4 2/3 innings  1k 0 walks 5 hits

I threw the ball fairly well.  The first inning I got hit pretty hard but I actually had some luck because they hit it right at people.  After that I did a pretty good job of keeping the ball down and missing barrels.  My scap muscle is not 100% but it is tolerable.  Please keep the prayers coming I need them.  My next start is Saturday.

- The Kid

Threw in a rookie ball game tonight.  Gave up 4 hits 3 of them were jam shots.  Gave up 1 run but it was an improvement.  Curveball was decent and the fastball was good.  I am flying to Peoria tomorrow to join the team.  It is the low a level in Illinois.  Thanks for your support and prayers are appreciated.

- The Kid

Sorry I know its been a while since I've posted.  I had a knot in my lat muscle that was causing a lot of aggravation so they sent me to Mesa to rehab and let it rest a little.  I am feeling better and I am throwing in games this week so if all goes well then I should be able to get out of here fairly soon.  Ill keep you updated.

- The Kid

5 innings 8 hits 4 runs 2 walks 2ks

Out of their 8 hits they hit 3 hard.  They had 4 ground ball hits and one little flare.  This outing was pretty much bad luck.  I had to make change in my mechanics and it really affected my feel for my secondary pitches, so I didn't throw them very well.  But overall I threw the ball pretty well, just had some tough luck.

- The Kid

Got stroked

5 innings 3 runs on 5 hits 1walk 2ks

I threw the ball very well today.  The fourth inning is when they got their runs but I made some pretty good pitches that they just hit.  I had really good control of my fastball today.  The vulcan was pretty good.  I started losing it towards the end of my outing though.  I only threw 69 pitches but they said they had to throw some other guys so I was pretty aggravated I didn't go more than 5 but that's out of my control.  This has been my best outing yet.  I am frustrated I keep getting losses but that's just how things are going for me right now.  But I got a lot of good feedback from my coaches and teammates.  Im getting better but not where I need to be yet.  Thanks for the prayers and support.

- The Kid

4 innings 3 runs on 6 hits 0 walks and 1k

Lot better day today.  I got a 9 out of 12 ground ball outs.  I gave up two hits that just found a hole in the infield and one flare over second base, so they only hit 3 balls hard.  I only threw two off speed pitches because my two seam was working so well but I also was having a problem throwing first pitch strikes.  I threw a lot of strikes, but that first pitch strike is key.  I was also on a lower pitch count due to missing a start from hurting my back.   But there were a lot of positives to take from this despite getting another loss.  I can feel myself getting better and I am working hard everyday.  Thanks for the prayers and support and please keep them coming.  James 1:12

- The Kid

Game #2
3 1/3  7 hits  7 runs 5 earned 2 walks 2 ks   I think most of this is right but I could be off can't really remember.

I threw a lot better this game but I just had a lot of bad luck.  I threw strikes and felt like most of them were located pretty well.  I talked to the catcher and he said that I was hitting my spots but they just hit it.  I think only 3 hits were hard hit balls that you just have to tip your hat to.  The other ones were flares or well placed balls that you can't do anything about.  Things aren't going good right now but I am competing and I know I can succeed.  For some reason I am just going through a tough time right now.  But I am working hard everyday to get better.  Thanks for the prayers and support, they are appreciated.

- The Kid

Game 1

Bad.

- The Kid

I made the Daytona roster so I'm pretty happy about that.  I have to stay a couple of extra days in Mesa though.  Some big league pitchers are going to throw in some minor league games for some extra work before the season and they picked three minor league guys to stay back and throw against them.  The GM and big league pitching coach will be there so this is a good opportunity.  Very thankful for this chance.  Prayers are much appreciated.  Time to get going!!!

- The Kid

4 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 3 or 4 ks, no walks.

They made me stay out there for 15-18 pitches every inning so sometimes I got 4 or 5 outs in an inning.  The fastball was really good.  I had a lot of movement on it.  I had trouble keeping it down outside to righties but other than that my location was pretty good.  The vulcan was good.  Threw it for strikes and kept it low.  I have been struggling with my slider so I got so frustrated in the pen that I just started throwing my curveball again.  It wasn't bad either.  My slider or my curve aren't great pitches, but they are good enough.  So I was able to throw them for strikes.  I was happy with my outing.  I competed well and threw lots of strikes.  I got to face David Dejesus.  He hit a single his first at bat, but I k'd him the next at bat on the vulcan.  He came up to me and told me good pitch.  Haha.  That was pretty cool.  I'll post where I'll be as soon as I find out.

- the Kid

3 2/3 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 1 walk, 2 or 3 k's.  Threw pretty well today.  They got a couple of weak hits the first inning just because I left the ball up just enough for them to get lucky on. I gave up 1 run in the first but was ok with it because I kept the inning quick and only gave up 1 when it could've been worse.  After the first things went fairly smooth.  Gave up a hit on a really good pitch but the guy just made enough contact to get it to fall.  Also gave up an infield hit.  Shortstop took his time and the guy at the plate was pretty quick, but no damage done.  The fastball was really good.  Had some good movement and had a lot of swings and misses.  I was able to keep it down and in the zone which is always good.  The vulcan was good.  Not to nasty today but was able to locate it and keep hitters off balance.  Struggling with the slider.  Just don't have a good feel for it, but its just gonna take time.  So everything is going well.  This is the last week of camp so I will find out where I'm heading this week.  Please the prayers and support coming.  Im working hard.  Thanks.

- The Kid

3 innings, 0 hits,1 walk, 3 k's.  My first inning was great.  I hit almost every spot, and it felt great.  The second and third innings were good, but if I figure out how to pitch a whole game like I did in the first inning, things are gonna work out good for me.  The fastball was really good today.  Located it pretty well and kept it down in the zone.  Threw some really good sliders and got a lot of swings on them.  The vulcan was also very good.  Lot of movement and had a lot of guys out in front.  The Lord is blessing me and helping me figure things out.  I am feeling very good and I am working hard everyday.  Thanks.

- The Kid

Had my first game today against the Giants.  The first inning I had the first batter 0-2 and threw and inside  fastball that jammed him.  I left it a little up though and he got a jam shot single.  He stole second, but the catcher made a good throw but the shortstop didn't make the tag so he should have been out.  Struck the second guy and and got a ground ball out.  I got behind the next guy 3-0 but came back to make it 3-2.  I made a good pitch but he stuck his bat out and hit it perfectly down the first base line.  So the runner scored and I got the next guy out.  Second inning I got ahead 0-2 again and tried to go inside and smoked the guy in the shoulder.  I was pretty mad about that.  But I got two ground balls and a strikeout to get out of the inning.  I balked that inning to.  It was pretty bad.  But my fastball was good today.  Sat 90-92 and topped 93.  My location was ok, but I struggled on location when I went inside.  But I kept it low for the most part and thats always better than high.  Only threw one slider and I struck a guy out so I guess it was good.  The vulcan was really good today.  Had good control of it and it had a lot of movement.  My goal so far has been to have a low pitch count and get a lot of ground balls.  I have done a good job of getting ground balls so that means I am keeping my pitches on the corners, which is a lot better than what I did last year.  I am feeling really good.  Feel like I am getting better each outing.  Thanks for the support and prayers.

  - The Kid

We had intersquad today.  I got to throw two innings and they went well.  The first inning I got 3 ground balls in a row.  They made me stay out there for a fourth batter to reach my pitch count and I struck the fourth guy out.  The next inning, the leadoff guy hit a slow roller between the first baseman and me.  I ran it down and it went in and out of my glove and then I kicked it so that guy was safe.  Got a double play ball the first pitch of the next at bat but the second baseman bobbled it and they only got the guy at second.  I got the next guy to fly out and the batter after him to ground out, so I got out of the inning with no damage done.  Faced and extra batter and the count got to 3-2 and I jammed him inside but he hit a little flare that landed in between short and left.  I made a good pitch but he came out on the winning end. The fastball was good today.  I didn't hit every spot but when I missed, it was low, which is a lot better then missing high.  Every vulcan I threw was a strike.  It wasn't really dirty today, but it was solid.  I threw two sliders.  One was crap but the other was really good.  So I'm happy with the outing today.  I was trying to focus on keeping the ball low and getting guys out with my fastball.  Still not where I want to be but I feel that I am heading in the right direction.  Please keep the prayers coming.  I have a long way to go but I really feel positive about the direction I am heading.

   - The Kid

Threw another live BP today.  Wasn't great but wasn't bad.  Threw some pretty good fastballs.  Vulcan wasn't to hot.  Slider is definitely getting better but I don't have my control down yet with it.  Got some compliments from some coaches so I guess they see something they like.  Still feeling good and healthy.

   -  The Kid

Threw a live BP today.  This consists of throwing to hitters with a screen in front of us to protect us from getting hit.  It wasn't great but it wasn't bad.  My fastball was good to the right side of the plate, but I've been struggling to locate it to the left side of the plate.  The vulcan was good and nasty so I was happy about that.  Still struggling with the slider though.  But it's just gonna take a little time.  Got to hear Ryan Dempster, Kerry Wood, and Rick Sutcliff speak and that was pretty cool.  Everything is going good.  Ill keep you updated.

   - The Kid

Well the craziness has arrived.  All the pitchers and catchers are here so there are about 100 total.  Pretty frustrating.  Anyways, threw another pen today and it was the best one I've thrown in a long time.  They made us stay down the middle but I located my fastball really well.  The vulcan was pretty good too.  Slider started out rough but came around towards the end.  Felt really good today so I am hoping I can keep progressing.  Thanks for all the prayers and support.  They are greatly appreciated.

   - The Kid

Threw another pen today and it was not very good.  Had problems getting comfortable on the mound today.  I didn't feel very fluid.  I talked a hitter that stood in the box while I threw and he had some good things to say about it but I know that I am capable of doing much better.  Got to take some hacks in the cage today off the machine and I swung and missed at about everyone.  It was pretty funny.  Don't care to  much about that though.  Throw strikes first then take hitting a little more seriously.  But it will get better.  Always does.

   - The Kid

Threw another pen today.  The fastball was a lot better, but the Vulcan had an off day.  My slider started to come around some so I am happy about that.  Physically I am feeling really good and it's just a matter of time before everything starts to come together.

Threw another pen today.  Felt a lot better off the mound.  I felt really fluid.  My fastball was better but still wasn't able to hit the corners like I want to.  The slider was terrible today but I'm not to worried about it.  The vulcan was nice and filthy which is good.  Still got a long ways to go but I'm feeling really confident about everything.  #freeboosie  #longlivethevulcan

   - The Kid

So I threw my first pen today.  Wasn't very good but wasn't awful.  Had some trouble locating the fastball for some reason.  I guess I was a little amped up.  The vulcan was good though and I was able to locate it.  I feel really good and am excited to be with the cubs.  As always, long live the VULCAN!!!



    - The Kid

2/20/12

I started this blog for those of you interested in keeping up with how my season goes.  After games, I will post how my outing went and my thoughts on the game.  I am doing this because it is hard to me to keep everyone updated during the season so this allows those of you who are interested to keep up with my starts and how my season is going.  Thank you for the support.


       - The Kid