Things Do Not Always Work Out As Planned

Going into my junior year, my San Marcos High School basketball team had very high expectations for the upcoming year. It was the first year of a new coach, a new system, and it all just felt right. We were a team that got after it on defense, had a very balanced offensive attack, and lastly we had great chemistry between teammates. Christian Widmer, Kevin Hempy, and I all had been voted by the team to be co-captains and we were all looking forward to leading a really fun and successful year.

The season finally came to a start after a long preseason. Our team was anxious to beat our biggest rival, the Santa Barbara Dons. The Dons have always been our biggest rival and no matter what the talent looked like on each team, one could always count on San Marcos vs. Santa Barbara basketball games to be exciting, high intensity battles. We started off by playing some very good ball clubs, but by the time league started we were 9-4 with a championship win over Santa Barbara in the Jim Bashore Holiday Classic Tournament in Carpinteria.

We started off league against Dos Pueblos at home, but we suffered a shocking defeat. Fortunately after this we rallied for six straight with away wins against both cross time rivals Santa Barbara and Dos Pueblos. We were now 6-1 going into our home game against Santa Barbara and this was a very important game for the current league standings. The game went back and forth and finally we found ourselves up by 2 points with 10 seconds remaining. A Santa Barbara Dons player shot a three-pointer and missed and then Christian Widmer grabbed the rebound. Instead of holding on to the ball, Christian decided to throw it down court as time was expiring, but he didn’t realize that there was still about 6 seconds left. Noah Burke, a Santa Barbara player, then grabbed the ball and shot it from half court…nothing but net. I was standing directly under the basket when the ball went through the net, and the feeling that I had after the shot went in with the addition of all the Santa Barbara fans rushing onto the court, was absolutely devastating.

Our team was still 6-2, but suffering this defeat was not as easy thing to swallow. We still had one more game against Santa Barbara so now we were even more eager to play them again. We ended up going 1-1 in our next two games before meeting up with Santa Barbara on Tuesday November 5^th, 2013. Since we lost on Friday night to Dos Pueblos, we had a Saturday practice. Unfortunately during this practice, I suffered a very bad ankle sprain. By Saturday night, my ankle looked like there was an egg inside of it and on Sunday I needed crutches to get around. This injury absolutely destroyed me emotionally as I was looking forward to this big game on Tuesday. I was committed to doing anything I could in order to at least try and play for my team, as I was a key part to my team’s success.

I iced, I received laser treatment, and lastly I got my ankle worked on to try and do whatever I could to quicken the recovery process. By Monday I was able to walk with an ankle brace on, and by Tuesday I was not 100%, but I was ready to give it all that I had in this very important game against Santa Barbara. I warmed up and the game began, but I was not myself with this injury. By the second quarter I was in a ton of pain and I tried to do whatever I could to tough it out, but I had to pull myself from the game at halftime. I ended with 0 points and 2 steals for the night. We unfortunately lost this game by 10 points and lost Channel League by one game to the Santa Barbara Dons.

Taking a step back and realizing that we essentially lost the league championship on a half court shot hurt in a way that could not be described as I still think about it up to this day. To add on to that I was in a position that I could not help my team in the last Santa Barbara game and not being able to help my team, or family, is something that killed me inside. There was absolutely nothing that I could in the 2^nd half of that basketball game and that was not an easy thing to overcome.

Going into my senior year the expectations were just as high and the motivation level was even higher. Unfortunately, I battled bronchitis at the start of the season and I suffered a concussion right in the middle of league. The concussion occurred during the biggest game of the year at home against Santa Barbara. The game was sold out and I felt like we had a really good chance of winning. We lost that game and after being diagnosed with a concussion after the game, I felt pretty down. I felt powerless in a way where all I could do was sit at the end of my bench for 3 weeks and encourage my teammates on in the midst of what was supposed to be the teams best year and my best year individually. I received 1^st Team All Channel League my junior year and my goals were even higher as I was looking to win league and with that hopefully obtain that MVP award. We ended up losing all three games to Santa Barbara my senior year and I got to watch them go undefeated in league and win back-to-back Channel League Championships, while my team finished tied for second with a losing record of 5-7. I went from a high of making the Varsity Basketball team as a sophomore to earning a disappointing 2^nd Team All Channel League Award to finish my senior year. Of course there are always going to be “what ifs” and wishes of things happening differently, but through these experiences I have learned a lot about adversity and how that translates to my life.

Obstacles are going to be put in front of you that are not always expected and learning to face those obstacles in a way where we can grow is what everyone should be striving for. I could of easily just given up after my concussion, but I decided that there was more than just the league at stake. My teammates, coaches, and school were all relying on me both as a captain and player, and I wanted to prove to them that I could be a crucial part of this team again going forward. I learned how to fight back and try and get myself to point where I was playing my best basketball again after losing rhythm and crucial time on the basketball court. Even though everyone else was getting better while I was recovering from an injury, I still had to take the mindset of “no excuses” and work as hard as I could in order to get to where I wanted to be.

Throughout my basketball career I learned how to handle disappointment, unmet expectations, both with my team and individually, and how to overcome injuries at critical times. This translates to life because life is going to throw curveballs at you sometimes, and how one reacts to those curveballs is what is going to mold and make a person who they are. So much of our world today is all about getting out of hard stuff and taking the easy way out, but embracing, attacking, and experiencing those undeserving situations will lead to a great deal of success and satisfaction as we take on this journey of life.

Dodgers Are Out, What’s Next?

The Dodgers have just exited the playoffs with a lot of disappointment from ownership, the players, and of course, the fans. They have the highest payroll in baseball and they have put a ton of money and expectation into this year. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the Cardinals had other plans and they did not allow the Dodgers to get in the way of those plans.

The Dodgers have a lot of decisions to make, which could result in many changes. The first of these changes need to start at the top. Ned Colleti, the current General Manager of the Dodgers, has yet to find a roster that will succeed all the way to the top. There were too many expectations coming into this year so don’t be surprised if you see Ned Colleti out of a job. Who would replace him? My prediction would be Andrew Friedman, the current GM of the Tamba Bay Rays. He has been handcuffed in Tamba Bay for years, as his budget is very limited to make a competitive roster. He has still managed to be very competitive and he knows how to be efficient with what he has. Although he will have a lot more money in LA, ownership does not want to become a team that just spends money on big name stars who are starting to come out of their prime. Adding a GM like Friedman would allow the Dodgers to go out and make efficient and smart moves with the money available, but also continue to strengthen the minor league levels as that is such a crucial part of building a strong team for years to come.

There also has been some noise about Don Mattingly’s job being in jeopardy. He made some very questionable decisions on when or not to make a call to the bullpen this postseason and those poor decisions could cost him his job. Putting Scott Elbert in who pitched no more than 10 games in the regular season to face a lefty was a decision that cost him a very important game. Although he has managed to create good team chemistry and has done a good job at keeping the clubhouse in order, start looking for other names to manage the Dodgers next year.

The Dodgers looked great throughout the year and unfortunately injuries had a big affect on their roster, especially in their rotation. The Dodgers current have a 3-headed monster at the top of the rotation with Kershaw-Greinke-Ryu, but they do not have much insurance at the back of the rotation. Look for the Dodgers to go after a guy like James Shields on a 3-year deal worth around 40 Million, with a 4th year vesting option. Adding a guy like Shields will allow the Dodgers to have insurance at the back of their rotation and insurance for injuries. Look for the Dodgers to sign a couple of other starting pitchers on 1-year deals with some upside or look to their minor leagues at a guy like Zach Lee to compete for that 5^th spot in the rotation. The biggest problem the Dodgers have faced throughout the entire season and in the playoffs is their bullpen. It has been pathetic to watch and many changes need to be addressed in this area of the roster. Brian Wilson is no longer the guy he used to be and the Dodgers should be looking to acquire a new setup man, but also reliable relievers that will be able to come in and shut down hitters towards the latter part of a ballgame. Now Hanley Ramirez is going to be a guy to watch in Free Agency. I expect the Dodgers to offer him a qualifying offer, which I think he will ultimately end up declining. The Dodgers will eventually end up cutting ties with him due to his poor defense and inconsistent health. Lastly, the Dodgers have four very high priced outfielders and at least one, if not two, need to be moved. My prediction is that you will see Andre Ethier along with a good chunk of money traded to an AL team to be a platoon hitter for a mid-tier pitching prospect with some potential. I would also not be surprised to see Carl Crawford traded along with a large sum of money to an AL team that is willing to give him a chance, as he showed us during the second half of the season that he still has a lot left in the tank. Look for Matt Kemp to move over to LF, Joc Pederson to start in CF, and Puig to move back over to RF with his ridiculous arm. Having traded two outfielders away, the Dodgers would most likely try to acquire a utility guy, like Emilio Bonafacio,  who would fit in nicely on the bench with power Scott Van Slyke. Although Dodger fans are disappointed, they have a lot to look forward too as they are just a couple of moves away from getting themselves to a World Series.

Off-Season Moves

1. Sign James Shields: 3 Year $40 Million Deal, with vesting option for 4^th year
2. Revamp Entire Bullpen, Resign Kenley Jansen
3. Offer Hanley Ramirez Qualifying Offer, He Declines, Alex Guerrero/Erisbel Arruebarrena fight for starting SS spot
4. Trade Ethier/Money + Crawford/Money for raw pitching prospects/Start Joc Pederson
5. Offer Qualifying Offer/Resign Dee Gordon, Justin Turner, AJ Ellis
6. Acquire Russell Martin in free agency while still having AJ Ellis as a role player
7. Dan Haren picks up his option and fights for the 5th spot in the rotation

2015 General Manager: Andrew Friedman

2015 Manager: Joe Maddon (Friedman is bringing him with him to LA)

2015 Starting Rotation: Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, James Shields, Dan Haren

2015 Starting Lineup:

Dee Gordon, 2B

Yasiel Puig, RF

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B

Matt Kemp, LF

Joc Pederson, CF

Russell Martin, C

Juan Uribe, 3B

Alex Guerrero/Erisbel Arruebarrena, SS

Clayton Kershaw, SP

2015 Bullpen: Brandon League, Brian Wilson, Paco Rodriguez, Koji Uehara, , J.P. Howell, Mike Adams, Kenley Jansen

2015 Bench: Justin Turner, Scott Van Slyke, AJ Ellis, Emilio Bonifacio, Alex Guerrero/Erisbel Arruebarrena (whoever doesn’t start)