It's the most wonderful time of the year. Well, okay, besides Christmas. I am talking about March Madness! Our brackets are filled out and the games have begun! I missed way too many games in my bracket on the first day because I picked upsets, and just like last year, there really hasn't been any! If you're wondering who I picked to win it I guess I'll go ahead and tell you......UNC. Yes, I said I picked upsets, but as for the National Champ I picked the team that everyone else picked. Anyways, it is a lot of fun to fill out brackets and watch game after game to see how each round unfolds. I love the unpredictability of each tournament and can't wait to see the upsets, usually there are at least a few. We almost got a big one today with Duke...that would have killed Brooke's bracket! She picks them to win or make it to the finals every year...she hasn't won yet though!

My parents headed back to Florida on Tuesday. We had a good time while they were here but most importantly Brooke and I got a couple of nights to have some time out together, some good date nights. We tried to take my parents to Sedona, about 2 hours from here, but ran into some road blocks.... literally. The interstate that we need to take was shut down at one exit and backed up traffic for miles. Needless to say, we turned back and drove around Phoenix for sight-seeing. It wasn't quite the same views as Sedona, but it was still fun.

As of now I have pitched in two games and my third outing is scheduled for Saturday. In my first two appearances I was definitely a little rusty but in between outings I have thrown a couple of times off the mound to work on my mechanics. Being a finesse/control pitcher I must have good mechanics consistently for me to be at top of my game. I continue to work on my landing which is moving in the right direction. We are coming to the end of Spring Training and my plan is to iron out my mechanics and get more innings so that when the camp breaks I am ready to compete.

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I picked up my family from the airport last Thursday night after going a little over three weeks without seeing them. It had been too long. In fact, this might of been the longest I've gone without seeing them in many years. So you can imagine the excitement of watching them walk up to me in the airport. It really makes a difference having them with me.

Tonight I will go back to the airport to pick up my parents who are coming in for a week. My mom has always wanted to visit Arizona and no better time than Spring Training. We plan on going up to Sedona one day while they are here. I've never been there and have heard a lot about it.

And finally, I will pitch in a Spring Training game Thursday. They have really been cautious bringing me back since the day I felt tenderness in my shoulder. There hasn't been any problems since that day and I have continued to work my way back. I pitched in a B game (it is a scrimmage game played in the morning) vs. the Rangers on Sunday, and everything went very well. I threw 27 pitches in 1 1/3 innings. Although I didn't have my best control, it felt great to finally get into a game situation.

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Today was supposed to be my first outing of the spring. But, due to some minor tenderness in my shoulder I did not pitch. Thankfully, it is just a precaution. The best thing for it was to rest and not push it to get in a game today. I will pitch on my next outing which will be on Thursday. This past Wednesday I threw a bullpen and everything was good. My mechanics were right where I want them to be and I was able to bump up the intensity. I think by doing that it caused my shoulder to be "tender" on Thursday. I really wanted to pitch today, but I have to be smart. I don't want to over do it and risk causing problems in the long term of my career. I am very confident that after a couple of days of taking it easy I will be good to go.

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