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Friday September 30, 2011

MLB reports:  We welcome back Blue Jays prospect Ian Kadish to MLB reports.  The right-handed pitcher pitched for the Bluefield Blue Jays in the Rookie Appalachian League in 2011.  With a 2-3 record, 7 saves, 2.67 ERA, 1.154 WHIP, and 11/35 BB/K, the 23-year-old Kadish showed some very strong numbers pitching in the pen in his first professional season.  With a bright baseball future ahead, we are proud to announce that Ian has agreed to become a regular MLB Guest Blogger on the Reports, describing his baseball journey for our readers.  In his own words, we present part 1 of 2 of our featured guest blog of Ian Kadish, the recap of his 2011 season:

Ian Kadish (Guest MLB Blogger):  So MLB Reports asked me to do another blog entry because there was good feedback on the first one.  This will be a 2-part entry, the first part looking back at my 2011 season and how it went and the second part will be about what my offseason will consist of and my expectations for 2012.

Part 1 – A Look Back at the 2011 Season

In my opinion, the 2011 season had its ups and downs as well a learning curve, both personally and as a team.  The Bluefield team made a great first impression and was a big hit (no pun intended).  It was the Blue Jays first year in Bluefield after a 52 year existence of the Baltimore Oriole organization.  We surely set the bar high for next year’s team.  From what everybody said, the Oriole’s didn’t win much in Bluefield and the fans didn’t show much support because they weren’t winning.  We brought a Division Championship to Bluefield in our first year, which the fans were ecstatic about, but what surprised the team was how into the Bluefield/Princeton rivalry the fans were.  I’m telling you, these fans went nuts when we played the Princeton Rays.  They sold out the stadium every game of the series because of the close proximity of the two teams (only about 15 minutes).  The rivalry was for the Mercer Cup.  It’s called the Mercer Cup because the two teams are located in Mercer County.  The Blue Jays won the Mercer Cup this year and I honestly think the fans were happier we won the Mercer Cup rather than the Division Championship!  Princeton had won the Mercer Cup the past several years and it’s about time it’s back in Bluefield.  We made it all the way to the League Championship vs. the Johnson City Cardinals, but came up just short.  They won the best of 3 series to capture their second league championship in a row.

The team was a great group of guys.  Everybody got along and a big reason why we were so successful was due to our chemistry.  Everybody pushed one another and everybody picked each other up.  We played as a team, just how our manager wanted us to play.  He always said to put aside your personal goals and go after the team goals and your personal goals will follow.  Our coaching staff was just as great.  I can’t even begin to explain how much I learned from my manager.  He taught me not only on the field, but off the field.  I actually have a notebook full of quotes he said and lessons he would teach the team throughout the season.  Now that I think of it, I still owe him a Marshall University clock and Montgomery Inn barbecue sauce (Montgomery Inn is a world-famous rib place in Cincinnati with the BEST barbecue sauce in the history of all barbecue sauces).  He loves collecting clocks and has a great amount of them hanging in the locker room.  I owe him a Marshall University one because I came into the locker room one day and saw a WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY clock hanging from a wall.  Marshall and West Virginia are HUGE rivals and it’s either one or the other…he told me if I got him a Marshall clock he would get rid of the West Virginia clock.

I could go on and on with the stories, but overall the season was a successful one, and one that made me want more…Now that it’s the offseason, I can concentrate on what I need to improve on and prepare for a strong Spring Training and 2012 season…

Up Next:  Part 2 – Offseason and Expectations for 2012

Thank you to Ian Kadish for preparing today’s MLB Guest Blog.  Please feel free to contact Ian on Twitter (@BearJew36)  or through his website (http://livinginthelifeofian.blogspot.com) for comments and questions.   We also thank Ian for sharing the photographs used in today’s feature from his own private collection. 

Previous Ian Kadish Guest MLB Blog Entries on MLB reports:

Ian Kadish Guest MLB Blog:  My Baseball Journey  September 11, 2011

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