it was my birthday, tommy, (i'm a jack benny 39), so i thought i'd treat myself.
it was good to see you, the other rockies and my shaskys' teammates at my first live game this year. actually, the whole experience sent a surprising rush of adrenaline through me. once there, i suddenly felt stronger than i had in months (i ditched my crutches two weeks ago) and i asked shaskys' manager tony grocki if i could dh. i told him that my hands and wrists are working ok; the rest of me just has to catch up. he was kind enough to say, "you're batting 11th." now, that's a manager.
it was a good day and the high-fives and salutes from everybody were added gifts.
tommy - thanks for the birthday wishes and for the welcome back note.
after i read your note, it struck me that my reply to tommy smith could have been read two ways & i should have been plainer in my writing.
i should have said that i really didn't play, that i showed up in jeans & sweater, and tony and i were making a little joke. but our exchange still expressed a truth: i'm eager to get back this year and, at the very least, to see if i can't get one at-bat, and, what the heck, i'll dream on, an inning on the hill before the season ends. i've told my doctors that and, without saying no, more than one has raised an eyebrow. but one said earlier on thursday, "it's possible." he also gave me the green light to start swimming this week. so today i'm pool bound.
i DID get the chance to throw my first baseballs of the year: two were hit foul at the game, i retrieved them and threw them to jim quinn, our left fielder and my catcher last year. they were soft tosses and went the grand distance of about 20 feet.
but i figured it's a start and another gift.
i look forward to seeing you soon, lefty.
thanks again.
-mike
-- Edited by mhart on Monday 21st of June 2010 12:33:43 AM
