Day Three Hundred and Fifty-Six

The Twelfth Start

In front of a small group of Hammerhead faithful, Adam pitched his very last regular season game tonight. WOW. I can't believe I just typed that! 

It's not yet sunk in that Adam's first year is ending. He could pitch during post season play, but it might work out that tonight was his last game of the entire year. I hope not though! I'd like to see him pitch a few more times because that would mean a championship is on the line! In order for that to happen, the Hammerheads have to keep on winning. SO, GO HAMMERHEADS! When the regular season ends on Sunday, the boys will have one day off and then begin a 3-game series against the Mets. The first team to win two of those games will go on to the championship series.

As the season does come to an end, Adam is seeing results that aren't exactly what he had envisioned for himself. Tonight, he came home frustrated. That was surprising to me. He never brings work home. I can always count on that. Whether good or bad, he's always the same, calm guy. So I knew something was awry. He explained to me that the wear and tear of the long season is beginning to take a toll on his arm....that the arm he's pitching with right now just doesn't feel like his. Because he's thrown so much, he's not able to throw his pitches with the velocity he's used to. And to him, that's a big deal. There's a difference between a fastball sitting 96 MPH and a fastball sitting 90 MPH. He's battling that difference right now. In the beginning, 96 was easy. Now, it's not. They say (whoever they are) that the first season of professional baseball is always a learning process. What's he's going through now is certainly frustrating, but he needs these experiences to grow. Adam recognizes this truth. And next season, he'll be better prepared because of it.

In any case, I'm proud of my husband's effort and hard work this season. He's a fighter. And he loves what he does. I know he'll bounce back. Especially if (better yet, when) the Marlins decide that actually, Adam pitches his very best as a closer. Haha :)

His line for the night:

4.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K.

He was limited to 70 pitches tonight. And, he did hit 96 MPH in the 5th!