Day 6

So I'm guessing we're on the new routine now that the hitters are here.  Each level had 6 guys or so throw live BP to hitters.  Live BP is basically where a hitter will get in there and you'll throw to him like a game.  He doesn't know what's coming, but he gets a few swings so even if he puts one in play he stays in there for a few more hacks.  I was slated to throw on day 1, 3rd in line so after stretching and reviewing some bunt plays some more I left to go stretch out to get ready.

I'm lucky I went over there at the right time because the schedules here are practically written in a different language.  You can literally stare at them for 15 minutes and still have no idea what's going on or where you're suppose to go.  We had one of the coaches go over it twice and I STILL had no idea where I was suppose to go.  As soon as I had it straight Browning came over and told me contradictory information that messed it all up.  Everyone seems to take the follow-the-group strategy when going from field to field.  If you ever mess up, there will be another 6 people messing up with you which demonstrates that it was their fault, not your own.

So we're told that we have 20 minutes from the sound of the air horn to get ready before we go in.  Well a horn went off and people started getting ready, only to find out that it was actually the air horn from the indians' camp down the street.  So once everyone get on the same schedule we were good.  I did my normal throwing routine and hopped up on the mound.  It was evident after a few erratic throws that I was going to have to figure it out while I'm throwing to the batter.  It didn't matter what I did while warming up, everything was up in the zone.  My change-up was missing way to the right, and my slider was flat.  Mac sped up my delivery during my last bullpen and that had great results that day, but each day since has been a bit of a struggle for me to keep my upper and lower body in sync.  I knew I had to slow myself down a tad and give my arms time to get on top of the ball, but no matter what I did, I was erratic.  I finished up and strolled over to my field and watched the guy before me throw his final pitches.  Browning emphasized the throwing of strikes (as he always does) and here I was able to locate 2 out of 30 pitches in my warm up.

I got on the mound and all the sudden, I was money.  I don't know how it happens, but I suppose if I had to choose a place for it to click, that would be the place.  I mean, I definitely had some pitches that were a good deal off, but I at least was able to throw strikes.  I had a few things that I wanted to work on that I knew I struggled with last year.  Our live BP session was timed, so we just faced as many batters as we could get in.  I don't really know how many I faced, add the fact that we didn't really have fielders and it makes for some confusion in how you did.  I threw strikes and got a ton of ground balls as usual.  This was the first time the hitters faced live pitching so we were suppose to dominate a bit.  Overall I felt pretty good about my performance and wrapped up the rest of my BP session.  Afterwards I had to run about 1.75 miles and did my arm care.  Not a bad day.