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!

Hello Angels Fans, my name is Tim Duff and I writing my first ever blog for mlblogs.com.  I appreciate the opportunity to share my AFL experiences will everyone. 

I would like to start with a brief history:  I grew up in a city just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania called Coatesville.  It is here where I played all my Little League, Babe Ruth, High School and Legion baseball.  Upon graduating High School, my family and I moved out to Scottsdale, Arizona.  After one semester at Arizona State University, I went to play at Mesa Community College for the spring.  Upon completing two years at MCC, I attended University of Tampa in Florida. It is from here where I signed with the, then Anaheim Angels and scout Tom Kotchman.  I am very fortunate to have had influences, coaches, and mentors along the way, without whom I wouldn’t have gotten to this point. 

Hello Angels Fans, my name is Tim Duff and I writing my first ever blog for mlblogs.com.  I appreciate the opportunity to share my AFL experiences will everyone. 

I would like to start with a brief history:  I grew up in a city just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania called Coatesville.  It is here where I played all my Little League, Babe Ruth, High School and Legion baseball.  Upon graduating High School, my family and I moved out to Scottsdale, Arizona.  After one semester at Arizona State University, I went to play at Mesa Community College for the spring.  Upon completing two years at MCC, I attended University of Tampa in Florida. It is from here where I signed with the, then Anaheim Angels and scout Tom Kotchman.  I am very fortunate to have had influences, coaches, and mentors along the way, without whom I wouldn’t have gotten to this point. 

So several things have changed since the last time I logged in.  It is obvious that someone in Heaven has the internet and they are reading my blog.  Last time I told you that it was hot as an oven out here.  Not even twenty four hours later, we were suiting up for a night game at home, and we were sporting long sleeves and jackets.  It was not in any way cold enought to be complaining about, but it was a welcomed change for sure.  Even in the few spring training and instructional leagues can I remember such a drastic change in the weather. 

 

Also, the Scorpions had not been playing baseball very well.  We either would pitch well and not hit the ball, or hit and not pitch.  It seems that the past four or five days, we are a completely different team.  The thing that I have noticed is that it only took this team one win to get on a roll.  The game following our second win of the season, and the first of this streak, our guys seemed to have a certain swagger about them that was electric.  For the first time, as a part of this team, I could see a group of guys that knew one another, played with one another, and pulled for one another.  It just goes to show how important team chemistry is.  All I know is that when you are winning, it sure makes being away from home for a couple extra weeks, a lot easier. 

 

Being away from home is starting to get to some of us I believe.  We are no doubt blessed to be in the situation we are in, and we do not take it for granted.  I am sure, however, that if you were to take any one person away from thier home, family, friends, girlfriend, wife, pets, or whatever it may be, regardless for what reason, they will be ready to get back as soon as possible.  It is not easy to keep in contact with those you care about when you are across country and three hours behind them.  Sure, you have every one of them supporting you in what it is you are doing, and all of them understand the reason you are gone, but it still is tough.  Again, I am not complaining, because I am reminded daily of how blessed I am, I just thought I would let you all know what things we face daily.  We love this game, and love to entertain you folks.

 

One more thing, that I find very interesting, and you may too, is autograph seekers.  We absolutely love to sign for any fan regardless of age.  I can’t even remember how many times I have heard fans complain about guys not signing, or completely blowing them off.  I know from experience how dissapointing it is when you aren’t able to get your target player(s) to sign.  One thing I will explain though is why this may be at times.  First of all the main reason that some guys are unable to sign is due to time.  We are constantly moving around from task to task throughout the day, and some days it seems we just don’t have time to stop and sign more than two or three.  Also, two of the most popular times that autographs are requested are right before games, and after games when we are on our way to the bus or our cars.  Most of the time if a player is unable to sign before a game, it is because of him preparing to play that day or night.  Remember this is our JOB and if we do not perform, we are out of work, and our dream.  After games, you will more than likely have no problem getting a player to sign.  Really the only time a player may not be jumping at the opportunity is if he feels he didn’t play well.  I would hope that anyone who takes pride in thier occupation would understand a rough night and the mindset that a person is in after such. 

 

For the final reason I will use an entirely new section, because this is the most frustrating.  There are people out there who like to ask players to sign ten, twenty, even more of thier cards for them.  The reasons we players get upset at this are 1. it takes time away from other fans who also want us to sign and 2. because we know that this person(s) are going to take these cards and sell them.  We understand that everyone loves money, but there is not a single person in this world who enjoys having money made off of you, and you see none of it.  Maybe if we were making a few more dollars each paycheck, we wouldn’t mind it as much, but we don’t. 

 

Now, maybe some of you who don’t get your autograph will understand a little more the reasons why.  We are truly sorry for the dissapointment it causes you, or your child.  Like I said earlier, we love to entertain you fans, we just don’t like to be used.  God Bless!

 

Verse for the day:  “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

Hello again baseball fans!  This has been a busy week.  For any of you who have ever been to Arizona you know this, but to those of you who haven’t had the pleasure to visit, IT’S HOT!  I have been in Arizona a few times, for two spring trainings and two instructional leagues, but I seem to be amazed everytime I visit at how hot it really is.  Being from Georgia, I am used to heat, but there is no doubt a huge difference between humid heat and dry heat.  The night games are not so bad, because we are only out in the sun to stretch and for batting practice.  Usually it has cooled off by game time (7:05 p.m.).  Day games (12:30 p.m.) are similar to sitting in an oven.  Seriously if you want to know what it is like to be in the Arizona sun, turn your oven on to about 400 degrees and hold your face in front of it with the door open.  Please don’t really do that!  I would feel horible if anyone was to hurt themself. 

 

The sun is not the only thing giving off heat out here.  There are some serious flame throwers in this league.  It is amazing to watch all of these guys throw, and it is a daily reminder of how blessed I am to be in the company of the best of the best.  What I love about this game is seeing the different size players, and different builds of bodies that God displays his gifts.  There are guys that are 6’6″ and guys who are under 6′ throwing anywhere from ninety to one hundred miles an hour.  I feel, for that reason, that this is no doubt the greatest game on Earth. 

 

I got roughed up a little in my first outting, but I really felt good about my outting.  I was pounding the strike zone with all of my pitches, really about as good as I ever have.  It being the first time I had pitched in a game in almost three weeks, I was still knocking some rust off.  I left a few off-speed pitches up in the zone which resulted in several hits, and in the end a few runs.  The talent level here is far too high to make many mistakes, as I quickly learned. 

 

So far, the biggest adjustment for me, and I am sure that other guys in the league would agree, would be playing day games after night games, and the other way around.  During the season we usually only play day games on Sundays, which allows us to get in a comfortable day to day routine.  The ability to have a consistent routine while at the stadium helps me to be as relaxed as possible during the game, and I believe strongly increases my chances of being succesful.  Equally as important is being able to get into a routine for resting in between games.  We have already completed a long regular and post-season, so our bodies are starting to wear down a little.  Getting plenty of sleep, eating well, and staying of our feet during our down time really helps our performance. 

 

I will be writting again in the next day or two, but for now I am going to watch some football, play some Halo, and make phone calls to family and friends.  I ask that you will keep me and my family in your prayers, as we have lost a loved one.  I hope that you have all had a great week, and I am looking forward to filling you in again in a couple of days.  God Bless!

 

Verse for the day:  “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?”  Job 2:10