Unfortunately, I won’t be in costume this year, so I thought I’d dip into the archives and pull from Halloween ’05.  Guess – is Toby the Gorilla or the Mad Scientist?

Dillon Gee did a Q&A posted on the University of Texas Arlington website earlier this week.

UTA:

What has been the best advice that you have been given by a player or coach while in professional baseball?

DG: The best advice I have been given is to stay even keel. You have ups and downs, doing good and doing bad, you just have to come to the ballpark with the same approach every day. That is just how you are going to get better every day.

…

UTA: It seems like each year you are at the top of your team or league in innings pitched. How do you credit your ability to throw so many innings and to stay in shape so you are always able to pitch in your spot in the rotation?

DG: In the off-season I work really hard with conditioning and making sure my body is ready for the season. I also work on my mechanics – non-stop. It takes a lot of stress off your arm when you have good mechanics. So I would have to say my conditioning and my mechanics.

I can’t help but notice that these things – the mental toughness to stay “even” and the hard work to be prepared physically – are related.

Photo from UTMavs.cstv.com

Yankees prospect Andrew Brackman was strong (6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K) as his Beach Boys beat the Mets and the Sharks 5-2 Thursday.

The young Mets bats had a tough time with Brackman and friends.

Thursday Batting Lines

Roy Merritt took his second HWB loss as he gave up two runs on a hit and a HBP in .1 IP.

Thursday night, Jason Vargas worked three scoreless innings, yielding only two hits while striking out four.  He threw 30 of his 48 pitches for strikes.  In 15.2 IP, he hasn’t allowed a run.  The AFL has touched him for just seven hits.  He’s struck out 11 while walking just one.
Very nice.

C Josh Thole was 1-2 with a sac.

Ruben Tejada returned to Sharks lineup for the first time in 10 days.  He got lucky enough to play – and go 0-for-4 in a 9-0 loss.

Jordan Abruzzo started at DH again and was 1-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.

Junior Guerra walked one and fanned one in his scoreless inning of work.

Daniel Murphy in a solid post at Eddie Kunz’s AFL Blog reports that Shawn Bowman left the team

a few days ago to be with his father who unfortunately is very sick.

Best wishes to the elder Mr. Bowman for a speedy recovery.

Bobby Parnell (3-0, 2.89) earned the win in a 12-6 Saguaros victory.

Parnell’s line speaks for itself:

3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, WP – 49 pitches, 24 strikes