Back In The Swing Of Things

This week marks the first week I'm back playing in all three I signed in April to compete, and MY KNEES ARE KILLING ME!

My doctor gave me clearance to play two weeks before, and so far my finger, which I broke in May, is holding up well. I still have my cast in case I want to bind it to keep it safe while I sleep. The wound dries during the day, so I must moisturize it and let it heal properly. It feels like a spine of a small book is inside my finger, but in a few months things should return to normal.

Bryce Harper. Source: FederalBaseball.com

Bryce Harper also made a emphatic return to the Washington Nationals lineup after ending his stint on the disabled list with a broken thumb. His RBI single against the visiting Rockies opened the scoring midway through the night time contest which resulted in a 7-3 victory for the Nats.

A broken finger on either hand effects everything you do, therefore seek medical attention immediately should you experience discomfort, pain, or an obvious injury. The doctor said I was "fortunate" to only be away from the game for six weeks, when you consider the type of injury I had. I was quite close to losing my left index finger outright! o_O Yes, you heard me: AMPUTATION. O_O

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and support this past two months. It means a lot, plus I'm back to doing the things I like: Guitar, drums, keyboards, and...umm...oh yeah, video games...and baseball. Bending back my finger or bending the tip of my finger to press buttons are all but impossible, but I don't mind it. I'm just glad the worst parts are behind me. I have a follow up appointment with my doctor in August, so everything should be good as new by that time. ^_^

Question: Does Bryce Harper always take off his helmet when he's running around the bases?

Life On The DL: Update

I explained on my Facebook and Tumblr pages how the doctor will remove my cast a week ahead of schedule, but not here. Sorry about that! o_O

Yes, I suppose that's good news, which should include a hashtag reference of some kind, but my sports playing friends, who broke their fair share of bones over the years, tell me I have some work left to do in the therapy and rehab department. So, while I'm officially off the disabled list, the next couple of weeks should be my rehab period. So far, I missed only one game this year, but our team captain designated me as the third base coach, and team yeller. o_O LOL I have another game the day after the doctor removes the pins from my finger, so I'm excused from that game.

Before the injury, I practiced my slight of hand and "sell job" tactics for the upcoming season. However, my skills are nowhere near impressive as this Texas youngster at a Rangers game in Arlington last weekend.

Life On The Disabled List

I broke my finger on May Day at a construction site, so I get to start the softball season on the fifteen day disabled list. What joy! ^_^ (Tears everywhere...)

I thought this Sunday was my first game of 2014, but instead it looks as though June, if not the week following the May Long Weekend, will be when I make my triumphant return to the glorious game (I'm Canadian).

Michael Cuddyer, like most Major League ballplayers, is no stranger to injury,
and the DISABLED LIST. Blogger Phil Wood shares his first experience
on the dreaded list, and what that could mean to him personally.

There is something quite romantic and tragic about awaiting the return to the game, and literally crossing the foul line, or entering the batter's box to start a softball game. I'm leaving emotional baggage, stress, physical restrictions, my job, car payments, credit card bills, lack of a long-term and meaningful partner, the demands of my parents, and my identity behind to play a sport, and become a new person - a useful person. Since 2008, I stepped over the foul line, and became a different person each time...

• #7 NITRO
• #10 KNOCKOUT
• #19 JUDAH
• #22 McCUTCHEN
• #66 STEAMPUNK
• #74 MERLIN
• #82 HOLLYWOOD
• #87 MONDAY

As long as I wasn't me, things would be alright. With this injury, however, I can't help but be me. It will be a new sensation to watch your team win, lose, coast, or struggle and not be in the trenches alongside them. I found a note in my kitbag, which I scribbled years ago, during a team practice a couple of weeks before my injury.

1. Goals for the Summer:
1. Improve fielding
2. Improve batting
3. Better communicator
4. Better person
2. Don't take things personal: 
1. Your actions will/won't bring the world crashing down around you.
2. Stay in control.
3. Trust people.
3. JESUS is a cool guy who saved the world and brought it back with the "fundamentals" (Matthew 22:36-40: Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18)

At the bottom of my note, I drew a picture of a dude dressed as one of the Kansas City Royals. He is wearing a catcher's mitt, and he has a giant nose. I'll scoot down to the game Sunday night, and support the team if I can. I'm also on painkillers, so coupled with the injury to my hand I can't drive for a couple of weeks, and that's crazy! >_<

Dazed & Confuzzled

My favourite Toronto Blue Jay Jose Bautista launched his nineteenth homerun yesterday in a loss against the surging Washington Nationals at the Rogers Center. Bautista found his groove again, but at a cost the Blue Jays dropped five of their last six games since the start of this latest chapter of inter-league baseball, which I like to call "Give the Yankees easy games to win so they can make the playoffs again" baseball. Bautista sits third in the major league homerun race with nineteen HR, two behind White Sox clean up hitter Adam Dunn, and three behind the leader, Texas Ranger Josh Hamilton (According to MLB Stats, as of June 14th, 2012).

As a Blue Jays fan, I'm disappointed with this offensive slump, and with both starting pitchers Brendan Morrow and Kyle Drabek out of the lineup for fifteen days, and potentially six starts between them, our chances to build off the success of late 2010 and 2011 are beginning to slim down.

GIANTS' Matt Cain celebrates after throwing the
22nd perfect game in modern MLB history

Speaking of inter-league wackiness, how long would it take for the Major League Baseball to switch to an all-designated hitter format for both American and National leagues? I suppose when, after a very close pennant race, the losing team will complain the winning team had the luxury of using a DH in their inter-league contest while they had to suffer with their pitcher swinging and missing in the penultimate last game of the season for both teams. When the Houston Astros announced they were leaving the National League, I said professional baseball would become all-DH by the start of next season, and if not then by the start of the 2014 campaign when they realize inter-league cost one team a chance at the postseason because they did not have the luxury of inserting a designated hitter in their 162nd game lineup card.

Before I forget, I would like to congratulate San Francisco Giants' star pitcher Matt Cain, who became only the 22nd pitcher in the modern era of Major League Baseball to throw a perfect game. He tossed fourteen strikeouts against the Houston Astros last night in San Francisco to preserve a 10-0 victory, and a spot in history as the first Giant in the 130-year history of the franchise to retire all 27 batters he faced in one game ^_^ Well done, Matt Cain! Now, if only I could buy cream coloured baseball pants to wear during for city ball? For more on this game, click here to go to MLB beat writer Chris Haft's account of this historic game.