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