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Give Me A Break!
I think everyone, in any job, gets to a point when they need a break. In baseball, it’s built in as the “Midsummer Classic,” Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game.
Four days off flew by like a regularly scheduled day off during the season. In the blink of an eye, it went from Sunday to Thursday. Now, I’m back on a plane headed for Florida.
During the season, I tend to be competitive both on and off the field. My wife, Crystal, is an angel for putting up with me. In the offseason, I can scale it back but the weeks leading up to spring training get the competitive juices flowing again.
The All-Star break is a way to recharge the mental and physical battery, so to speak. Although difficult, turning off that competitive nature for a couple days can be very beneficial. The All-Star break is the only time all season when we get more than one consecutive day off. Physically, getting off our feet for a couple days allows our legs, backs, throwing arms, and any other joints a much needed rest.
It’s funny, I see this four-day break as a microcosm for my offseason. On Monday (which would be November), I ate horribly and drank a Coke while watching Josh Hamilton hit baseballs seemingly further and higher than I can drive a golf ball. In the offseason, for two weeks in November, I let myself hang it out there and be a slob. I watch LSU football games and dive into my fantasy football leagues (I think I’m good but I never win… You do the math).
On Tuesday (it’s now December), I still didn’t eat well but wasn’t as bad as Monday. My wife, our son and I took a drive to the Jersey Shore to relax. I started to think about baseball a little bit, but was able to remind myself to enjoy my break. I came home Tuesday night expecting a fun, nine-inning All-Star Game and almost got a 2 for 1 special! In the offseason, December represents the hardest lifting and preparation for my body, but it is also when we go on a small vacation. Work hard, play hard…you know?
On Wednesday, it was like January, mentally I could feel myself getting antsy and ready to get going. I enjoyed the days off, but could feel the pull of the season. In January, I start to focus on getting my body ready for the spring training and the season. As the season creeps closer, as an athlete, you start to turn it up little by little. It’s fun to “get into character,” honestly.
Now it’s Thursday, and I’m on a team flight to Miami. We flew out at 6pm EST, so it was like another off day, and just like February in the offseason — the baseball season is watching our every move. It’s time to go and get into character, like a cowboy who feels pretty comfortable getting back in the saddle.
We open the second half of the season with three games against the Marlins and three against the Mets. The Mets are a half game out and the Marlins one-and-a-half games out in the National League East standings. I’m excited to kick off the second half against these teams. Stay tuned, right?
Break is over!
7 Comments
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Hey Chad you’ve done a tremendous job this season for the Phils, more than anyone could have hoped for. Things haven’t been going too well for you guys lately, hopefully you can turn it around and defend the NL East title.
I got an email from someone who sent me this link. I write a Phils blog- We Should Be GM’s @ http://pabaseball.blogspot.com.
Hi Chad! Nice blog :o) Wanted to say you’ve done a GREAT job for the Phillies this season and I am so glad they found you! Glad you enjoyed the All-Star break! If you, or anyone else, wants to see some fun photos of All-Star week in NYC, feel free to visit my page…there are some posted there and also a link to another page with more. I have a real funny shot of Dan Uggla grabbing Chase Utley in a less-than proper way… :O) Funny stuff! Needless to say, I had a fun time. Good luck with the Mets this week!
Jenn
http://philliesphollowers.mlblogs.com/
Chad,
You and your wife are the best. You both stopped for a photo while driving in to the stadium and signed a bunch of stuff for the kids that were there. True class! Thank you.
Mike
Great year, you’ve been the unsung hero of the team. No one notices too much but just like 2 weeks ago you won 2 games in less than 4 days for the Phils. Anytime you want a great hoagie let me know I’ll hook you up.
Keep up the good work, let the guys know when we boo, we boo because we care.
Hi Chad. Couple tough outings lately in LA, but I’m very much impressed with the job you’ve done for us all year. I do appologize for using your blog as an outlet that doesn’t really pertain to you, but in the off chance you read this (since you haven’t updated in awhile), I have some thoughts that I would like you to pass onto a teammate of yours that I (used to) greatly respect.
Mr. Rollins,
Pertaining to your recent comments calling all of the Philly fans “front-runners”; you’ve got to be kidding me right? Without getting into too great of detail, remember last May? 4 and 11? I seem to remember the Bank being packed every home game last year and this year. You say we’re front runners? Seems you’ve had our undieing support for the past two years straight. (Well before that, but to keep this simple, i’ll stick to recent times.) Are we happy when the Phils win and not too happy when they don’t? Sure. We’re fans; and actually I’d hope that you’d feel the same way. Last year, every loss mattered, this year, by your own comments you have a different view of, “Oh well, we’ll get them tomorrow.” Quite the competitive fire there. What happened to you??? You used to be the heart and soul of this team. Are we pleased that this high powered offense has been drastically inconsistent the past few months? No. Are we going to voice our opinion? Damn straight. Even after your comments, 9 out of 10 people in Philly would probably take a bullet for any Phillie, including you. That’s how much we love this team. But, seriously, what has happened to you between last October and now? I live in Scranton, so I’ve followed your career for a long time, and I can never remember someone saying ONE negative thing about you; players, the organization, media, or fans. Then this year comes. All of the sudden we have the no hustle situation, and I’m happy Charlie called you on that. I could deal with that one. Then being benched for being late for the game. That was your fault, you were in the wrong and by the way that was bullsh*t. Why were you suddenly too good to ride with everyone else? Now this “front-runners” non-sense. Do you want to know why we get mad when the Phillies loose? Want to know what the difference between last year and this year is? Last year when the Phillies lost, it actually looked like everyone took the loss personally, this year is seems like some people could give a sh*t less by their attitude, actions, and what they say to the media. But oh well, I guess we can just go ahead and give it the good old college try tomorrow right? Well what happens after a month of that sh*t and there is no tomorrow anymore?
You know who I admire? #5, and not McNabb, the #5 on your team. Pat has taken so much grief from the fans and the media because he didn’t turn into the most prolific player in the history of the game. The Phillies and the fans tried a number of times to exile him. You’ve been there the whole time, you know the boo-ing he’s been subjected to. Guess what, he knew when he deserved it and admitted it. I’ve always liked Pat and have always thought that he’s been a damn good player and I’m hoping he gets extended. You seriously need to can the sudden piss poor attitude and get your sh*t back together. By the way, nice 0-5 last night, way to go.
Hey i havent seen u in awhile miss u at the fish frys. I finaly getto go this year military break. so i hope to hear from you
Your cousin
Kourtney Pagani