Dirk Hayhurst

I lie awake at night with ideas popping in my head like fireworks. Hundreds of them, up there bursting in the sky of my imagination before fizzling into the black of night, the ashes swept under a pillowcase. I don’t know why they come at night, but they do. Sometimes I write them down, sometimes I promise I’ll remember, sometimes I follow them off into the dark. But what happens more often then not is that the finale of ideas turns into this sense of anxiety, which then gives way to this sense of fear that I haven’t done enough, and never can. (more...)

I’d like to add onto the sentiment expressed by my writing peer, the honorable Rob Neyer: Russ Canzler is a vastly underrated player that will, if nothing else, hit in the big leagues. Let me speak first of Russ’s character, which I feel will be something severely neglected (as it always is when we start evaluating players in terms of numbers) You will not find a finer individual in the game of baseball today. A total class act who speaks from humility if he speaks at all. I wish I possessed some of the admirable character traits that he does, both on and off the field. As for his on field ability, Russ does posses an amazing athletic talent. Although he did struggle defensively a tad this past season, he was also platooned for the sake of keeping his bat in the line up. I do not doubt that while Russ was thankful for the chance to show his diversity, he also suffered do the a lack of consistency at a position. I’m sure that Russ will benefit from being groomed for a specific role, though it’s nice to know that he’s athletic enough to play multiple ones, especially for an AL team that needs his bat in the clutch. (more...)

I think what you need to understand right off is, I’m not doing this because I want to be famous. Yes, I know Italy is not a path back to the majors. Yes, I am scared that it could hurt me financially, wont help me build a big brand name for myself, and wont give me access to the book selling power of our omniscient American sports media coverage. This is a huge life decision, a completely new direction, in a totally different continent— believe me, I know what I’m up against. But you only live once. I could go back and try my hand at filling out someone’s Triple-A roster on the hope that if enough guys above me get hurt I could sneak back onto a big league roster. Yet, after spending as much time in this game as I have, I can honestly tell you that the chances of me making it back to the top are relatively low, while the chances that I grow resentful to the grind as it eats yet another year of my life are relatively high.  (more...)

Chapter Sixty-four I got the call again that night. It was getting easier to manage the big league stadium factor now that I’d made a few trips to the mound. I wasn’t comfortable by any stretch, but I did make it through the eighth inning without much trouble, which gave me some confidence that I was improving. I felt like I’d found my command again. I felt like I’d remembered my delivery. Maybe it was calmer nerves. Maybe it was Frenchy’s pep talk. Whatever it was, I didn’t dwell on the issue. After punching out the next two hitters in the following inning, I got back on the mound ready to face Andre Ethier and finish my first real appearance as Dirk Hayhurst, San Diego Padre. (more...)

 

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  Chapter 16 of Out Of My League   Chapter 1 of Out Of My League   Chapter 35 of Out Of My League   Chapter 64 of Out Of My League   (more...)

Chapter Thirty-five   On Monday, after losing a day game with the Bees, we packed up and hopped a flight to Colorado Springs, home of the Rockies’ Triple A team, the Sky Sox. Sky Sox Stadium is the highest-altitude park in baseball, even higher than the infamous Mile High Stadium that houses its parent team, where ERAs commit suicide upon eye contact.   Like Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs offered gorgeous views of towering mountains. However, unlike Salt Lake, there were no pretty girls, or warm weather. We sat down the line on an unforgiving, bun-freezing aluminum bench. There were a couple of plastic lawn chairs, but only enough for the older guys who rested upon them like thrones.   The Sky Sox provided the pen with an oil-burning heater that looked like a miniature jet engine. It pumped out enough heat to melt our lawn chairs or set our uniforms on fire. Though its intensity was significant, its area of effect was limited, and we had to take turns standing in front of it to get warm, but not so close as to combust ourselves. (more...)

  Note to self: if you’re going to show-up the president and your team, and polarize America in the process, make a bigger statement than a Facebook message. Yes folks, I get Timmy was trying to make a point—and he did, kinda—but he could have really went the distance. I have two major critiques: 1)   Tim could have made public his plans not to attend before the day of— getting it out there in the news so his team wasn't overshadowed by his right to exercise individual freedoms. I’m all about individual freedoms and enjoying them, but Tim, who knew about this event well before it happened, could have given the media a heads up so that his team didn’t get stuck with explaining “well, uh, the thing is Mr. Obama… Tim hates you” while at the president’s house. If you’re going to do something like this, which is totally all about you, do it in a way that doesn’t screw up the attention earned by your teammates who may not agree with your stance on things. (more...)

  I’m going to say this as plainly as I can: stop doing stupid shit just because everyone else on the team is doing it. It’s not a good reason to do something in any other walk of life so don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a good reason now. Being on a team is a lot like being in high school: what is popular and logical is often based on pop-culture knowledge, who is pretty, and who can score the most—on or off a field. This means majority accepted behaviors won’t always make you a better player or generate extra success. They will, however, like they always have, simply make you accepted by the group. If that is what you are going for, then by all means, follow. (more...)

With spring training right around the corner I’d like to take a moment to remind all those players attending minor league camp of the resolutions they swore they’d uphold, but have subsequently forgotten. I’m not talking about stuff like working out harder, or running more, or even eating less. No, if you haven’t done that stuff by now, you’re pretty much screwed. I’m talking about those practical tips and tricks that make spring training more convenient. The ones you slapped yourself in the head over last year saying, “why didn’t I…” or, “next year, I swear I’m going to…” Lets start by refreshing ourselves on the facts. Playing in the minors is one step above poverty. In minor league spring training you’ll get about $140 a week to live on, and NO paycheck. Thus, in order to make your money go as far as you can, you need to think outside the box. (more...)

In this Chapter of Out Of My League we rejoin our old palls, Slappy, Roscoe, and Maddog as they discuss the process of reverse scouting the brass during a spring training simulation game. Enjoy  (more...)