Draft day. The day that will change my life forever, and I am ready. I had been a pitcher, pitching for the Villanova Wildcats, but then tragedy struck. I tore my A.C.L. after a line drive nailed my knee, and I screamed in pain. I was carried off of the field, and the trainers told me that I had tore my A.C.L. on opening day of my senior year. Today, I want to go to the big leagues, and to win the World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies.
“With the 963rd pick in the M.L.B. Draft,” Hall of Famer Tom Seaver announces,”The New York Mets select Ryan Simmons from Villanova University!”
At first, I remembered that the Mets were not a very strong team, and I was a little concerned about my future, but then I realized that I might get more playing time. Three days after the draft,
…show more content…
General Manager Sandy Alderson of the Mets received a call from the Phillies General Manager, Rubén Amaro Jr. to say that the Phillies organization wanted me as a player. I was happier than anybody in the world that day! I packed my bags and arrived in Philadelphia. I took a taxi to the Phillies office where I met Mr. Amaro. We chatted for a little bit, about the Phillies organization, and how the Phillies are a family. We finally talked about my contract. He offered me 1 year for $30,000, to play for the Clearwater Threshers, which was a high A team. Deal. That was a higher salary than the average single A player. My agent, Conor, signed the deal, and we were on a quest to the big leagues. During my first game starting as a pitcher for the Threshers, my A.C.L. did not bother me at all. I played six innings allowing five hits and two earned runs. My season started better than two years ago in Villanova. My teammate, Will Kerry, said that I controlled the game, and we won the game 7-2. We were 38-21, when I was scheduled to take the mound against the Jupiter Hammerheads. I pitched a perfect game through 8 innings. We were tied at 0-0 when I took the mound. I threw two strikeouts; both batters were caught looking. Then, the next batter was up, and I went ahead of the count 0-2. I was one strike away from a perfect game! But then, I threw three balls in a row. “Three balls, two strikes,” the umpire yelled. I knew that I could throw one more pitch for a strike, so I aimed for the right corner, but I misplaced the ball, and I threw it right down the middle of the plate.
Once I released it, I knew that he was going to hit it. CRACK! It was a 500 foot home run to give them a one run lead. My perfect game was over. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Will hit a triple, and my teammate, Kris, hit a sacrifice fly to center field. It was tied 1-1. Next, our first baseman, Jose Alvarez, hit a homerun for a walk off win! We were victorious! The following day, I received a call from Amaro, saying that he would bring me up to Triple A Lehigh to challenge my game, and that my contract would stay the same, unless I make it up to the Phillies that year. In my AAA debut, I pitched for two innings and allowed eight runs. I felt like I would be sent down to Clearwater again. However, in my next game, I pitched for a complete game allowing just four hits and only one run. Against the Pawtucket Red Sox, I pitched for eight innings, allowing two runs, and only three hits. The next game, I pitched for nine innings, allowing two hits, earning zero runs. The following day, I received a voicemail from Amaro, and he
said: “Hey Sims! What's going on? Well, I am calling to tell you that you have reached the Majors, and that the major league is one hundred steps up, and I am proud to tell you that we are going to restructure your contract like I told you. You can fly up here to Philly, and you can join the Phillies once we agree to a deal. See you soon!” I talked to Lehigh, thanking each and every teammate and coach for this opportunity, and asked them for their well wishes, because I would need it. Time passed, and it was October... playoff season. I was the starting pitcher for game 5 of the National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The series was a best out of five games, so I knew that I needed to pitch my best game ever. After seven innings, I was replaced after allowing one run, five hits, and seven strikeouts. My walk to the dugout, was a fantastic one, mostly because everybody was cheering for me, because I saved the game! We won the game, 5-1, and I felt like I was finally a Philly. We advanced to the National League Championship Series, where we faced the Los Angeles Dodgers. We swept the series, and we were on to the World Series to face the Detroit Tigers! We won the first game because of two home runs by Ryan Howard to push us up to a 5-4 win. In the second game, Aaron Harang pitched a scoreless nine innings, and we were up 2-0 in the best of 7 World Series. During game 3, in the bottom of the ninth, Tiger, Victor Martinez, hit a solo walk-off home run to pull the series 2-1. We won our 3rd game because Chase Utley was hit by the pitch in the top of the 9th with the bases loaded to give a 2-1 lead. The first pitcher for the Phillies to attempt a final win in the World Series was me, Ryan Simmons. I could be the hero for the city of Philadelphia! It was a sold-out crowd at Citizens Bank Park, and a 45 degree day during the game 5 of the Fall Classic. In the first inning, I gave up back to back home runs to J.D. and Victor Martinez, but the game was not over. The next six innings, I did not give up a single hit, and we were up 4-3 after seven innings. Our head coach, Ryne Sandberg, wanted me to stay in the game, and I allowed one walk, and then back to back to back strikeouts. In the top of the 9th, he kept me in to be the hero. The first batter fouled out behind home plate, and then the next batter struck out looking. Last batter. Miguel Cabrera. 4-3 ballgame. The first pitch was a curveball that hit the upper-left corner for a strike. The next pitch was a ball, but he chased the ball for two strikes and 0 balls. The last time I was in the 9th inning, I gave up a home run. The last pitch was a grounder to the shortstop, Freddy Galvis, who had an easy throw to Ryan Howard for the win. Game over! We were World Series champions, and I have been waiting for this moment since I have been three! We succeeded the year, and we were expected to win only 50 games this year! I was named World Series Most Valuable Player, and I won a new car! Not bad for a player that only received 500,000 his first year. I was a very good pitcher for the Phillies, and 40 years later, I was elected to go into the Baseball Hall of Fame. What an honor! I learned to never give up after I busted my knee, and it really paid off in the end. I am proud to say that I am one of the greatest pitchers in baseball winning 3 championships with the Phillies.
...t of the season. Not being a starter gave me the determination to work harder and in the end it all paid off. This experience has made me realize that I can do anything as long as I work hard.
While I was reading “shitty first draft” by, Anne Lamott I read a lot of good ideas on how to write well written papers. In my mind i’ve always thought that it was right to do a first draft because everything that you throw in there is just for your ideas not for everyone to see and that is exactly what anne lamott states in “shitty first drafts”. In my imagination I always figured that authors just sat down and already had in mind what they had to write but that is not true, most writers often just make a shitty draft so that they can organize their books etc. correctly. Lamott also stated that when she would write she would just write for example freewrite when you right without making and corrections, just writing the first thing that pops to your mind and it is possible that when you read it over you’ll get your perfect written work. When i read the title of Anne Lamott’s paper and read “shitty first draft” i was completely confused and now that i’ve read what she has to say and writing and who she is it makes me want to read one of her books, and while i read i 'm probably going to be
My senior year of baseball was quickly coming to an end. I knew the only games we had left were the playoff games. It was the first round of the state playoffs. We were the fourth seed, so we had to play a number one seed. I knew it was going to put our team to the test, but I knew we had a chance to beat them. We had a good last practice before game day, and I felt confident in my team and felt like we were ready for the game.
A year later, I was again chosen for the team. This time, I worked my way from being a back-up catcher to the starting 3rd baseman in two weeks. But after going 0-2 in my first two at-bats, my coach took me out of the starting line-up. Again, I pinch-hit, and was very successful at it. I even hit what turned out to be a game-winning homerun. We later reached the championship game again, but we lost it for the second time. This time I was more frustrated than I could ever remember being. I was slamming my hand into walls and almost crying. I was really acting very childish.
my room and cried so hard. It was all I wanted--to play on that team It's
The blood,sweat,pain, and tears are worth it when a hopeful college football player gets his name called by the NFL commissioner. These players selected in the NFL Draft have been through an emotional roller coaster. Their lifelong dream has finally come true through tremendous perseverance and work. Although the odds aren’t good, heavy preparation during high school and college football can land a determined football player a spot in the NFL Draft.
It all began one day when I was six years old. My dad and I were playing catch at my grandparents house in the yard. I decided that I wanted to pitch so I told my dad to crouch down like a catcher. As I began to pitch I would try to imitate my favorite pitcher at the time, Cardinal starter, Chris Carpenter. My grandpa would sit in a chair by the window and watch me throw. After throwing a few pitches my grandpa decided that he wanted to come outside. With his walker, he made his slow walk outside to get a closer look at me. “I think we’ve got something here” he said to my dad as I continued to pitch. From that moment on, I always wanted to pitch in front of him just to listen to what he would have to say about me.
The announcer began announcing our team to start the introduction for the game. Since I was the lead-off batter, my name was echoed over the park first. It was at this time that the feeling elevated; the feeling that makes every baseball field so special. As my teammates yelled for me, while I ran to the nearest baseline and faced the crowd, the feeling gave me goose bumps and raised the hairs on the back of my neck. The feeling is so amazing that it will keep me playing baseball for as long as possible because it makes my love for the sport that much more. I can't even begin to explain the complex feeling I get when I walk on a baseball field, but that feeling will always be cherished and hopefully when I pass on my love of baseball to others, they will too understand what that special diamond makes me feel like.
III. Upon reaching the docks in the new world of America, our Ancestors were lined up and sold to the highest bidder for labor we have yet to be compensated for. This is where the annual NFL and NBA drafts have similarities to the Maangamizi or Middle Passage holocaust. One of the most exciting times around the year is the NFL auction, I mean, draft. Each draft is relatively the same only the slave docks, oops again; I mean training camps are now in stadiums or practice fields. This is where athletes get clocked in the 40-yard dash, get tested on their physical strength with a max-out bench press test and a number of other agility tests. After all stats are tallied, the name of the athlete is passed on to plantations, I mean, franchise clubs and they try to purchase the player
With seconds to spare I arrived at batting practice and began to prepare for my game. I hear coach call out my name and as I he acknowledged that I was there he told me I was pitching. My brain shifted and went into a whole new mode, I was more focused and more determined than I have ever been. This was the biggest baseball game of my career and I 'm starting on the mound. Honestly it couldn 't have turned out any better, the fate of the pin and my team lied in my hands and I loved the pressure. The pressure made me thrive and before I knew it our team was marching onto the field for the national anthem. During the singing of the national anthem I peeked into the crowd and first row down the first base side was the little boy I met on the cart and his dad sitting right next to him. This game was for that little boy, I needed to impress him. I pitched six strong innings and my team ended up winning the game. It was the most exciting game of my career and the best part was being greeted with the best pin in the tournament after such a spectacular win. The little boy ran out into the middle of the field where we shook our opponents hands and in front of everyone in the stadium handed me the only thing I cared about besides winning. I was in the best mood for the rest of the day and I rewarded myself with a nice long sleep. I could only image what the next day had to
My knee injury took a big toll on my preseason of my sophomore year going threw physical therapy instead of playing in the games . Baseball is a hobby of mine ,never played threw high school, but have always had love for
West Virginia University's hard-hitting Karl Joseph was selected 14th overall in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday by the Oakland Raiders.
Who would you choose in the 2015 NFL Draft. The consensus of today's NFL is that you need a good Quarterback and good Wide Receivers to be successful, but what if there was a Barry Sanders, Bo Jackson, or even a Adrian Peterson. Would you take them over a higher projected Quarterback. Over the recent years of the NFL Draft the mind set has switched from a running game being the best method to score points, to a potent passing attack where you throw the ball more than ever before, but why is this? This may be due to the talent of the players and the new rules of the draft.
So for my first day on the job, I spent the day on the field, hanging out right next to the dugout on this beautiful day. This also gave me the opportunity to be around Mets legends for the day, as Mookie Wilson, Ron Swoboda and Nelson Figueroa all served as coaches for the fantasy camp. The fantasy camp guys played two games on the field that day, and in the break between the two of them, my coworker and I were able to have a nice catch in the outfield, not a bad perk of a first day on the job. To be honest, watching
Take it from me - getting lost on your first day of work is not fun. It’s even less fun if it’s at your first job ever, like it is for many of the new hires to Dutch Wonderland. Three long summers ago, I was one of those new hires. I was 14. It was the summer before I started high school, and I’d never worked a day in my life.