| March Spring Training Blog |
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March Hey Everybody! To those of you who visit my site on a regular basis I apologize. I have gotten a little behind and working on refining the site! I appreciate those that take the time to read my blogs! Spring training in Goodyear, Az is now in full swing and games have started! I got a place with the Nix brothers (Jayson and Laynce) in a real nice house in the Biltmore, Az…just down the road from Scottsdale and plenty of restaurants and malls! The only drawback was that it took 30-40 minutes everyday to get to the complex in Goodyear. We usually don’t start workouts on the field until 9, but I like getting there early and getting the day going! I have gotten in to a pretty good routine and gonna stick with it throughout spring! Early in spring I was diagnosed with strepp throat really bad and our training staff told me not to come in the next day. Hard for me b/c I wanted to be out there…I called them on the day I didn’t go in and could hardly talk or swallow. Ended up going over to the ER to get some fluids/IV in my system and felt much better a few hours later. Was able to go in the next day but took a toll on my body and lost about 8lbs, that I had to slowly gain back! About a week later my strength was back and I was feeling good while putting my weight back on was still a bit challenging. Was finishing a bullpen/side session and jogged back over to the field to get my bat for bp. As I went to slow my jog and enter the field through the gate my new spikes slipped on the slick concrete, legs went straight up in the air, and I landed directly on my back. It hurt really bad and went numb right away. Laid on the ground for a minute, then I jumped up and went on my way to get my back and swing! You all know how much I enjoy swinging and pitchers hadn’t hit on the field much yet, so I wasn’t going to miss out. Over the next 3weeks I had to deal with my back and it just didn’t seem to be getting better. Our training staff is as good as any and we tried everything. Even took some strong anti-inflam pills and got cortisone injection, not one but two. The cortisone seemed to help for a short period of time. In my opinion what really pushed me over the top in recovery was a combination of acupuncture and hip stretching/mobility exercises. Probably could have recovered in less time but I continued to throw and work through the pain. I knew it was important for me to be out there to do everything I could to make the team again! Spring training was coming to an end when my back/body all seemed to be feeling like normal and strong! What a blessing! Despite my back, I still pitched and remember many times after landing on my left leg to throw a pitch that it would grab and irritate me. Looking back, I know it happened for a reason and was a blessing! Hard sometimes to look at things like that, but it helped me FIGHT even more and FOCUS more on my task at hand…taking care of my body and simplifying my mechanics! A large group of us found out we officially made the team on Good Friday, the Friday before breaking camp and opening day on Monday! Wild to think here I am four years later finding out I made a team full of great talent, and this same day four years ago I made my Big League debut! Had a great time this spring being back in Az! Excited for the season to begin and this Great Reds team we have! Keep on eye on us as we look to bring the Reds back to winning form and give the city of Cincinnati what they’ve long been waiting for and deserve! Went through Proverbs this spring and was reminded that righteousness and wisdom are to be pursued, and it is a necessity to avoid evil and evil people. I pray that the Holy Spirit would guide me and each of my brothers and sisters in Christ that are reading this…that we will have the wisdom to differentiate from good and bad and the courage to walk when we need to walk! To you that are reading and may not believe in God, I encourage you to seek and be open to a relationship with the One and Only Savior of each of us! Blessings to each of you! -Micah |
