I threw out the first pitch for a Charleston Riverdogs baseball game on Monday and I'm feeling a little down about it.
Here's what happened. About five hundred Seacoast volunteers from some of the Charleston campuses gathered for hamburgers, hot dogs and a few encouraging words for the job they do each weekend, before yours truly opened the game for our NY Yankees single "A" farm team.
I was told that the worst thing that can happen when you throw out the first pitch, other than injuring a mascot, would be to bounce the ball before it reaches the catcher. All day long, my friends were giving me some great advice..."Whatever you do, get it too the catcher"..."Don't pitch off the top of the mound, it will throw you off and you will never get it there"..."Be sure and warm up or you'll throw your arm out".
We're talking one pitch here...how tough can it be?
Apparently real tough.
About an hour before the game I paced off 60' 6" in a field next to the stadium and began to throw the ball to my son Joshua while our wonderful volunteers were basking in appreciation. The early attempts were not pretty, but by the time we finished I was feeling a little more confident. Josh said, "For the last warm-up pitch let's pretend like it's the bottom of the 9th, game tied, bases loaded, 2 outs, the count is 3 & 2, and you are the closer." Surely throwing out the first pitch wouldn't carry as much pressure as the scenario he laid out for me. I rared back and fired a fast ball (approximately 45 mph) over the middle of the imaginary plate...striking out the make believe batter, thus winning the game for the home team. Now I'm ready for the real thing. I feel like Kerry Wood.
I walked the quarter of a mile or so over to the stadium, down to the home dugout and prepared myself mentally for the moment of truth. In just a few moments I would walk away from the mound in triumph. My friends, my family, my church and my God would be proud of the effort I was about to put forth. I had a game plan. I've warmed up...I'm not pitching from the top of the mound...and no way am I bouncing it to the catcher. Not only can I visualize world peace, but I can see the stadium erupting as I blaze a fastball down the middle. You betcha...I'm ready.
Then things fell apart.
First, it seems that I am not the only one throwing out the first pitch. In fact I would be throwing out the third pitch to be exact. Ahead of me would be a girl celebrating her 21st birthday and a young boy about 10. I'm not sure why he was throwing, but I was getting some bad vibes about the whole thing. What if they do good and I stink the place up? What if instead of bouncing it, mine looks more like a bowling ball headed for a gutter? What if I go "Rick Ankiel" and throw it over the backstop? Suddenly I'm visualizing things I don't want to see.
Next, the girl goes directly to the top of the mound...dressed to kill in 4 inch red high heels. I'm going to have to scrap my friends advice about pitching from in front of the mound. You can't do that if she's playing from the big boys spot...in high heels. I'm praying she doesn't throw a strike.
She doesn't ... but it doesn't really matter ... the catcher is enamored by her uniform. I think he wants to be her friend.
After her comes the kid...doesn't wait for the announcer to give his name...just climbs to the top of the mound and promptly throws it almost over the catchers head. No bouncing it for him. I hear, "Great arm" from somewhere behind first base. Never follow a kid, or an animal act...never...
Finally the announcer calls my name, "And now...Greg Surratt from Seacoast Church". A hardy round of applause from the "volunteer" stacked crowd. Even a few whistles and cheers. "You can do it, Greg". At that moment, standing at the top of the mound, I wasn't sure that I could.
I was right.
I'll spare you the gory details. Let's just say that after the ball left my hand, it bounced pitifully about 10 feet in front of the plate, and nearly eluded the catcher as he dived 6 feet to his right to snag the only pitch of my baseball career.
The hot dogs were great, our friends were kind (mostly), my arm is sore, my ego bruised...but I think God still loves me.
Oh well, wait till next year...
What's the big deal? You wear cool jeans...
Posted by: didi carrow | July 03, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Greg, you were very courageous to step up to the plate at the ball game. And that is all God asks us to do in life. Sometimes, we hit a home run, sometimes we get a single, sometimes we strike out, but God loves us anyway for trying. You are an inspirational speaker and that is your gift. Keep up the good work! We still love you!
Posted by: Cindy, Jimmy & Addison Blackman-Westees | July 03, 2008 at 09:39 AM
My husband and I were both commenting last Sunday how we appreciate how transparent you are. It's one of the things that ties us so closely to your heart. So we're kind of glad you didn't throw a 90 mph fastball right over the plate ... where's the humility in that? God's got a purpose in everything!
Posted by: Donna Ziel | July 03, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Pastor Greg:
I can truly appreciate the pressure of throwing out the first pitch at a minor league bb game. At the close of my 5 year acctg career for the Hudson Valley Renegades (short season A ball) in NY, I threw out the first pitch at our last championship playoff game in 1998. Not wanting to "throw like a girl" I had a couple of the guys at the ballpark coach me with my pitching skills. After a lot of practice I threw my first pitch from the pitcher's mound that night. It wasn't perfect, but I didn't throw like a girl, and at the end of the game at least I knew we didn't lose the playoffs because of MY pitching ability. I echo the sentiments of the Ziels above, we love you because you're real, not because of your hanging curve ball. Good job and Happy 4th! Husband John says, "Go Mets!"
Posted by: Sharon Strubel | July 03, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Many of the volunteers actually missed the first pitch, but we were very proud to have you represent our church! It probably won't be the the only pitch of your baseball career--maybe you can do it again for YOUR 21st birthday. :) Thanks for the burgers, etc.!
Posted by: Cristina Reyes Smith | July 03, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Greg,
I think you pitched just as good as Jonathan Albaladejo!!! I know for a fact that you would've gotten a strike off me!!! We love being your congregation!
Posted by: Jennifer Jones | July 03, 2008 at 05:01 PM
I'm sorry I missed you moment in the spotlight. Look at the bright side, in many ways you did look like your hero Kerry Woods.
Posted by: Geoff Surratt | July 03, 2008 at 09:59 PM
Geoff,
Check the stats big guy...
Kerry Wood - 21 saves, 2.38 ERA
Closest Cardinal?
Jason Issringhausen - 11 saves, 5.78 ERA
More saves is a good thing (think Billy Graham).
Higher ERA is a bad thing (think about your golf scores).
You are allowing your Cub envy to cloud your judgement.
Posted by: Greg Surratt | July 04, 2008 at 07:06 AM
While I wasn't there--wish I had been--I am sure that despite your mishap, I'm sure you entertained the crowd... and hey, had I been batting, we would've made a swell combination... I bat like a blind kid with a balance problem!! :)
You are a great pastor, and we all love ya!!
Posted by: Lindsay | July 08, 2008 at 09:55 AM