boys of summer

I remember one summer during my college days when my buddies and i were out playing home run derby at the high school softball field. We typically play on the softball fields so we didn’t have to use real baseballs, meaning we wouldn’t have to chase the tennis balls we used as far. Those were always some of the best times i’ve had with my friends, and i’m sure before it’s over their will be a few more home run derby battles (never too old to play baseball). But this one time in particular, i remember my buddy Taf saying, “wouldn’t it be cool if Thatch made the big leagues and played for the Cubs”. Thatch was one of our high school buddies we played on the basketball team with, but rarely played home run derby with because he was a real baseball player unlike the rest of us!! 

It’s such a long shot for anybody to make the big leagues, so when Taf made the comment, we all said “yeah, that would be cool”, but i’m sure none of us thought it would ever really happen. Not because he wasn’t good, but it’s just that difficult to make the bigs. Growing up a baseball fan, becoming a professional baseball player always was the dream of many of us, at least for me it definitely was.

The cool thing is that Thatch actually made it last year. So to see one of your friends make the big leagues is a very cool thing, and almost surreal. What makes it even more surreal, is that i have him on my fantasy team this year! Anyway, to some this might be dumb, but i just think it’s really neat. 

Here is a article that was on the padres website today about Thatch.

Thatcher goes back to basics vs. SF After struggling in earlier close game, reliever bounces back By Corey Brock / MLB.com

Joe Thatcher said he is always thankful to be a Major League pitcher. (Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

SAN DIEGO — Five days after his roughest and clearly most humbling outing in his short Major League career, Joe Thatcher found himself back on the mound in yet another close game, this time at AT&T Park.Determined to stash away forever the lingering memories — or, as it were, a nightmare — of an inning last week during which he walked three and got just one out, Thatcher decided to follow his own advice, the words of wisdom that helped the left-hander reach the big leagues after a humble beginning.

Thatcher, let it loose.

Thatcher retired six of the seven batters he faced in Wednesday’s eventual 3-2 loss to the Giants in 11 innings, but he showed that his outing against the Dodgers on April 4 was nothing but a simple misstep in a long season.

“I talked with [pitching coach Darren] Balsley after that outing, talked about what I was thinking out there … as far as how to attack guys in the strike zone,” Thatcher said. “It wasn’t anything mechanical. Everything feels good. We’re going to write it off as a bad day.”

Granted, there haven’t been many bad days since Thatcher joined the Padres last July in the deal — an unpopular one at the time among players — that sent Scott Linebrink to the Brewers for three pitchers who had never seen a day in the Major Leagues.

Thatcher went 2-2 with a 1.29 ERA in 22 games after being recalled from Triple-A Portland, earning the trust of manager Bud Black with a stretch of strong performances out of the bullpen, especially in September, when he had a 1.13 ERA.

That performance and a strong Spring Training earned Thatcher a spot in the bullpen as one of the relievers used to set up closer Trevor Hoffman, though as is occasionally the case with Hoffman, the road to late-inning success is sometimes a bumpy one.

Not that Thatcher isn’t accustomed to his share of twists and turns, as the 26-year-old was undrafted out of Indiana State University before pitching parts of two seasons for River City of the independent Frontier League before the Brewers signed him in July 2005.

“I love playing baseball, when I went to play independent ball, I went for fun,” Thatcher said. “I knew I could pitch at the next level, but mostly, I wanted to play to have fun. It was a long shot, but every chance I got to prove myself I let it all hang out. I really had nothing to lose.

“That’s kind of the approach I took last year. No matter what was going on around me, I was just going to go after it 100 percent.”

Thatcher nearly turned his back on baseball in 2005. After earning a degree in insurance and risk management, Thatcher got certified to sell insurance in his home state and got a job selling commercial insurance in his hometown of Kokomo, Ind.

“I got a little taste of the 9-to-5, sitting behind a desk and wearing a tie,” Thatcher said. “That’s the other thing that motivated me [to pursue baseball]. That’s not something I wanted to do. When Spring Training came around, I was glad to get out of there.”

Thatcher pitched parts of three seasons in the Brewers farm system before the Padres traded for him and pitcher Will Inman and Steve Garrison. Inman was considered the gem of the deal, though Thatcher arrived in the Major Leagues first.

Not a day goes by, Thatcher said, where he isn’t thankful for his opportunity to pitch in the Major Leagues.

“Every day, something reminds me that I’m here,” Thatcher said. “Two years ago, I was playing in front of 2,000 people, making $600 a month. I talked with some guys I played back there with [and] one guy is still pitching there. It does make you appreciate the ride more.”

Staying here, though, is the tough part. Thatcher, if nothing else, has shown the ability to get both left-handed and right-handed hitters out, using a cut fastball that runs in on the hands of right-handers to get outs.

In his last outing Tuesday in San Francisco, Thatcher showed a more consistent release point, something that troubled him against the Dodgers. He got right-handers and left-handers out and showed why the Padres have entrusted him with important innings late in games.

“I did think his delivery looked as smooth as Joe can make it look. I thought that he was repeating his delivery,” Black said. “Everyone has their own unique style, but it looked like Joe was repeating his arm slot. His ball had a nice cut action to it.

“Collectively, for us to have an effective bullpen, it takes all of the guys … not just two or three guys throwing well. To win games, a series, to win a stretch of games, you need all seven guys pitching well. Joe is a very important part of that.”