Well baseball fans, this season is at an end!  Although there will come a time when all of us will be ready for baseball to start up again, that time is not right now.  We have put in a long year worth of work, and had just as much fun, but it is time for a break.  I am writting to you for the last time both for the season, and for the last time from my apartment in Scottsdale. 

This season has been short, but full of many things that I am very happy I got to experience.  I learned several things about myself, both as a player and a person, that I am sure will help me in my journey to the Major Leagues.  After starting off the season with a little bit of a hurt arm, I was a little worried.  I had never had anything wrong with my arm that made me really watch what I did both on and off the field.  After a few weeks of being extra-careful, and working very hard with the trainers of strengthening my arm, I was able to finally feel 100% again.  After that I had to quickly learn my off-speed pitches again in order to be effective against the much higher level of play.  At about the half-way point in the season I was back to myself, and putting up the numbers that I knew I could 

It has truly been an honor to keep all of you up to date with everything that I have experienced here in the Arizona Fall League, and I thank you all for taking the time to read my entries.  I hope to have the chance to do this again sometime, and allow you to take this journey with me over my career. 

I’m gonna go get on a plane now and get after them deer.  A country boy can survive.

God Bless!

hey everybody,

    I am Chris Pettit, an outfielder in the Angels system, here to tell you a little about myself and my experiences in the Arizona Fall League as we finish up some of the last baseball of the minor league season. 

  Originally from San Dimas, California, I went to school at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles for four years and graduated with a BA degree in Sociology and a minor in Business.  I was fortunate enough to be drafted by a hometown team in the 2006 draft, and have played in Orem, Cedar Rapids, Rancho Cucamonga, and last year in Arkansas. 

  This past year didnt get off to such a good start, as I broke my foot in the outfield in the fourth inning of the first game of the year.  It took me a little over half a season to finish up my rehab, and thanks to the Angels guys Jeff Hostetter and Dave Hogarth for the great work they did in getting me back on the field.  I came back for the second half of the season, and although I didnt do well personally, the Travs won the league title, which greatly made up for it!

  As this is my second stint in the AFL, I had a good idea of what to expect out here; good pitching, good hitting, and the opportunity to meet guys from different teams and make new friendships.  As far as baseball goes, Im here to get at bats, and I am focusing on being patient and consistently making solid contact, driving the ball back up the middle. It has also been great to meet a bunch of new guys and hang out with others that I had played with before. 

  Well I’d like to thank everyone for taking their time to read this blog, and thanks to Barret for letting me jump in (although I don’t think he had a choice).  Go Angels1

Hey Shelby,

I wasn’t sure the best way to answer your question (Should I email you or write an answer through my blog?).  I went with this so that anyone else wondering the answer would be able to see it.  The H/E is Hit/Error.  After each ball in which the batter reaches base safely, the score keeper will flash up an H or an E to let everyone know how the play was ruled.  Often times when you see a position player bobble a ball or not make a play for whatever reason, you will find both he and the hitter (now baserunner) looking at the score board.  This is why they do that.  I hope that answers your question. 

If you or anyone else has questions, feel free to ask.  I will do my very best to answer them to the best of my knowledge and as quickly as possible.

God Bless

Hello again!  It’s been a busy week since my last entry.  We have been playing baseball everyday as you all know, but it has been a little different game than in the past for the Scorpions.  We have had a rough season in the Arizona Fall League this year, but in the past week or so the Scottsdale Scorpions have been playing very well. 

We had a game go ten and a half innings one night that was shortened when the lights at our stadium shut off.  We were charging with men on first and second, with no outs.  Kevin Frandsen was approaching the plate when out of nowhere the lights all went off at the same time with no warning.  They seemed to have no way to turn the lights on, which was kindof crappy being that we were playing the last half of the last possible inning of play, not to mention we were looking like we would win.  Turns out we are to finish the game before our next meeting with that same team, which I believe is to be Wednesday.  I am looking forward to it being that I am in line for the win!

Finally, after being out here for two spring trainings, two instructional leagues, and this season in the AFL, I was able to find a little taste of home.  Yesterday (Sunday) Nascar came to town and raced in Phoenix, and you bet everything you own this south Georgia boy was there!  I have been to several races in my life, but have not been to a Nascar event since 2001 when I got to watch THE MAN Dale Jr. win the Pepsi 400.  Myself and David Herndon made the trip over to Phoenix to watch the guys put on a show.  They did not let us down either.  We saw good hard racing, decently high speeds, several wrecks (face it, everyone enjoys them as long as no one is seriously injured), and I got to see Dale Jr. finish sixth.  He was out of the points race if you look through the math, but I just wanted to see that 88 car fly.  Not only did we get intertained by the race, but Mother Nature decided to show off a little.  We saw almost every type of weather possible on Sunday.  It was warm most of the day, then came the rain, and with the darkness came what felt like a freeze after sitting in the hot Arizona sun for several hours.  All in all it was a good time, and I am thankful to have been able to spend some time in the middle of a bunch of other rednecks.

I am still trying to get used to this time change, so I am now going to go to bed.  I couldn’t tell you what time zone we are in now.  I just heard something about us switching time zones, or they moved Arizona over a couple states or something.  Either way I am just hoping my body will catch up.

God Bless!

It is the beginning of November and we are still playing baseball.  Playing baseball in November is not an unfamiliar thing for most players, however, we are usually starting up fall ball when we were in college and high school.  With no doubt I can say that this is the most consecutive days I have played baseball, and my body is letting me know that it is wearing down.  For most players this is true. 

Knowing that most players are not used to this much work for this amount of time, most organizations have done thier best to try and limit the number of innings each player plays.  Most pitchers, including myself, are starting to find it easier to have sore or tired arms and legs, as I am sure most of the position players are too.  I can assure you all that this is not because of any lack of conditioning, or poor work eithic since being in Arizona. 

After the months of preparing for the upcoming season, spring training, a 144ish game season, and all the ball we have played out here so far, our bodies are wearing down.  As a matter of fact several players from our team have been sent home for the off-season to rest.  The organizations do a great job of checking on players and monitoring our health.  They see each one of us as an investment, and will not do anything to put us in any danger.  That is one of the things that is most comforting about our job.  Anytime we feel we need a day off, or even just need to back off a little, we are able to do so through a small conversation with the trainers and coaches. 

We only have about three more weeks left, so we will do everything we can to stay fresh for the remaining games.  Honestly, Jesup, Georgia never looked so good. haha.  Gpd Bless!