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Crosscutters News
Cutters Spring Training Bloggers Dusty Wathan's Spring Blog
After 14
years as a professional baseball player, Dusty Wathan embarks on his new
career as a Family Time
May 11 - It has been a
while since my last blog. Since I last talked to you I got the rare
chance to get home and spend a few days with my family. The Phillies
are one of the few organizations that actually gives their coaches a
vacation. It was a nice trip home. I not only got to spend some
quality time with my family, but I also was lucky enough to take in a
few games. My daughter, Elle, had a soccer game. She scored her
first goal of the season and I was there to see it. Most people take
these things for granted, but when you are away from home as much as I
am you don’t. My son, Huck, also played two baseball games while I
was back in Charlotte. What a thrill to be able to watch him play! Maeve
my youngest daughter isn’t old enough to participate so she roots them
on from the side lines and plays at the playground. I have a feeling
it won’t be long until she is out on the field in the middle of
everything.
Enough about my family, you probably want to
know a little about the team. Well lately we have been playing some
really good baseball. As a matter of fact this past week we were
5-0-1. Yes the one stands for a tie. In 'extended' if the score is
tied after nine innings we just call the game. Both teams have their
pitching all mapped out for a week or so and only bring the necessary
amount of pitchers on a road trip. I think we are now a game or so
over .500. After a bit of a rough start this is pretty darn good. I
think the guys are starting to learn some things and can’t wait for
the season to start.
The
weather is starting to heat up. The other night before I went to bed
I was watching the weather and at 10:15 pm the temperature was 81
degrees with 78% humidity. This is what we are staring to deal with
down here. That kind of weather really can wear you out.
Another question
from the fans…
Till
Next Time..
Goal: Williamsport
Extended
spring is much like spring training. The
players get to the park no later than 8 am. The
players have to be ready for extra work at about 8:15 Monday thru
Friday. One group of
players are in the cage every morning. Other players have individual
defensive work. Catchers
work on throwing, blocking and receiving drills. Infielders
take extra ground balls and work on their drills. Outfielders
catch fly balls and ground balls. Our
daily meeting takes place at about 9:45. We
then go out on the field and the guys stretch and play catch. After
that it is on to take infield and batting practice. When
we have home games we also incorporate in a team fundamental. After all
that we eat some lunch. At
1:00 we get to play a game. Even
though none of these stats will ever go on the back of a baseball card
this is what everyone is here for, including me. The
games are in a controlled environment, if a pitcher throws too
many pitches in an inning we just change sides
and move on. If we need
to play 10 or 12 innings to let some of our pitchers get some work then
that’s what we do.
These players
are still being evaluated. They
are all trying to make the Williamsport team. Some
will need another year of maturing and some will stay in the GCL to
works on their baseball skills and maybe even their
English. In June we will
have a whole new crop of players from the draft,
so the reality is some of the guys will be released and move on to
another career.
Not to rub it
in to everyone up north, but it looks like we
are going to get a some cooler temperatures this week with a couple of
days in the high 60’s. We
have had some warm humid days the last two weeks or so with temperatures
in the mid 80’s. So we
are looking forward to a cold front.
A fan recently emailed me this question; What
do you anticipate as your major baseball joy in the 08 season?
Keep the questions coming my way!
Talk to you later,
Dusty
Spring Training Marches On... We officially start the extended spring program next week. This consists of games 6 days a week with Sundays being off days. It is basically two more months of spring training. My family is now in town, it has been almost 4 weeks since we have been together so it is great to have some family time. I’ll let you know how extended spring is in a couple weeks. The last time I was in extended was ’95 as a player. At least I have a little experience with it. This will be hitting coach Eric Valent’s first experience with extended spring. Let me know if you have any questions that I can answer in the coming weeks.
Talk to you soon,
Practice, Practice... The Phillies really stress family. This includes players and staff, anyone who has anything to do with the Phillies is treated like family. Most of the players have never been with another organization and don't realize how good they have it here. On most teams the players are just a number. Here our goal is to get every guy to the big leagues. Hopefully it is with Philadelphia, but if it is not, somewhere else would be great. Not many clubs think like we do here. We are now going through drills and conditioning to make sure everyone is in shape and ready to play in games. We have a pretty high expectations for our players. They need to come to spring in shape and ready to play. This being said, we put them through a number of tests to make sure they are ready for the grind of the upcoming season. If they don't pass certain tests they become members of the breakfast club. This is not a club you want to be part of, it requires extra conditioning before breakfast until you are in shape. All the pitchers and catchers made they appropriate times. The infielders and outfielders on the other hand have a few guys who get to join the club. We have a few more days of practices and then into the games. After all the hard work the players have been through this winter the games are what it is all about. I have to admit, I am really looking forward to the games and getting on the field to coach third base and manage a game. After all the conditioning and drills this is what it is all about playing the game of baseball.
One other
note we have had some rain, in what is suppose to be 'Sunny Florida'. I
was informed that in spring training if the tarp needs to be put on the
field the coaches are the ones that do it. So seven days into my coaching
career I have already put on and taken off the tarp twice. Just another
first, well I guess in this case a second.
New Beginnings One nice thing about this year is that I get to be home for an extra couple of weeks. The last few weeks at home are always spent doing last minute things around the house since I won't be home other than a day or so until September. It doesn't matter if you are leaving for spring training in the beginning of February or at the end it always sneaks up on you. One really weird thing is to be at home reading the paper, or on the internet and see pictures and articles about things players are doing at spring training. The last 10 years I have been there living it. I don't think the whole managing thing has sunk it yet. However, in the next week when I get to Florida and don't have to catch bullpens I think it will. When you get ready to leave it is always hard on the whole family I have 3 kids (Elle 6, Huck 5, and Maeve 2) and my wife Heidi. I have to go to Florida and she stays back with the kids. Now that Elle is in school they can't come for the whole time anymore. They will come down later for their spring break and a few extra days. It makes it easier knowing that I will see them in just a few weeks. I just wanted to say thank you to all the great people Heidi and I met while we were in Williamsport for the Hot Stove Dinner in January. We are excited about spending the summer in Pennsylvania. Well, as you can see this is going to be a year with a lot of firsts (I just wrote my first blog). Talk to you all (yall, just moved to North Carolina a couple years ago) next week. Dusty PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
Joe
Savery's Spring Blog
LHP Joe Savery, the Phillies 1st Round Draft Pick in 2007 and a
member of the '07 Williamsport Crosscutters is a non-roster invitee to the
Philadelphia Phillies big league camp this spring. Joe has
graciously agreed to share the experience with Cutters fans right here at
crosscutters.com. Look for his updates throughout the spring!
Let the Games Begin The AAA Lehigh Valley team was the first to leave as they headed north to play the Phillies in a scrimmage at the brand new stadium in Allentown, Pennsylvania. From what I have seen on the internet, the new facility looks to be first class and I look forward to playing there some day. I was assigned to the high class A team here in Clearwater. I am pleased with where I am starting and believe it will be a good place to start my first full season in professional baseball. Playing in the Florida State League will be good for several reasons including the warm weather and the very convenient travel. Most of the teams are nearby and will allow for us to spend most of the nights at home in our own beds. In addition, because I did not have to travel anywhere, I was allowed to go home to Houston for a few days and see my family. What a blessing that was. I was able to see all my friends and family for a few days before the season starts. That was probably the last time I will be home before September and so I was very thankful to have that opportunity. I will be pitching on opening night as we take on the Dunedin Blue Jays at home at 7 p.m. I feel strong and will hopefully pitch about 6 innings tonight. Thanks for reading along this spring and I know everyone will be anxiously awaiting the start of the Crosscutters season in June. Joe I Start Tonight! In addition, the past week or so, the pitchers have been working on their bunting and we have even been allowed to take a few swings in the batting cage! It is amazing how quickly you can lose your skills if you aren’t practicing. I got in the cage the first day to take some swings with a lot of anticipation and expectations from the other guys watching. They had all heard that I hit in college and had a successful career playing first base and therefore, I was expected to be on top of my game. I responded to this opportunity by breaking my bat on about the 4th or 5th swing. Unbelievable! I tried to slip out of there without letting anyone know, but that didn’t happen. It made for a good laugh! Tonight, we will be playing the Florida State Seminoles at Brighthouse Field and I will be starting on the mound for the Phillies! And I thought my college career was over. I will be pitching against a college team one more time. I will have butterflies before the game like I always do, but I am really excited about turning around and seeing a couple of MVP’s and all stars playing behind me. It should be an excited and humbling night as I get to be a part of this experience. Joe Trying to Blend In My effort to do so only lasted about ten minutes. After doing several interviews for some of the writers who wanted to get the perspective of the young guy wearing #85, I was asked to talk on camera as I entered the locker room for the first time. So here I am in a locker room, with Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer, Tom “Flash” Gordon, among others, and I’m being asked to talk on camera as I walk in the locker room. I couldn’t have felt more uncomfortable than I did. I just wanted it to be over. I was just waiting for the other guys to get on me and give me a hard time, which in all honesty, would be deserved. After my public humiliation, I returned to my locker to get dressed and ready for practice. I got up to go get something to eat form the kitchen and returned to find my chair has disappeared just in time for the team meeting to start. So I got to spend the meeting constantly switching knees to lean on. After that, we went out to stretch as a team. I got to throw in the bullpen and worked on some pitchers fielding drills. It was a light workout as we are just trying to get in the swing of things. In closing, I am thrilled to be here at big league camp and I am looking forward to being around these guys and learning as much as I can over the next few weeks. On top of that, the breakfast served every morning is outstanding and I am looking forward to another egg white omelet with bacon, sausage, and cheese tomorrow morning! Joe
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP Drew Naylor's Spring Blog LHP Drew Naylor made a name for himself in the Phillies organization in 2007. As a NY-P All-Star he led the Cutters with 8 wins while leading the league with 97 K's. One of three '07 Cutters from Australia, Naylor looks to begin the '08 season in Class A Lakewood. Look for his updates for the next few weeks at crosscutters.com! Warmin' Up In the Big League PenMarch 26 - Last week I got to experience big league life for one day, I got the opportunity to go over to be a " Just in case" back up pitcher against the Reds. Darren Byrd and myself went over and we were sitting in the club house talking to some of the guys. It was a good experience to be over there. Then during the game we went and sat in the bullpen and every half inning we got to play catch with Pat Burrell which was cool. I got to talk to Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick and a few others, so that was a good time. Then late in the game it was the ninth inning and the Reds were up by 6 or 7 runs or so and Castro started to struggle a little bit and a call came down to the pen and the pitching coach pointed at me and said to start getting ready. first thing that went through my mind was....First of all there is no way your pointing at me right now second of all the excitement and nerves that I might get into a Major League game. So I started warming up pretty quickly because the inning was getting big and there were a few quick hits. Then they had a mound visit and I thought I might be in right then and there, but no. Then a batter later the pitching coach said to me" Are you ready? Because you probably have the next batter" So I was ready to go, then Castro got a pop fly to end the top of the ninth. And that was as close as I got to getting into a big league game. I pitched today and went 5 innings gave up 1 run, with 3 strike outs and 5 hits 2 walks in 55 pitches. We played against the Blue Jays. I felt good on the mound today, I was getting ahead in counts with my fast ball and I have been developing my change up more and was throwing that alot and using my curve ball as an out pitch. I didn't need to use it as much today as other days because hitters with swinging early in the counts, I think 2 or 3 of the hits against me were in the first two pitches of the at bat. Michael Durant hit another home run today making it his fourth for the spring. Then Chance Chapman came in and got his first save has a closer, he was told a few days ago that he would no longer be a starter but a closer. He said he is fine with the move he did it in college and was happy to do it. To Answer Richard's question.... To be consistent throughout the course of a season it takes a number of things, first you need to be able to throw quality strikes every time you step on the mound otherwise you will get hurt. You need to stay healthy, if you stay healthy you give yourself the best chance at having you best stuff more often than not. My routine everyday starts with a shoulder work out so i can keep my arm strong, most of the players try and do this. I run everyday different distances, mostly longer distances though. I play long toss everyday and I try and stretch it out far 2 of my 5 day rotation. Also trying to keep the same state of mind after every start, if I have a good start I don't want to get a big head, if I have a bad start I try and shake it off and prepare for my next outting. Recognize what I did wrong and what I need to work on for the next one. It really just comes down to putting in the hard work and at the end of the day trying to do what you can do which is pitch the ball where you want to, you can't control anything other than that. I hope I answered your question. Thanks for the question. Drew Finally Underway!
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