Lefty
ASFN Icon
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2002
- Posts
- 12,579
- Reaction score
- 986
Looks like Mike is finally pitching like many believed he could. If he can continue to improve he should get a shot at the starting rotation next spring.
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/sports/35438.php
By Brian J. Pedersen
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
As one of the more cerebral players on the Sidewinders - a degree from Stanford attests to that - Michael Gosling admits he has a tendency to overthink.
The mental games Gosling played with himself got in the way of a successful return from off-season shoulder surgery, and turned the normally optimistic left-handed pitcher into a pessimist while on the mound.
"I had just gotten into a pattern of being confident in myself as a pitcher, but not being confident that it was going to go well when I was out there," Gosling said. "It was, 'what's going to happen this time, what inning is going to be the inning that gets me this time, what mistake.' "
But instead of buying a self-help book or a motivational video, Gosling said he chose not to bash himself - or allow himself to be bashed by others - in an effort to get his head back in sync with his left arm.
"It's always fun to kind of joke about yourself and your problems, but I was really letting it get into my thinking," Gosling said. "I decided I needed to turn that around."
Sounds like a heady solution, but his last three outings show the change might be working.
After Thursday's six-inning, one-run performance in the Sidewinders' 3-1 win over Las Vegas, Gosling (7-4) has won three straight starts and moved into a tie for the team lead in wins.
Gosling did not join the Sidewinders until May 3 while completing rehab on a torn labrum, and for the majority of the year, he was unable to string together back-to-back quality outings.
He hit bottom on July 26 when he allowed seven runs in one inning.
It was after that, with the encouragement of Sidewinders radio broadcaster Brett Dolan, that Gosling agreed to not leave himself open to jokes and concentrate on the positive.
He struggled in his next outing, but has since compiled a 3-0 record with a 3.32 ERA over 19 innings.
"He's starting to throw the way we think he can throw the last couple of outings," Sidewinders manager Chip Hale said. "Everything that Gos has gone through this year has pretty much been expected."
With a team-high 111· innings pitched, Gosling was presented the Ironman Pitcher of the Year award by the Sidewinders before Saturday's game against Edmonton.
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/sports/35438.php
By Brian J. Pedersen
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
As one of the more cerebral players on the Sidewinders - a degree from Stanford attests to that - Michael Gosling admits he has a tendency to overthink.
The mental games Gosling played with himself got in the way of a successful return from off-season shoulder surgery, and turned the normally optimistic left-handed pitcher into a pessimist while on the mound.
"I had just gotten into a pattern of being confident in myself as a pitcher, but not being confident that it was going to go well when I was out there," Gosling said. "It was, 'what's going to happen this time, what inning is going to be the inning that gets me this time, what mistake.' "
But instead of buying a self-help book or a motivational video, Gosling said he chose not to bash himself - or allow himself to be bashed by others - in an effort to get his head back in sync with his left arm.
"It's always fun to kind of joke about yourself and your problems, but I was really letting it get into my thinking," Gosling said. "I decided I needed to turn that around."
Sounds like a heady solution, but his last three outings show the change might be working.
After Thursday's six-inning, one-run performance in the Sidewinders' 3-1 win over Las Vegas, Gosling (7-4) has won three straight starts and moved into a tie for the team lead in wins.
Gosling did not join the Sidewinders until May 3 while completing rehab on a torn labrum, and for the majority of the year, he was unable to string together back-to-back quality outings.
He hit bottom on July 26 when he allowed seven runs in one inning.
It was after that, with the encouragement of Sidewinders radio broadcaster Brett Dolan, that Gosling agreed to not leave himself open to jokes and concentrate on the positive.
He struggled in his next outing, but has since compiled a 3-0 record with a 3.32 ERA over 19 innings.
"He's starting to throw the way we think he can throw the last couple of outings," Sidewinders manager Chip Hale said. "Everything that Gos has gone through this year has pretty much been expected."
With a team-high 111· innings pitched, Gosling was presented the Ironman Pitcher of the Year award by the Sidewinders before Saturday's game against Edmonton.
