Since not many people have the Palm Beach Post I decided just to post the latest Hammer blog

 

 

 

June 11, 2006

 

From Little League to the majors, striking out is the absolute worst.

I Love that song Take Me out to the Ballgame, but that "one, two, three strikes you're out. . ." I don't like that part.

The worst thing you can do as a hitter is strikeout. You'd rather hit an 18-hopper back to the pitcher than strikeout. Certain situations make it worse, like the other night when we faced Jason Schmidt in San Francisco. We had runners on base in the ninth and he struck out the side.I know Schmidt tied a Giants' franchise record against us with 16 strikeouts that night, but I don't think he was the best pitcher we faced this year. I think Atlanta's Tim Hudson was the toughest. At least he was tough on me. He's always been tough on me. I think I've had six at-bats against him in my career and I've struck out five times.

 

But Schmidt was impressive. Any time you have a 90-mph changeup, you'll probably be pretty effective. We were on the bench, asking each other about what he was doing to us: "Can you pick up his changeup?" We couldn't really see it. As a hitter, you have to be able to recognize pitches. That particular pitch that night was tough because it looked like a fastball, then right at the last minute, it would just drop right under your bat

 

But striking out is part of the game. Striking out is the first thing you do as a hitter from Little League on up before you learn to make contact and become a hitter. You're going to strikeout, it doesn't matter how good of a hitter you are. You just try and limit your strikeouts, especially in situations like that where you need to put the ball in play and get a run in.

 

There have been times you go up there and the pitcher throws three pitches right on the corner and maybe got a call or two from the umpire. You just have to tip your hat. When runners are on base, you have to do everything you can to put the ball in play. And when you don't, it's a long walk back to the dugout.

I got my first big-league hit in my second game in 2004. I have the baseball from that. The day before that, I can tell you that my first big-league at-bat was my first strikeout. I think it was against Josh Fogg when he was with Pittsburgh. I didn't save the baseball.

 

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/conte...mbeach/marlins/

Thanks Holly, forgot all about that.

 

 

We need to get Hammer to put that here instead of the PBPost website... :mischief2

Josh is a smart player and a good writer.

Thanks for posting Holly!

The day before that, I can tell you that my first big-league at-bat was my first strikeout. I think it was against Josh Fogg when he was with Pittsburgh. I didn't save the baseball.

 

 

lmao! I wouldnt either...

We need to get Hammer to put that here instead of the PBPost website... :mischief2

 

 

:mischief2 I like your thinking.

We need to get Hammer to put that here instead of the PBPost website... :mischief2

 

 

:mischief2 I like your thinking.

 

Aham... *gets megaphone*

 

Admin

 

if theres any way to contact him, it would be pretty enticing to tell him that he could be writing toward the largest internet fanbase of marlins fans.. Worth a shot right? And didn't Jorg say that Jake went on the site?

Aham... *gets megaphone*

Admin

if theres any way to contact him, it would be pretty enticing to tell him that he could be writing toward the largest internet fanbase of marlins fans.. Worth a shot right? And didn't Jorg say that Jake went on the site?

 

 

Yes, he mentioned that Jake saw his journal on here. So I wonder does Jake still lurk here once in a while. *waves* Hello Jake!