Tigers Minor League Baseball Blog

For everyone else in the Florida State League, this past weekend was three days of rest and relaxation. But for the lucky few forty or so players selected to the All Star game, myself included (I’m not gloating here. If I said I dumped fine Champagne on myself after the game, well, that would be gloating), this was a chance to showcase our talents for the ever so gracious, and I have to say devoted Florida State League fans and followers. This was a particularly long weekend for myself and my fellow teammate and all star, Thad Weber, due in part to playing a road series in Port Charlotte and driving straight to Ft. Myers the next day instead of going back with the rest of the team. So really it felt a little like an extended road trip. The feelings of homesickness were quickly dissipated when I learned our staff booked each of us our own two-room suite. Yeah, that’s right the big league treatment. For about the first thirty minutes I felt like I was on top of the world, until I realized I was hungry and bored, with no car and no real knowledge of the surrounding area. So I did what any Michigander does when they are bored and hungry. I went hunting. Except I then made the mistake of wearing jeans outside when it was 99 degrees and walked almost two miles. Boo-hoo, pity me, I know; I’m just trying to let all of you know what not to do in these types of situations. Anyway, Friday night was the fan festival where all the fans could come over and mingle with the players at an upscale carnival-esque event. We signed autographs, took pictures ate good food, dared each other to ride the mechanical bull, you know stuff ballplayers do on a daily basis. All in all, I thought it was a great job done by the staff in Ft. Myers to promote the game. As for the game itself, the North Division came out on top 6-4 (that’s us). I was lucky enough to come enter the game in the 5th inning when I was supposed to throw the 6th due to some situational needs, and actually was the only pitcher to throw two innings in the game. And they ended up being a good two, as I gave up just one hit and no runs. This was exactly what I needed this point in the year. Would I have enjoyed spending time back at home in Michigan for a few days with my future wife and family? Without a doubt, absolutely. However, given my last few outings haven’t gone the way I have liked, I needed something to help me find the fun in the game that I had earlier in the season and remember exactly what I was out there to do. It gave me reassurance in my abilities and got me back to feeling that no one was going to beat me. Also Thad threw a scoreless third inning of the game and actually picked up a win. I’d say a pretty nice Father’s Day gift for his dad who was in attendance. The weekend was a lot of fun and a huge honor, one which I made sure to get the most out of, and be grateful for because as much as I like to think about doing it next year, you never know when something like this is going to come around again.