Day Fourteen Hundred and Eighty-Four

The Eleventh Start: Game 162

For the last game of the 2015 season, Adam took the mound for the Fish. 

It was something special we didn't expect to happen, but we're sure glad it did. Adam pitched another quality start to finish off the season. He didn't have his overpowering fastball (for the second start in a row - he thinks he currently has "dead arm"), but he was able to minimize damage and went six innings in 75 pitches, 57 of those for strikes. He did give up two hits to the opposing pitcher...which I totally ripped him for. Ha! But other than that, I would say that Adam ended his season on a high note. And hopefully one that has the Marlins humming for (at least a portion of) the offseason :) 

Adam's line against the Phillies:

6IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 2K, and a ND.

He was 89-93 MPH.

His final line of the Marlins season:

4-1 with a 3.76 ERA in 11 starts and 67 innings pitched.

And one fun little stat: never once over the course of Adam's entire season, did he give up more than 4 runs in a game. I think that's something to be proud of! He also leaves the 2015 season with a selection to the AAA All-Star Game as the starting pitcher, PCL Pitcher of the Month, PCL Post-Season All-Star, and the Miami Marlins Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Well done this season, Adam. 

We are all so proud of you. So encouraged by you. And so looking forward to whatever comes next. It was one heck of a season with ups and downs and travel like never before, but you maintained such composure and diligence and the improvement just kept on snowballing. Congratulations, My Love, on a tremendous season. On setting goals and seeing them come to fruition. On fighting for a spot and finding success in that rotation. On playing with humility and giving glory to Christ through it all. Because in the end, that's what this is all about anyways. Incredible, Adam. I love you dearly and am so happy to have been able to see you thrive.

Bring it on Offseason 2015!! 

We're all ready and waiting for you!

(And so is our new house down the street!!!)

We'll just be eating apples and hanging out (im)patiently until the house closes!

MAHM! What's in my mouth!

"Silly girl," he says. "That's an apple. Duh."

________________

Not many articles from yesterday's game, but here's two little blurbs:

http://www.fantasypros.com/mlb/news/48991/adam-conley-ends-season-with-quality-start.php

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=MLB&id=7072&line=485213&spln=1

Day Fourteen Hundred and Fifty-Two

The Sixth Marlin Start

Dad was on the TV again!

The first time I saw him on the screen, there was so much commotion around me that I couldn't focus.  This time, I was in my element and kept a close eye on the guy with my name and number on the back of his jersey. I really love my Dad.

And I sorta like watching games at home. I get to wear my jersey and no pants and lay on the ground if I want to. Plus, I can roll and play and take naps on the bed and listen to them say nice things about my Dada. I think Mom doesn't like it as much though. She was screaming so much more and acting mostly like a lunatic during the second and third innings. Something musta been wrong with her. Or maybe it was the TV. Yeah, the TV musta done something bad. Maybe it's just better if we watch Dad live.

His afternoon game didn't go as well as we thought it might. Dad threw a lot of pitches and ran into a bit of trouble in the 2nd and 3rd. But, he's really tough so he found a way to get through five innings of 3-run ball and left the game in line for the win. Plus, he got his first career MLB RBI, so I mean, it couldn't have been that bad! He just didn't throw first pitch strikes like he's supposed to, and I'll say that maybe he looked just a bit tired. We still saw 94 MPH on the screen though, which is great considering he didn't look as sharp and it's the beginning of September!

http://m.mlb.com/mia/video/topic/8877454/v441976183/miaatl-conley-notches-first-career-rbi-with-single/?c_id=mia 

^ His hit!! An RBI single!

His line:

5IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 4K, an RBI, and the Win.

He's now 3-1 with a 5.02 ERA in 37.2 IP

And the best thing of all?

Daddy's HOME now!!

I LOVE YOU DAD! AND I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!!! 

Welcome back. The bed is too big and cold without you.

Day Fourteen Hundred and Fifty-One

The Miami Rest

Hair flippin.

Baby kissin.

Sunset watchin.

Baseball lovin.

Amelia and I are thoroughly enjoying our few days of down time and rest! But we're sure missing Daddy!

Speaking of Dada...he was just named to the All-PCL Post-Season team yesterday! Way to go Adam! So proud of him!

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150831&content_id=146465902&vkey=pr_t588&fext=.jsp&sid=t588

Day Fourteen Hundred and Thirty-One

The Second Marlin Start

Batting ninth and pitching in his second start for the Marlins, Adam faced the Boston Red Sox in what was quite the afternoon showcase of Fish hits, runs, and grand slams...and one slightly frustrated husband. But at least when Adam starts, his team scores. A lot. 14 runs in both appearances. So though he didn't get the W, the Fish did!!

Sooooo, David Ortiz is sorta really good. It was surreal watching Adam pitch to a guy I've seen crush baseballs for years and years and I was excited to see how Daddy would go after Papi. Adam had him 1-2 and I was waiting for a punchout...and then, Adam hung a changeup instead and my dreams of a strikeout faded as the ball just kept flying further and further away. A second-decker to right field. Whoops! And that dang changeup just kept giving him trouble the whole night. He said it was "bad" yesterday, but he did manage to keep the Marlins in the game when he was taken out with one on with two outs in the fifth. The score was 4-3 when Adam walked into the dugout and by the time the inning was over, the runner on first had scored, tying the game at 4-4 with no opportunity to record the W (because he was one out shy of the five inning mark).

We ended up scoring FOURTEEN runs - 10 of them coming in a record-breaking sixth inning - after Adam's exit. That's the second time the Fish have scored 14 runs this season - both times that Adam's started! So, hey! Always a sliver lining, right!?

His line:

4.2IP, 8H, 4R, 4ER, 1BB, 3K, 1HR and a 5.00 ERA 

Love you, Adam! So proud of you! It's the same game up here, but it's different too. Can't wait to watch you learn and grow as the days and years go by!

Aaaand, yesterday's cuteness overload! Carston just LOVES his Millie Girl!! 

_______________

Video interview of last night's game:

http://www.foxsports.com/florida/video/adam-conley-still-a-learning-curve-for-me-081215?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Day Thirteen Hundred and Ninety-Nine

The MLB (Starting) Debut

Yesterday!!!

Oh, what fun! 

Dad made his MLB starting debut and it was far better than any words could describe! Definitely, a dream come true and so much more!! We were excited. We were nervous. We were prepared and anxious. But most of all, we were sooooo cuuuuuuute! And by "we," I mean Amelia. She stole the show for sure...although Adam's WIN did come in close second ;)

Praise God for such an incredible experience!

We are humbled, encouraged, and so very thankful for the gifts He's given Adam and the ability to share them - and most of all Him - with such a grand audience. Yesterday, Adam took the ball at 4PM (I have to laugh and mention the fact that this was his FOURTH day game start in a row - the curse lives on!), and cruised to a 14-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Marlins Park. What an honor it was to take that ball. It'll be a treasured memory forever.

Here are a few photos of Adam's first start as a Major League baseball player...from mine and several other people's cameras!

Adam warming up in the 'pen.

All the way from Kentucky...Adam's Daddy sent me this!

We missed his parents tremendously, but are so happy they were able to watch their son's life-long goals come to fruition, even from a TV screen!!

Team store's jersey line-up of the game, sent by a friend!

(I don't know what it was about this picture, but the second I saw it, I started crying. Haha! So neat.)

Pre-game bullpen.

Announcing the starters. 

Adam started and batted ninth.

National Anthem at Marlins Park.

First pitch: STEEEEE-RIKE!!!

Even Amelia was getting into it...and if you know anything about this girl...it's that she sleeps through most every ball game. Not this one though! She was so proud of her daddy! 

(Ok, let's be real. The girl just likes iPhone screens hahaha)

Hey Pitcher Pitcher Pitcher.

Pitcher's got a...big butt?

No, that doesn't work. 

He's got a filthy fastball though!

(Can you hear my wife-pride beaming?! Ha!)

(Both above photos were taken by Dennis Bancroft...a photographer for the Marlins...SNAPPYD99 on Instagram. THANK YOU!!)

We see you Daddy!!!!

Your girls were cheering and screaming, crying and smiling, dancing and hollering for you!

So were Grandma and Grandpa!

Daddy on deck. 

He had one at-bat...

...And though it wasn't a hit...

...Adam did his job...

...and bunted Ichiro over to second with one out in the Third!!

The fact that I'm able to type that is surreal to me. Adam grew up in Washington State, just 60 miles South of Seattle, where the Mariners play ball. In high school and throughout college, Adam watched Ichiro play in a stadium that he too played in during the 4A State High School Championship. And yesterday, Adam's bunt moved him into scoring position. Wild stuff and so much fun!!!

Good job Dada!

We like it when you get your bunts down!

And when you throw strikes!

47 of 74 pitches were strikes yesterday.

He faced 21 hitters in 5 innings with 3 groundouts and 5 flyouts.

#61 was done after 5 with the Fish trailing 0-2, but only having thrown 74 pitches (he normally throws around 100). If we'd been in the lead, he probably would've gone out for the Sixth, but in the Big Leagues, all that matters is wins. And with Adam coming up to bat with the potential game-tying run in his hands, the manager decided to go with a pinch hitter instead...a decision that ultimately gave Adam the W, as the Marlins scored FIVE runs in the bottom of the Fifth! 

Watching his team round the bases!

With a 8-run Seventh and a 1-run Ninth adding more cushion, Adam's Major League Starting Debut ended in a WIN for the Marlins!!! Go Fish!! We see you up on the screen, Winner!

:)

The Conley Three!

Our favorite baseball photo yet!

(Because let's face it...Daddy just looks good in that uniform!)

SO HAPPY!

Thanks to all our friends and family for such tremendous support! 

To his parents who provided countless opportunities for Adam to excel in his sport...he could never have accomplished what he has without you. Thank you endlessly.

To his family, teammates, and friends who pushed him forward and encouraged his dreams...he wouldn't be the player and friend he is without you. Thank you.

To his coaches and trainers who imparted wisdom, guidance, discipline, and experience...he wouldn't be the student of the game that he is today without you. Thank you.

To his doctors and chiropractor (pictured above) who offer care, knowledge, and life to his body...he wouldn't have maintained such extreme health without you. Thank you.

To his team who drafted him and gave him a chance...Thank you.

To his fans who make this incredible game the reason he's able to call it his job...thank you.

But more than anyone,

To his God who gave him the unique ability to throw a baseball...he wouldn't have this life, this platform, this marriage, or this family without Your daily provision, Your daily sustenance, Your daily offering of grace, mercy, love, and freedom, and Your final death on the Cross that gives us life everlasting. Thank you Jesus for...every single thing.

His line:

5IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K, 1HR and the W

Some articles:

http://www.foxsports.com/florida/story/miami-marlins-adam-conley-spot-start-071115?vid=482822211889

https://washingtonstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1782147

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/136173234/dee-gordon-hurt-but-marlins-rout-reds?game_pk=414962

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Marlins-Put-Up-14-Runs-in-Win-Over-Reds-314024801.html

Day Thirteen Hundred and Ninety-Three

The Fifteenth Daddy Start

We started off yesterday's game with a K (strikeout)! I'm always happy when that happens! 

Amelia on the other hand...

Strikeout or not, DAY GAMES are just totally not her thing. Which is a problem seeing as - of course - the Curse is still in effect as Daddy threw in his third straight day game yesterday. Hahaha! Mama and Dada seem to be coping with the bad luck pretty well, but Baby...she flat out hates watching baseball in the sweltering, muggy, thick Louisiania heat. Can't say I blame her. Yesterday it was 94 degrees at 4 PM with a heat index of 107! She was a sweaty, sticky, exhausted, and refusing to sleep mess...but Daddy...

He was anything but a mess! 

Adam threw maybe one of his best games yesterday: a seven inning, rain shortened (not weird haha), complete game shutout! For those of you who don't know what that means, Adam pitched the entire game and didn't let the other team score! He also got his second hit of his pro career (!!!) and scored the second run of the game (the picture above is him running home)! With two quality starts this week, Adam earned himself a few honors. He's one of MiLB's Pitchers of the Week, he's on MLB's Top Prospect Team of the Week, and he's also the Pacific Coast League's Pitcher of the week! Add that to his selection to the PCL AAA All-Star Team, and Dad's had quite the run of it as of late. Way to go Adam!! We're all so proud of you and encouraged by your persistence and hard work! 

 Below are a few fun articles!

Oh! But before that, his line:

7IP (innings pitched), 2H (hits), 0R (runs), 1BB (base on balls AKA walks) (yaaaay!), 7K (strikeouts), a hit, a run scored, a CG (complete game), a SO (shutout) and the W (win)!

He's now 8-2 (8 wins, 2 losses) with a 2.33 ERA (earned run average)

(Hope that helps :D )

Yesterday's Game Highlight

http://www.nola.com/zephyrs/index.ssf/2015/07/adam_conley_pitches_zephyrs_to.html

Another Game Highlight

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150705&content_id=134959160&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb

All-Star Nomination

http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/sports/zephyrs/12804413-171/zephyrs-pitchers-adam-conley-nick

MiLB Pitcher of the Week

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150706&content_id=135010112&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_opotw&sid=milb&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Prospect Team of the Week

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/135031178/marlins-pitchers-top-prospect-team-of-the-week

PCL Pitcher of the Week

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150706&content_id=135025080&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l112&sid=l112

Day Thirteen Hundred and Eighty-Eight

The Rollie Pollie

Hey! Know what I did yesterday?

I worked on my tummy to back rolling!

And guess what???

I did it!!! 

Two times! 

I'm just so talented!

But Mommy only caught the last half of the second roll on accident. So, sorry.

Then I touched my toes while watching the USA Women's World Cup Semi Finals.

We won! Duh. And, actually, I enjoyed watching it too! My parents mostly hate soccer, but it wasn't so bad!

Well, it mostly wasn't so bad because we had such good company! I love all my aunties and uncles!

Especially when they hold me just right to make my back roll four times!

________________________

Daddy update:

Adam was selected to the 2015 AAA All-Star game as the PCL's starting pitcher on July 15th in Omaha, Nebraska!! Good work this season, so far, Papa!!! We love you!

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150701&content_id=134014072&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb

http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/sports/zephyrs/12804413-171/zephyrs-pitchers-adam-conley-nick