pulaski Mariners and the Princeton Rays and last night we started a 3 game series vs. the Burlington Royals last night.

The Pulaski series did not go well to say the least.  It was not a good series for the team or myself.  In game one, I suffered the loss in the bottom of the ninth inning.  I came in in the bottom of the 8th to get out of a jam and did my job, but the bottom of the ninth was not so friendly.  I recorded the first 2 outs quickly before having to battle the third hitter of the inning in which he got lucky and fisted a ball down the right field line for a double.  The next batter then hit a single over the second baseman and the guy on second scored the winning run.  I was not pleased with myself at all because I knew I was better than I pitched.  I made 3 mistakes.  The first was I tried to make a slider TOO nasty after he had swung and missed the first one by a mile.  The second was I did not get a fastball far enough inside that the guy fisted down the line and the third i just left a ball up in the zone.

The second game of the series we won pretty easily.  The third game of the series was close again.  I came in in the bottom of the ninth to get out of a jam once again with the score tied.  Once again, I got out of the jam and left the runners on base.  In the bottom of the tenth, the first guy got lucky and chopped a change-up that he was out in front of just barely over our third basemen's head for a lead off double.  I had my work cut out for me.  The second hitter grounded out to the shortstop, not advancing the runner.  One out.  The next guy grounded out to our second baseman advancing the runner on second to third.  Two out.  Then the following hitter swung at a fastball that was up in the zone and knocked it into right field scoring the winning run from third.  It was like deja vu all over again...if you know me, I was not happy with myself.  I HATE losing more than anything and I HATE HATE HATE when I know we should have won.  But being the closer, I cant live in the past.  I can only live in the present and move on to the next game...

The Princeton series was a battle for first place.  We went into the series tied for first.  We came out of the series one game back, but we did not play how we usually play.

In the first game of the Burlington Royals series, we won 3-0.  I pitched for the first time since the Pulaski series because it was the first game that had a save situation.  I was successful in converting the save and preserving the win!  I got my redemption!  Like I said before, I cant live in the past, I can only live in the present and control what I can control and learn from my mistakes.  My manager Dennis Holmburg says it best...Baseball is not about finding out what you can do, but finding out what you CANT do to learn from it and better yourself.

I am not sure what Princeton did last night, but if they lost, we are tied for first place in the division again!  Tonight is game 2 of the Burlington series.  We are on a 6 day road trip.  After Burlington, we travel to Kingsport, Tennessee for a 3 game series.

On a side note, I am very jealous of my family.  They are up in Boston right now visiting family.  My dad's side of the family is from the New England area.  They were in Maine for a couple days visiting his mom.  They were on the beach in Wells, Maine and they enjoyed Maine lobster, the best lobster in the world!  They also paid a visit to Flos hotdogs.  I am not a big fan of hotdogs, but these are the best damn hotdogs there are!

Today, they are in Boston visiting his brother.  They are at the Boston Red Sox game as we speak and thought it would be funny to rub it in my face by sending me pictures of Fenway Park...hahaha so funny guys!  My brother also sent me pictures of Flos hotdogs...little brat!  It is Cooper's, my little brother, first time up in Maine or Boston.  I know he is loving every minute of it!  Have fun guys!  I miss you and love you!

Ok, I have to go get dressed for the bus.  Hope everybody is doing well!  Thanks for your support!  Smell ya!

Charleston Interview

http://www.wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=103810&catid=3

Above is the link to the Charleston news interview.  The news caster, Amanda, sent me the link tonight which is sooner than I thought, but I hope you guys enjoy it!  Its not a long segment.  When I get the Jays prospects interview I will post that as well...

The Marshall Connection

Since I have been in Bluefield, I have been interviewed several times by different news stations.  I have been interviewed by WVVA which is the Bluefield news station, along with the Charleston, WV news station a couple of times.  

Both interviews have been about the same thing.  They have been about being from Marshall and coming back to West Virginia to play for the Blue Jays.  Arik Sikula has been interviewed in each one as well.  Every time we have been asked relatively the same questions.  The questions are typically,

"What does it mean to be able to play for the Blue Jays and what has your experience been so far?"

"How has the transition from college baseball to professional baseball been and what have you had to do to make the transition?"

"What does it mean to you being one of the ten guys from your Marshall team having the chance to play professional baseball this year?"

"What do you hope to accomplish this season while in Bluefield?"

"How has it been having Arik with you while making the transition to professional baseball?"

The newscaster that interviewed me is supposed to send me the link to the interview and once I get it, I will post it on the blog for everybody to see.  I also recently was interviewed by Jaysprospects.com.  Again, once I have the article I will post it for everybody to see.

Ok, the Dominicans are playing the WORST spanish music I have ever heard so I am going to get on the bus.  We are headed to Pulaski to start a 3 game series this weekend.  We are one game ahead of Princeton Rays for first place in the division.  Hopefully we can build a nice lead before the series against Princeton that starts Monday.  

I apologize for the delay...

Ok ok, I will be the first to admit, I have been slipping on the blog, but there has been good reason as to why...The internet has shut off where I am living so after games when I usually blog, there has been no internet.  Right now, I am sitting in the locker room just hanging out until I have to go stretch and throw at 2:45.

Not much has been going on.  We do the same thing everyday...I usually show up to the field at about 1 and hang out for a little bit.  On some days, I have lifting at 1:30, but today I don't so I thought I would catch up on the blogging...The pitchers stretch at 2:45 followed by Team Defense.  Batting Practice follows Team Defense and usually winds down at about 5:15.  We then have some more down time till the game at 7.

HOLY SHIT our head coach just scared the hell out of me.  He blew one of those HUGE air horns inside the locker room and yelled, "LET'S GO, WAKE UP!"  Needless to say, everybody is awake now...

Lately, the team has been playing really well.  We have taken over first place in our division.  The second place team is Princeton (our rival).  We have a huge series coming up with them Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  In my opinion, there has not been a team that has been better than us.  It is scary because there have only been about 2 games in which we have actually gotten beaten.  We usually beat ourselves.

I recently picked up my second save.  It was against the Burlington Royals, two nights ago.  It was a clean and uneventful inning.  Hopefully there will be many more to come...

Randy Clifford came to watch a game last saturday, but neither Arik or I threw, but it was still good to see him.  I cannot thank him enough for what he has done for me.  You could say he resurrected my career.

The same day, there was a HUGE country concert in Bluefield.  Billy Wagner was the one that organized it so he threw out the first pitch of the game that day.  All the players got tickets to the concert, but I was lucky enough to have VIP passes.  My sponsor family was generous enough to give me their tickets.  My seats were in the very first row.  It was unbelievable.  There were 8 or 9 different country singers.  Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, and Dierks Bentley were just a few of the artists that were there.  It was one of the better days so far.  It was so much fun, especially with a win that day.

I have to go get dressed for stretch...if something good happens, I will be sure to blog about it during my down time before the game....

Again, sorry for the slacking on the blog...

There's a First for Everything

A couple of nights ago, I got my first professional save.  It was an awesome feeling...I honestly enjoyed it more than a win.  The save came against the Bristol White Sox.  It was the first game of the series after we had won the series before against the Danville Braves.  Going into the 3 game set, we were tied for first place with our rival Princeton Rays.

Our pitching to open up the series was nearly impeccable.  Our first rounder was untouchable yet again and the guy that followed him up was very impressive as well.  In the bottom of the ninth, the White Sox rallied after a leadoff walk.  Going into the inning we were winning 5-1.  After the walk, they strung together a few hits to narrow the lead to 5-3.  The following hitter hit a flare just out of the reach of our shortstop to score another run, making it 5-4.  With guys on first and second and one out, I was called into pitch.  All I had to do was get 2 outs.

The first hitter, swung at a first pitch change-up and popped it up to the third baseman.  The runners did not advance on the play.  With 2 outs and men on first and second still, the second hitter I faced swung at the first pitch, a fastball inside and grounded out to the second baseman to end the game and preserve the victory.

My first save was a rather quick and easy one because I received help from the hitters swinging at the first pitch.  I threw maybe 10 pitches total between warmups and the game.  I love being in the closer's role, it really gets the adrenaline going.

The second game of the series got away from us as we were winning going into the bottom of the seventh.  Tonight we are trying to win the series and regain control of first place....I wouldn't be opposed to another save...

That's What You Call a Winning Streak...

The series Finale vs the Johnson City Cardinals was what you can call a good old fashioned beating.  We beat them pretty easily.  I think they were still shocked from the night before and we were still running on fumes from the night before.  You could tell they had no energy, and the walk-off deflated them pretty good.  On the other hand, you could tell we had all the energy and were still on a high from the walk-off.  The game was rather uneventful with the exception of a homerun show.  Our team hit 3 homeruns, NONE of them being cheap.  They were ALL moonshots, one going further than the next.  It was awesome to watch!

On a side note, the best mother in the entire world was at the game, MY MOM!  She drove down from Cincinnati with Shirley Waters (she is originally from Huntington and was going back home to see family).  I can not thank them enough for bringing my car.  It makes life so much easier now being able to get around and not having to be on somebody else time frame.  They also brought so many gatorades and waters and redbulls that they will last me the rest of the season!  Along with the drinks, they brought snacks too!  It was like Christmas come early!  It was awesome to see my mom for the first time since I had left for Florida.  It seemed like it had been forever.  She said she didn't even recognize me in uniform  from the other player without facial hair because we have to be clean shaven.  It might also have been due to the fact that I haven't had a haircut in a LONG time.  My hair is the longest it has been since I was 16!  That's the next thing on my agenda, now that I have a car...After the game, my mom, Shirley, and I went out to eat at Applebee's (I feel that I am a regular there because I go there so often, since it is the only place in town that stays open that late).  I wish we were not going out of town the following day so my Mom could stay longer and maybe see me pitch, but nonetheless it was good to see her.  Thanks for all the goodies Mom!  LOVE YOU!  Now my dad and brothers need to make a trip down...

The following day, we made our way to Danville, Virginia.  I slept the entire bus ride on the floor.  It's a little secret of mine to sleep on the floor because I am able to stretch out and it is MUCH more comfortable sleeping on the floor, rather than trying to get comfortable in those little seats.

The first game of the series was a mess.  First, the start time was delayed from 7 p.m. to 8:15 due to rain. Then once we started the game, the rain came in AGAIN, but this time it came in SO much harder.  It absolutely poured.  It rained so hard and so fast that the grounds crew were unable to put the tarp on the field in time.  Luckily, we had already played 5 innings and we were winning 3-2!  After 5 innings, the game is official so we officially won the first game of the series.  It's a cheap win, but I'll take it!

Hopefully, the grounds crew can get the field together for tonight's game...

Dejavu All Over Again...

The second game of the Johnson City series was close, very close.  Both teams were battling and both sides pitchers were doing a very good job keeping the offenses at a standstill.  Johnson City did not make many mistakes with the exception of a leadoff Homerun to Daniel Arcilla.

Our starter pitched really well.  He did his job, keeping us in the game with a quality start before handing the game over to the bullpen.  Our offense did a really good job chipping away at Johnson City's pitching staff.  Runs were hard to come by this game and our offense had to chip away to produce runs.

Arik Sikula pitched a clean 8th inning.  The score was tired going into the bottom of the 8th at 3.  Our first two batters were retired before a 2 out walk.  For those of you out there that know baseball, but not specific details, 2 out walks usually ALWAYS come back to bite you in the you know what...this is was a perfect example.  With a guy on first and 2 outs, the pitcher threw a wild pitch allowing the runner to advance to second.  The following hitter singled through the right side of the infield moving the runner to third.  We now had runners at first and third with 2 outs.  The runner on first stole second without a throw from the catcher (the reason why teams do this is to take the force out away, making the infielders throw the ball across the diamond to first).  Chris Hawkins was the third batter.  He was pinch hitting for our catcher.

Chris Hawkins is one of if not the nicest guy I have ever met.  He is only 19 years old, but just talking to him you can tell he is much more wise beyond his years.  He gets it...meaning he works hard, he is a team player, he doesn't do anything stupid, and he sells out to the process (a saying he and I have developed with each other about how we go about our business).  Selling out to the process can mean a variety of different things.  To me it means that you work harder than anybody else and the possibility of being outworked is not even a thought.  It means that you are willing do better yourself for the team and play for the team rather than be a selfish player.  It also means that nothing will get in your way of that dream.  In this case, that dream is making it to the Major Leagues.  Selling out to the Process is a saying that Steve Springer preaches.  He is our mental thinking coach for the Toronto Blue Jays.  He goes around and talks to everybody in the organization.  Selling out to the Process is a saying that I go by and a saying that I truly believe in.

Back to the game....so Chris Hawkins pinch hit.  He managed to bit a ground ball up the middle scoring the guy from third!  This gave us a 4-3 lead with 2 outs!  I told you 2 out walks always come back to bite you in the...

I was in the bullpen just playing toss and they called down to the bullpen to tell me that I was in!  I was to close the game in the ninth inning.  After the third out in the bottom of the 8th was retired, I threw my last warm up pitch in the bullpen and jogged out to the game mound.  I took my warmup pitches, I only take 5 even though I am allowed 8.  Its just a routine I have.  I go fastball, fastball, change-up, slider, fastball.  I then gathered my thought and prepared to go to work.

The first batter the of the inning I got ahead 0 balls and 2 strikes.  I threw a change-up that the hitter was out in front of rolling over to the shortstop.  The shortstop fielded it and threw it to first....but he threw it over the first baseman's head.  The runner was allowed to advance to second on the throw because the throw went out of play.  The following hitter laid down a perfect bunt advancing the runner to third base.
Our infield came in to play on the edge of the grass because if there was a ground ball they would be able to throw the ball to the catcher in time to tag the runner out at home.  The following hitter swung at the first pitch and broke his bat.  It was a weak ground ball to the third baseman.  The runner on third went home and our third baseman was going to throw it home....but he could not get a grip on the ball and bobbled it allowing the runner to score.  His only option was to go to first for the second out.  The next hitter flew out to shallow left field and the inning was over.  The score was tied going into the bottom of the ninth.

Although I did not convert the save, the things that happened in that inning were out of my control.  It is like Randy Clifford always tells me, I can't worry about things that are out of my control.  The bottom of the ninth was uneventful so we were to play extra innings.  The top of the tenth was a quick one.  I retired the side in order via strikeout.  We threatened in the bottom of the tenth, but were unable to plate that winning run.  In the top of the 11th inning, I was still pitching.  The first guy reached base.  The second guy bunted him over to second.  I fielded the bunt and looked to throw it to second, but thought it would be too close of a play and went with the sure out at first.

There was a guy on second with one out.  The following hitter was out in front of a change-up and hit a little flare into center field.  The runner on second tagged and advanced to third.  There was a runner on third with 2 outs now!  I got ahead of the next hitter 0-2.  I threw a first pitch fastball that he fouled off.  He then swung through a slider for strike 2.  I think Johnson City noticed that my slider was my out pitch because I heard them saying sit on the slider when I would get hitter 0-2.  My catcher put down the slider, but I shook it off.  He then put down the change-up and I shook it off.  I stepped off the mound and told the catcher to go through the signs again.  He knew exactly what I wanted now and gave me the sign for a fastball.  By this time, the hitter had NO CLUE what was coming and swung right through the fastball for strike 3, ending the inning.

In the bottom of the 11th inning, we managed to get a baserunner on first.  They then retired the next 2 hitters, bringing up Daniel Arcilla.  Remember he hit a homerun to start the game way back in the first....I was standing against the railing with another pitcher, Aaron Sanchez.  The first pitch Arcilla swung right through.  The second pitch was a ball outside evening the count to 1-1.  I turned to Sanchez and said, "They are going to throw a fastball in and Arcilla is going to hit a walk-off Homerun."

I would like to think that I can call a pretty damn good baseball game as far as pitches go and when to throw what pitches.  I can also predict what other pitchers are going to throw pretty well.  This was a PERFECT example because the next pitch was a fastball inside and Arcilla turned on it.  He hit a walk-off homerun over the right field wall, EXACTLY like I had said literally right before the pitch!

The bench went wild and ran to meet him at home plate to celebrate.  The fans went nuts and everybody was so excited that we won in walk-off fashion AGAIN and I just so happened to be the pitcher of record AGAIN!  It was like Dejavu all over again...

Johnson City Cardinals

The Johnson City Cardinals came into town on July 5th.  They had the best record in the league coming in and we had a feeling they were going to be a very solid team all around.  We also knew that if we play how we are capable of playing and how we are supposed to play, we should be able to beat anybody in the league.

Opening night of the series, we struggled to say the least.  We did not pitch very well, we struggled offensively, and we kicked it a little bit in the field.  We did not play our brand of baseball and everybody knew it.  Sometimes, a team will have a night like we did last night, but it is about how a team rebounds from that type of game.  Are they chomping at the bit to get back out and redeem themselves?  Or are they mentally weak and let that kind of game start a losing skid?

My buddy that I played with in Vienna, Virginia after my freshman year, started the first game of the series for Johnson City.  His name is Kyle Hald.  He is a left handed pitcher out of Old Dominion.  He dominated us for 6 strong innings.  He was very very good and we could not figure him out.  He mixed his pitches really well and located them as well.  There wasn't much we could do to rattle him.  It was just one of those nights.

Luckily, he can't start on back to back nights so there would be a different guy on the mound for them the next game.  I feel sorry for the next guy because our bats can't be silenced 2 nights in a row...

July 4th

The game against the Princeton Rays on July 4th is always played in Bluefield.  No different was it this year.  They had been talking about this game the entire season.  It was the first topic that would come out of people's mouths.  Needless to say, there was a great amount of anticipation for this game.

I got to the park the same time I would for any other game.  The van left at 1 for the field and I was there by 1:15.  I hung out for a little bit, watched some TV (I have to take full advantage of that because I have no TV in my room), and played on my ipod for a little bit until about 2:15.  I then got dressed and did my band routine that I do everyday.  At 2:45 the pitchers stretch together.  We then get our conditioning in for the day followed by our throwing.  We then have to do Team Defense before we shag Batting Practice.  After BP is over, we have about 2 hours to do nothing.  During this time, I do some abs, forearms, extra sprints, and my shoulder work.  I then go shower before getting into my Game uniform.

During this time, people were filing into the stadium earlier than ever.  Once I came out of the locker room for the game, the stands were COMPLETELY full, standing room only!  I was shocked at how many people were there (were they there for the game or for the firework festivities after the game?).

Once again, we should have won the game, but Princeton came back in the top of the ninth to take a one run lead.  We were unable to capitalize in the bottom of the ninth and we came up one run short.  After the game, I hurried into the locker room to shower so I could make it back out for the fireworks!

I have to give it to the city of Bluefield.  The firework show was absolutely unbelievable.  Second only to Washington, D.C. fireworks that I saw going into my sophomore year of college.  I was amazed at how many of them there were and how long the firework show was.  The entire crowd of over 2,500 people stayed for the fireworks and watched everyone of them as they lit up the ball field.  Both teams watched the fireworks as well.

As I was watching them, I started to think about how lucky I am and how thankful I am for everything I have.  Really, how many kids get to say they played professional baseball on the fourth of July?  It was a great moment to reflect on how I got there, everything I went through, and the people that have influenced me.

After the fireworks were over, the entire field was covered in smoke and everybody made their way out of the stadium.  I had NO CLUE how many people were actually at the game until I saw how many cars were in the parking lot...there were so many that people started making their own parking spots!  It truly was a night to remember even though we were on the losing side...

The Mercer Cup

The town of Bluefield and Princeton supposedly have a huge rivalry.  I'm guessing they do not get along too well or something (I'm not too entirely sure nor do I know the exact details, all I know is that we have to beat Princeton).  They call the rivalry the Mercer Cup.  The winner at the end of the season gets to take home a trophy (the Mercer Cup).  We play Princeton more than any other team in the league.  Princeton is in affiliation with the Tampa Bay Rays.

We started the first leg of the Mercer Cup on Thursday, June 30.  The series had been hyped up more than I would have figured and I was told every game was going to be sold out and the fans were not going to be holding anything back when they start heckling.  Going into the first game, I was expecting the worst, but in all reality nothing could be much worse than what I endured during college when we went to Tulane or East Carolina or Southern Mississippi.  I think I was expecting a little too much.  Don't get me wrong, there were a good amount of fans there, but there was basically no heckling.  If anything, all they wanted was an autograph from us.  They were on the umpires more than anything.  A good line I heard from the stands after an umpire made a border line call,
"EVEN THOUGH JACK'S YOUR ONLY FRIEND, STAY AWAY FROM HIM!" (referring to Jack Daniel's, I thought it was pretty clever)

Game 1 -- The first game of the series was really exciting.  We won behind an outstanding pitching performance from our starter.  Although he did not figure in the decision, he pitched unbelievable allowing only 1 run in the first inning.  Arik Sikula got his first professional win.

Game 2 -- This game was not nearly as exciting as the first.  We blew them away because we jumped out to an early lead and capitalized on some defensive errors on their part.

Game 3 -- This game was the good old pitching duel.  Both pitchers went deep into the game and held the opposing offenses at bay.  It was 1-0 us going into the bottom of the eighth inning.  Princeton was able to make a late rally and managed to tie it at 1 going into the ninth.  We were unable to plate a run even though we had a runner on second with one out.  In the bottom of the ninth, they led off the inning with a cheap bloop hit (a pitcher's worst nightmare).  The batter got lucky!  They bunted the guy to second and the next batter had an unbelievable at bat.  He battled through the entire at bat fouling several pitches off before he finally flared a ball into left center field, scoring the winning run from second.

We lead the series 2-1, but should be up 3-0.  There are two more games in the first leg of the series tomorrow and Monday.  Hopefully, we can pull out both games.  They are not better than us; we just beat ourselves.  There really has not been a team that has been better than us.  We always shoot ourselves in the foot costing us the game.  Im interested to see how many fans show up for the game on the fourth.  It's at our home field and SUPPOSEDLY, its completely sold out with standing room only, but I'll believe that when I see it...