Certainty Within Uncertainty

Welcome to another edition of the Schlact Stories. Many people have been asking me about free agency. What’s it like? How do you handle it? Are you scared? Those are all valid questions. Yes, free agency is scary. You are correct, I have no idea what next season will bring. Sometimes yes, I get nervous about the future.  There is however, certainty within the uncertainty.

As a professional baseball player, I have become conditioned to the routine that comes with the job. For instance, I know that I should start throwing the baseball right around my birthday (December 9th). I also know that I’ll be way behind on my conditioning if I haven’t started running by new years. Regardless of the team or the situation, these things remain the same. Spring Training comes every spring. The season lasts until right around Labor Day. The more routine I can keep in my schedule the better. There is no point in focusing on what may or may not happen. As my wife so boldly and lovingly pointed out, “If you love the game, you’ll play it. Somewhere. Take the opportunity that’s given to you.”

There are few things that are certain about the life of a baseball player. Especially one who is grinding his way through the minor leagues or independent ball. Where will I play this season? Where will my wife and I live? Will we make enough money to live? What about our place back home? How much “stuff” should we bring with us for the season? What if I get signed or moved mid-season? How will that affect my wife? What if I get released? I could go on and on. These questions are a tiny snapshot of the uncertainty surrounding the game I love. The certainty, as I pointed out earlier, can be found within the uncertainty. I will begin throwing on my birthday. I’ll start running on new year’s day. I’ll hop on the mound for bullpens February 1. In March, I’ll head to spring training. July 4th, I’ll be playing baseball and there will be a fireworks show after the game.

Focusing on the certainty helps me cope with the uncertainty. As a creature of habit and routine, it’s really all I can do. I love baseball. This game has given me opportunities that I wouldn’t have doing anything else. I’m blessed and thankful for all of them. The people I’ve met, the places I’ve seen, and the scenery that I’ve soaked up through charter bus windows is all part of the wonderful journey I’m on. I don’t know what tomorrow brings. I do know, however, that you can probably find me at the gym or on a baseball field preparing for it!

 

Michael Schlact

Where Did the Time Go?

Where to begin. It’s been a while since I’ve posted, obviously. For that, I do apologize. This season was amazing for me on many levels. I’ll use this blog entry to fill everyone in. Thanks for checking in and keeping up via Twitter and Facebook. I can honestly say that I have the best fans in the world.

As many of you know, I had shoulder surgery in July of 2009. That was life changing for me. If you want to know the whole story, read the rest of my blog entries. Coming into my first full season after the surgery (2011), I didn’t know what to expect. I did know, however, that I needed to prove to MLB teams that I was healthy and back to the way I used to be. I had a few goals going into this past season. Throw 100 innings, E.R.A under 5, and less than 40 walks. I accomplished all of those and more. I’m not using this platform to gloat or to sell myself. I’m just taking everyone on a journey through my mind and letting you in on what I was thinking. I finished the regular season 6-4 with a 4.60 ERA in 107.1 IP. I made the Atlantic League All-Star team, and more importantly showed MLB teams that I was healthy again. I am so thankful for all of the strides that I made this year. I have my teammates, training staff, and coaches to thank for that. Our coaching staff was fantastic. The wealth of baseball knowledge that I was surrounded by daily made me a better player. The talent of the players around me helped me to step up my game each night. All you have to do is check out  atlanticleague.com and see all the names that play there each year.

As I enter the 2011-2012 off season, I am a free agent again. Another winter of the unknown. Another winter of hoping that phone rings with an opportunity to play the game I love. Another winter of training as hard as I can to be ready at the drop of a hat. But, in all honesty, I wouldn’t want it any other way. I feel blessed to play the greatest game in the world as my job. The unknown is just part of the gig. My dream is to play baseball in the major leagues. As I’ve said before, I won’t stop chasing that dream until I physically can’t, or “they” rip that uniform off my back and won’t return it to me.

Thank you to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs for such an amazing opportunity in 2011. There are so many people that become involved in a baseball player’s season. Instead of naming them all individually, I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to each of them. I can assure you that I will update my blog more often. Feel free to comment, ask questions, and send idea requests for any future blog entry topics. Thanks for reading, and until next time….have a great day!

Michael Schlact

Opening Day 2011

The moment that every ballplayer works toward each winter is opening day. It’s when all the hard work pays off. It’s what makes those cold, dark days seem worth all the trouble. It’s like when that final bell rings at school letting all the kids out for summer break. Get it? Opening day is awesome. Also, for myself and the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, it’s tonight.

I’ve been training with this team now for a few weeks, and I’m very impressed with everything. The caliber of play is some of the best I’ve been around. Every guy on this team brings something very special to the field. Also, all the guys that our manager has put in that clubhouse are exceptional people. In a nutshell, I’m really looking forward to spending my summer with these guys on this team. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to be signed back in to affiliated ball. That’s everyone’s goal. However, if this is where I end up playing all season, I’d be totally fine with that.

Thank you guys for all the encouragement and kind words throughout this off season. Thank you also for reading this blog, and for spreading the word about it. You’re the reason that I write it! My goal is to bridge the gap between player and fan, give you all an insight to this game like nowhere else, and hopefully give you a sense that I’m just a normal guy with a really cool opportunity. Follow along with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs all season long here: www.somdbluecrabs.com or www.atlanticleague.com

Thanks again for reading, and play ball!

Michael Schlact

The Decision

Welcome back. I appreciate you all following along with me on Twitter, Facebook, and my MLBlog. Many of you might have heard the news regarding my free agency for this season. If you haven’t heard yet, here you go. I have signed a 2011 contract with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League. As I wrote in a previous blog entry, independent ball is great for guys who want to prove their health, abilities, or that just love the game. Since day 1, I’ve heard nothing but positive things about the Atlantic League. Many former MLB players are in the league, and the competition is said to be the best in all of indy ball. I am blessed to have signed a contract in that league and I look forward to the season.

Just so that you know, signing with an independent league team doesn’t mean that I can’t sign with a MLB team. If a MLB team approaches me and wants me to sign before I’ve thrown my first pitch in Southern Maryland, the contract just voids without any stipulations. If the Atlantic League season has begun, a MLB team will have to buy me out of the Southern Maryland contract. This of course is not totally confirmed, it’s just my understanding.

I’ll attach a few links for you guys to read up on my new team, and check out the stadium I’ll be playing in for this season. It looks like a wonderful place to call home, and I know some guys that have played there that say you just can’t beat it. Thanks for all the well wishes and kind words from you guys. As you’ve followed my free agency and injury journey, it’s been very comforting to know that so many people are supporting me. I thank each and every one of you sincerely, and I hope to see you at a ballpark this summer!

-Michael Schlact

You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do

     Many people have been asking me what I’m going to do if a MLB team doesn’t pick me up. I wanted to write a short entry that will hopefully let you guys in on the decision making that a free agent has to make. There are many factors that go in to a team being hesitant to sign a pitcher. Stats, history, character, surgeries, etc. In my case, teams have been hesitant to pick me up because of my 2009 shoulder surgery. I missed most of 2009 and more than half of 2010 because of it, and my comeback wasn’t exactly strong. Granted, I had some great outings. However, towards the end of the season, when my innings started adding up, arm fatigue set in and I got hit around a little bit. All of that is to be expected with shoulder surgery. Ups, downs, highs, lows. So, with very little consistency and not much time to prove my health, you can imagine why teams would be hesitant to sign me. There is a way for me to prove to teams that I am healthy. That I can throw a lot of innings. That I can be consistent. That’s independent league baseball.

     The independent leagues are not affiliated with any MLB team, thus the name Independent Leagues. It’s still considered professional baseball because you are getting paid to play, and many former major league and minor league players try their hand at indy ball in order to prove to MLB teams that they still have the ability, health, or whatever it takes to play affiliated baseball. This is an option I am more than willing to explore. As I’ve said throughout this entire free agency process, I love the game too much to just give up. I have more to offer, and more to prove. My ultimate goal is to play in the Major Leagues, and this could be the stepping stone I’ll need to get there. Throughout the indy ball season, MLB scouts frequent the games. They are looking for guys to sign, and knowing that the independent leagues are home to mostly former affiliated ball guys with good experience, that’s where they’ll look to find it. 
     If indy ball is the route that I take in my career, I’ll embrace every opportunity that I have. I’m going to make each outing count. I’ll go out there with the intent of showing anyone who’s watching that I still have what it takes to come back, and that I’d be a valuable asset to their organization. Baseball is baseball, no matter where it’s played. I’m blessed to still have the ability to play this game, and I’ll be blessed to put on any uniform that’s given to me. The rest is out of my control. 
     Thanks for all of your continued support throughout this process. I sincerely appreciate all the kind words that are sent my way daily. As always, I’ll keep everyone updated on what’s going on. Hope everyone has a great weekend!
                                                                                          Michael Schlact

Battles of a Minor League Free Agent

     My entire life, I’ve always been able to play baseball. Now I’m not saying that my career is over, or that I’m not going to play anymore. But, when you’re a minor league free agent who is half of a healthy season removed from shoulder surgery, you just never know.  I’ve been playing this wonderful game since I was 8 years old. Each year, my parents would sign me up to play, I’d have a great season, and then I’d be excited for the next season. Soon after that, I played high school baseball. I never had to try out for the team. It was always just a given that I’d be one of the pitchers that next season. Then, the Texas Rangers drafted me out of high school. The next 6 years flew by. I always knew where I’d be going, how long the season lasted, the coaches and players that I would be with, etc. It’s safe to say that up until now, my entire life I’ve played baseball knowing what would happen next. Now, that’s all changed.

     I’ve always been a positive person. I’ve always been uplifting toward myself and others. I try to see the good in each person and in each situation. Sometimes though, when things aren’t working out the way you anticipated or the way you’d hoped, it can be hard to have a positive outlook on things. My last start of the 2010 season was in Midland, TX. It was a rough outing, but I struck out the last hitter I faced. I always like to end my outings on a high note, no matter how rough the day has been. To strike out the last hitter and get myself out of a jam was a great feeling. However, walking off that mound I had a sense of fear strike me. “Would that be the last professional hitter I ever face? I’m a free agent soon, what’s going to happen? I’m not ready to be done playing yet!” All of these thoughts were running around my head. After all, it had been a season of ups and downs. I was finishing the “comeback season.” Last season I tested my shoulder, tested my heart, and tested my will as a ballplayer. A return from shoulder surgery can be the toughest thing a pitcher does. Statistically speaking, it wasn’t a good year. “What will the scouts think? Are teams going to know that I’m returning from shoulder surgery? Did I show them enough to get signed next year?” If you look beyond the numbers though, I was very pleased. My shoulder felt great, I was in the best shape of my life, and I was still getting to do the thing I loved more than anything. But, ready or not, the off-season was coming.
     Baseball players love routine. After all, it’s what we’re used to. Spring Training starts the same time each year. It’s held in the same city, and we usually live in the same place. The food is always the same, along with the routine. We workout the same way, do the same throwing program, condition the same way, and then go to bed and do it all over again. It’s our job! My life has been partially scripted out since I’ve been playing baseball, and that has given me a sense of normalcy in an otherwise hectic job. That has all changed. 
     Now that I’m a free agent, my future is uncertain. I do know, however, that I want to continue playing. I am in great shape, my shoulder feels healthy and strong, and I still have just as much passion for this game as I did the day I first picked up a ball. After my surgery, I vowed that I would play each day like it was my last. I vowed that I would put soak up each minute that I was out there on that field. That I would take pride in each time I put that uniform on and laced the cleats up. I told myself that whenever this was all over, I want to make sure that when I look at myself in the mirror, I can tell my reflection that I gave everything I had. I can say right now with all honesty that I did those things. I’m not saying that I’ve done the “look yourself in the mirror because your career is over” thing. The off-season is still in full swing, and free agents are still out there being signed. Spring Training is a month or more away, and I still have lots of time to figure out what’s going to happen. As of now, I’m continuing to work out, throw, and run as if I have a job. I’m training like I always have so that when and if an opportunity presents itself, I’ll be ready for it.
     The battles of a minor league free agent can be tough ones. Working out, throwing, and conditioning your body for a job that may not come can be tough on a person mentally. That’s why faith and believing in yourself are so important. I’ve been working out, running, and throwing with the intent to show everyone that my shoulder is 100%. I’ve been working hard to prove that I can pitch in the big leagues. And, I’ve been working hard because baseball is the game that I’ve loved since I was 8 years old. I’m not ready to give up. I heard a wonderful quote a few years ago, and it’s stuck with me ever since. I’m going to end this entry with that quote. I feel like it really sums up what I’m going through right now. Yes, the future might be uncertain. However, I’m going to fight as hard as I can for what I want. And, as always, I thank each and every one of you for your continued support. 
“Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about.”
     

Happy New Year!

     I wanted to write a quick blog entry to wish all of my readers a very happy, healthy, and blessed new year. I sincerely hope that it’s the best year yet for all of you! The new year is a time when a baseball player’s internal clock gets ticking a little faster. We can sense that spring training is fast approaching, and the need to be ready becomes critical. The work ethic that we display these next few months will definitely have a direct impact on our start to 2011.

     I’ve entered the new year a free agent. The process for the next few months will be one that requires faith, hard work, patience, and a lot of trust. I’m a firm believer in “everything happens for a reason.” Things will work out the way they are supposed to work out. So, for now, I’ll continue my workouts, running, and throwing. I’ll continue to prepare for 2011 the same as I always have. And, I’ll continue to have faith that something great will come my way.
     Thanks for being here. I sincerely appreciate the support from those of you that read my blog, follow me on Twitter, friended me on Facebook, and have followed my story the last few years. I read every message, tweet, Facebook post, and e-mail or comment that I receive from all of you. It truly means a lot to me. Thanks.
Michael Schlact

In Memory of my Grandma

     It’s always tough for me to find the words on days like this. That’s probably why this will be one of the shorter blog entries that I write. Days like this one remind a person of what’s truly important in life. Days like this remind you to always give loved ones hugs before you leave them. Days like this remind you to live each day as if it’s your last. Today, November 14, 2010, is “one of those days.”

   My Grandma, or Nana as we called her, was a truly special woman. She had many quirks, funny sayings, and incredible stories. Stories from Nana’s childhood would have me on the edge of my seat for hours. Really, any story she told would do that. She had a certain “way with words.” For example, she always would say, “It happened that way going west.” We were never really sure what that meant, or who was going west, or even what happened. We did know, however, that Nana said it. So, it must mean something. She was the overcautious type, just like my Mom. She loved yard sales, flea markets, and family holidays. My fondest memories of her are when we would all get together as a family and head up north to the mountains of North Georgia. We would spend wonderful weekends together. Parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, & grandparents. We would talk, laugh, play games, hike, fish, whatever we decided to do. My Nana LIVED for those weekends. It was always right now, during the beginning of November, that our trips would take place. So, today, as I see the leaves changing, I think of her. Above all else though, my Grandma was a baseball fan. She LOVED her Braves. Chipper, Andruw,  McCann, Smoltz, Maddux, the list goes on. She never missed a game on TV. Once I became a professional baseball player, she grew to be even more of a fan, and loved hearing stories of my seasons, spring trainings, and off-seasons. Throughout the season, I send my family and close friends e-mail updates. I tell them what’s going on, where I am, how things are progressing with my career, etc. My Grandma loved those emails. She would call me once she received them to talk things over with me. She wanted the inside scoop on everything I was doing. She was my biggest fan for baseball and writing. 
     Many of you follow me on either Facebook or Twitter. Some of you are friends of mine on both. If you’ve been listening the last few weeks, you know that my Grandma’s health has been declining. We all knew it was coming, and today, I finally got word that she had passed. I saw her last on Tuesday afternoon. She could still recall who I was, who my wife was, and that we were there to see her and visit. She always got brighter when we’d visit. We would talk about baseball, the weather, whatever she wanted. I tried to cherish those times, knowing that they’d soon be no more. Once the realization that my Nana had passed sunk in, thousands of memories started flying through my head. Times that we spent at Vacation Bible School, times that we spent hanging out at her house, times that we spent in the mountains. I could go on and on. The fondest memories I have of her, though, are the ones we spent talking on the phone. Times that I was halfway across the country trying to live my dream. Times that I couldn’t see her, but I could talk to her. Times when she would tell me what a great writer I was, how proud of me she was for making it to the minor leagues, how all she wanted was for me to be a Braves pitcher. My Nana was always there for me. I’m going to miss her deeply, and I know that she’ll be looking down on all of us as we move forward in life.
     I wanted to write this quick blog post in memory of my Nana. I won’t be emailing this one out to her today, but I know that she’ll be reading it. I know that she’ll be looking down on me as I move forward in my career. I know that she’ll be telling all her friends and relatives in Heaven that “her grandson is a pro baseball player” and she’ll tell them how proud of me she is. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me in baseball. Whatever comes next, I know that Nana will be proud of me, and will be excited to hear all about it. RIP Nana.
Michael Schlact

And So It Begins

     Welcome back to another edition of The Schlact Stories. As always, thanks for joining me. Today’s topic deals with a transition, uncertainty, trust, faith, and hard work. These are all things that I am currently dealing with, or must deal with in the very near future. As of a few days after the World Series, I’ll be a free agent. I fully intend on playing next year. I love the game of baseball too much to not play. It’s the greatest game ever invented, and I’m so glad that I can be a part of something so special. And so it begins.

     I am currently at home in Atlanta, Georgia. My off-season has just begun, and I am starting to get back into the swing of things in my “2nd life.” I call it that because the life you live playing baseball is drastically different than the off-season life. Baseball bed time? 2 am. Off-season bed time? 10 pm. Baseball wake up time? 11am-noon. Off-season wake up time? 5-6 am most mornings. The schedule alone is enough to make the transition near impossible for the first few weeks. I am beginning to give pitching lessons to kids and I am in the final stages of setting up some off-season clinics as well. I enjoy giving lessons to kids. Seeing how excited kids get when they improve is why I do it. Hearing the stories of the in-game successes they had using my pitching lessons as a guide is why I do it. Plus, it doesn’t feel like a “job.” My wife is a substitute teacher during the off-season. This allows for flexibility in our schedule. My wife and I always enjoy being at home. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing baseball. However, there’s nothing like sleeping in your own bed, cooking in your own kitchen, and relaxing on your own back patio after being gone for so many months. 
     Let’s get back to this whole free-agency business. I’m not sure where I’ll end up, if anywhere. As I said earlier, I have every intention of continuing my career. Even though I don’t know where I’ll be, I can still prepare like I normally would. My off-season workouts are set to begin in the next week or so. I’ll start running again soon too, and before I know it, I’ll be picking up the baseball to get my arm ready. I’m excited to see what my future holds. It makes me nervous, but it’s exciting at the same time.
     Many people have asked me which team I want to play for. Before we dive into that, I have to say something. Regardless of what happens, I owe so much to the Texas Rangers organization. They drafted me out of high school. They gave me every opportunity to succeed. When I had shoulder surgery, they rehabbed me back to health. Without them, I don’t know where I’d be right now. I want to personally thank everyone in the Texas Rangers organization for everything. So many people had an impact on my career. No matter what happens with free agency, I’m so thankful that they gave me my first shot. As I move forward, whether I re-sign with Texas, or move on to another team, I want to play for the team that has interest in me. I want to play for the team gives me the opportunity to succeed in their organization. I want to play for the team that thinks I can contribute in the big leagues for them. It’s simple as that. I’ll be so happy and feel so blessed to play this game as long as I keep having a uniform to put on my back every night.
     I have been through off-seasons in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and now 2010. I have a routine that I stick to, a workout schedule that works for me, and an understanding that if I don’t work as hard as I can each and every day of the off-season, someone else will pass me by. I can’t let my dream of playing in the Major Leagues slip away because I was lazy during the winter months. I won’t let that happen. Sure, everything baseball-wise is up in the air right now. Sure, I may not get phone calls from teams right away-or even at all! But, I can tell you one thing. I’m going to keep working hard, keep being positive, and enjoy every minute of whatever happens this off-season. Until next time…
Michael Schlact

The Change

     For as long as I can remember, I’ve been the pitcher that you’ve seen warming up before the game, walking out to the mound, standing there for the national anthem, taking my warm up pitches, and it’s game-on. In my professional career from 2004-last week, I was a starter. I got used to that lifestyle. Every 5 days, I show up, drink lots of water, slowly put on my uniform, and head out around 6:30 pm to start my warm ups. I knew that in the early innings I needed to pace my effort level in order to make it deep into games. I knew when I was going to pitch, my pitch count, and what to expect. As of a few days ago, that has all changed.

     I received word that I was moving into the bullpen a few days ago. I took it in stride, as I do with most things. At first, I was a little taken back by it, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that it could be a good thing. There is a lot to consider when changing from a starter to a reliever. First, I had always known that 30 minutes was the time it took me to stretch, throw, get off the bullpen mound, and then into the game. Now, I could be called upon at any minute, mid-inning, late in the game after sitting and getting cold for an hour, or who knows what! I may have to come into a game with runners on base, game on the line, and someone else’s ERA and win on the line. I was always on the other end of things. Now it’s my turn to help “hold down the fort.” 
     Another thing I’ll have to take into consideration is when to start stretching, how much to throw pre-game, and how long it actually takes me to get loose. The bullpen guys seem to have a good gauge of when the starter is in trouble out there. A lot of what I’ve done these past few games has been strictly visual. I watch when they begin to stretch out. I watch when that phone rings from the dugout. I watch how the relievers warm up before heading into the game. The tough thing for me is going to be figuring out how to play long toss at 4 pm, and be loose at 8 pm to come into the game. There are tricks to the trade I’m sure, and that’s why I’m soaking in all I can from these guys.
     There is one thing that I’m nervous about over all else. It’s the “you’re in the game now run from the bullpen to the game mound with 8,000 fans watching your every step.” Do I jog? Do I sprint? Do I walk? I will tell you one thing. I won’t trip and fall. Well, I can’t promise that, but if I do I’m sure you’ll hear about it. The other things that go along with being a reliever will be figured out as I go. It’s something that will take time and practice. I’m certainly up for the challenge!
    As always, I thank you for taking this ride with me. It’s certainly been a long, interesting year. Surgery, rehab, throwing programs, bullpens, games, starting, relieving, traveling, the whole deal. You’ve been there to support me and encourage me the entire way. I sincerely appreciate all the kind words you send my way via Facebook, Twitter, this blog comment section. It all gets read, and certainly appreciated. I hope you all have a fantastic rest of your week. Until next time…
Michael Schlact
« older posts | back to blog home |
Theme: MLB “pro” | Get a free blog at WordPress.com
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.