Gettin' Ziggy With It (Season 2, Vol. 1)
by Brad Ziegler on Feb 25, 2008 7:00 AM PST
36 comments
As most of you know from my post early in the fall, my wife and I celebrated the birth of our first child: Kaylin Brooke. She was born on October 24, and weighed 5 lbs. and 7 oz. She’s been an absolute joy in our lives, and she’s growing SO fast! I feel very blessed to be having such a wonderful experience as a dad.
Also, in mid-January, I suffered a pretty severe injury. I know Blez posted about it, but in case you hadn’t heard, I’ll detail exactly what happened...
I was working a youth camp all day on a Saturday for my college. After the camp was over and all but one of the kids had gone home, I was playing catch with a friend (and fellow Missouri St. alumnus with whom I had worked the clinic) to get my throwing workout in for the day. The kid that remained was standing there talking to me, and as I was reaching to catch a ball, the kid reached in front of me trying to catch the ball, also. The ball deflected off the tip of his glove, hitting me square in the middle of the forehead (I wasn’t wearing a hat at the time). It opened up a sizeable cut on my forehead, and also gave me a skull fracture (my 2nd from a baseball-related injury in a 3½-year span) and severe concussion.
Physically, I didn’t have to alter much (I even completed my next scheduled workout 2 days later). However, I had a little problem with motor skills in the 7-10 days following the accident. I occasionally asked the same question multiple times over the span of a single conversation. Also, I got confused easily and had to slow down the speed of my talking to be sure I would actually say the words that my brain was trying to output (which, my wife would probably tell you was a blessing). :-)
After meeting with a plastic surgeon, we decided it wasn’t necessary to put a titanium plate in my head, and as long as I used some sort of appropriate device as protection for the fractured area, my workouts would continue as normal until the fracture healed.
My recovery has gone extremely well, if I may say so. I don’t feel as if it was a set-back at all, and I feel tremendous so far in the early workouts at spring training. It was such a fluke situation that I haven’t had a bit of apprehension getting back on the mound.
I’m extremely anxious for spring training games to start on Thursday. It appears everyone is healthy and ready to disprove a lot of the “expert’s opinions” about what this team can accomplish. I hope I can contribute to a great season for the A’s this year, but time will tell if I get that shot or not. For now, I’m just trying to focus on every opportunity I get to make a positive impression at my first big league camp.
I hope everyone that makes it down to spring training makes a point to come say “hi” while you’re here…I’m #47 for spring training. Enjoy your week, and we’ll see ya at the ballpark!!
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Thanks for this!!!! It's great getting an update from a real, live player. Good luck in Spring Training; we all hope you make the big club!!!
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 25, 2008 10:39 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Glad you're healed up.
Head injuries are scary.
by mikev on Feb 25, 2008 10:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
47!!!!
As if I didn't have enough reasons to root for you ...
"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback
by devo on Feb 25, 2008 11:49 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
This comment might go over better
if anyone other than me (and that one other Pomona dude) had the faintest idea what you were talking about... :p
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Feb 25, 2008 12:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, well ...
47!!!!!
"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback
by devo on Feb 25, 2008 12:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
So glad you're back this year!
Best of luck in spring training--we're all pulling for you.
"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King
by batgirl on Feb 25, 2008 11:54 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
someone should run a paternity test on that kid
BoCro, Jr.?
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Feb 25, 2008 12:06 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Larry Davis Jr
No, wait.... Larry Davis procreating? Somebody stop me.
Notes From The Nat has a new home: http://www.natnotes.com
by Ozzz on Feb 26, 2008 10:36 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Would it make sense to protect your noggin whilst you're
on the mound? Can your skull bones be tested in some fashion to learn whether they're unusually fragile? And if you choose against protection for comfort reasons -- are you well-insured?
Not wishing to be morose -- We don' wanna lose you, is all.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Feb 25, 2008 12:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
welcome back to AN
We were of course all very concerned about the injury, and hope you don't have any lingering problems.
by OaklandSi on Feb 25, 2008 12:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Happy to see you back
Getting updates from an actual player is definitely one of my favorite parts of the site. Very cool to see you are doing this again this year.
Also glad to hear that you have recovered from the knock on the noggin'. Injuries involving the skull give me the heebie-jeebies.
by DiegoAsFan on Feb 25, 2008 12:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
That's funny
Injuries to my skull give me the feather banana peanut trumpet.
(And if anyone spots THAT reference, I will perform the full proskynesis when and if I ever see you in person.)
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Feb 25, 2008 12:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
welcome back!
Glad to hear you are recovering well! I'm looking forward to the updates from you throughout the year!
There's no crying in baseball!
by gigglingone on Feb 25, 2008 1:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hey Ziggy!
I'm glad to hear you're recovered. I really hope you have success this year and make the big club. Good luck.
"He's a misfit. He gets along with everyone." - Reggie Jackson, describing Joe Rudi
by McFood on Feb 25, 2008 1:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hope to see you in Phoenix AND Oakland
I think many of us would have a hard time being as cheerful as you are about things like skull fractures and impaired motor skills. You've got the right attitude and we know you have the talent to go with it.
by Englishmajor on Feb 25, 2008 2:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
The right talent AND
great writing skills. I'm so happy to have Brad back with the A's. He was an incredible edition to the site last year.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Feb 25, 2008 3:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for posting
And glad to hear you're healing well. Take care and good luck in Spring Training!
by lurkerD on Feb 25, 2008 3:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
wow what a strange injury
Beyond the physical injury it must be awfully tough to stay patient and focused when you have to rehabilitate from such a fluke accident. Your post indicates that you're dealing with it very well... I wish you the best of luck.
by Brian in 317 on Feb 25, 2008 4:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Welcome back
Hey Brad,
Glad to hear from you again. Did you get a chance to check out the photos I sent to your mother? It was nice talking to her via e-mail.
With any luck I'll be able to say hi to you at some point this year, whether it's at a River Cats game or, hopefully, an A's game.
by Flashfire on Feb 25, 2008 5:53 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Oh, just noticed the photo in the profile
Nice! ;-)
Keep up the good work on the hill, man.
by Flashfire on Feb 25, 2008 5:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Good luck this year, Brad.
Hope to see some more pics of Kaylin this season. :-)
by IM4Oakgal on Feb 25, 2008 8:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hi Brad!
Did you know David Forst called you an internet superstar or something at FanFest? Haha.
Anyway, I am very excited you will be checking in with us again this season! Thank you and hope to see you in Oakland very soon!!
by gotgreen on Feb 25, 2008 10:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Good Luck Brad...
Look forward to hopefully seeing you pitch at Spring Training......
Bring back Hammer.
by OaktownPower on Feb 25, 2008 10:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hi Brad, glad to have you back
Can't wait to get spring training updates, especially with all the new faces in camp this year.
Tough break on the freak injury, glad to hear things are better now. Had a similar thing happen to me in a slow pitch softball game, except I was covering second on a throw from the outfield when the cut off man (standing only 5 or so feet away from me) tried to catch the ball at the last minute. Just changed the direction of the ball enough to smack me full speed in the forehead. Lucky for me the softball is, well, softer then a baseball as I was not seriously hurt. My teammates were greatly entertained, however, by the fact that the ball left an imprint of the stitches in my forehead.
Anyway, we are thrilled to have you back at AN. Good luck this season.
by AsFanInLA on Feb 25, 2008 10:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I've got a freak softball injury for ya
First AB in a game and I smacked a double to left center. Somehow, as I was rounding first base, I guess I hit the bag in just such a way that I broke the fifth metatarsal in my left foot.
At first I thought I just sprained my ankle pretty bad and we were already shorthanded and I didn't really want to come out. I was playing first base and figured most of the time I'd just be standing around anyway, which was what I did except for having to go right once for a ball along with getting someone in a rundown.
By the time we finished about an hour later and I got back to my car I realized it was worse than a sprain. Got it x-rayed the next day and was in a short cast for a month plus a walking boot for a couple more weeks on top of that.
The doc said it was a break that's consistent with a particular twist/turn of the foot, so I guess that's it.
Still, I think I'd take that over a fractured skull.
by Flashfire on Feb 25, 2008 11:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Freak accidents ahoy.
My dad was a gymnast, and while doing the rings, one of his wrists snapped. In trying to stop himself from falling, he got his other hand caught in the ring, and that wrist also snapped as he came down.
But his brother got it worse. Faceplant while skiing, and as he rolled over in the snow, some dude ran right past his face, slicing his nose clean off.
He had it surgically repaired, but while riding a rollercoaster a few years later, it jumped a track and suddenly stopped, causing him to hit the bar with his face, thereby ripping it off a second time.
A bar fight a few years later took it off a third time. Dude always looked like he was wearing a clown nose. And yet, still got married like three times.
Chicks dig noses made of ass-skin, I guess.
True stories, all.
Notes From The Nat has a new home: http://www.natnotes.com
by Ozzz on Feb 26, 2008 10:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I was sure there was a pun-chline coming.
Been reading too much monkeyball.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Feb 27, 2008 9:39 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Good to see you back Brad!
Good luck in ST. If you don't end up breaking camp with the A's this spring, I think you will end up on the A's before the end of the season! When you do, I'm going to buy tickets to the first weekend series in Oakland in hopes of seeing you pitch.
Happy to hear the injury won't slow you down. When it was first announced, I thought you were hit in the head from a batted ball. Good to know that no 14 year old will get those kind of bragging rights off you!
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
by alox on Feb 25, 2008 11:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Sounds horrible. It's great to hear that your recovering.
by WaddellCanseco on Feb 26, 2008 7:41 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
One question:
Have you had contact with the kid since?
Man, that'd be the kind of accident that would shake a kid to his core, I'd reckon. I'd be guilty as hell.
Notes From The Nat has a new home: http://www.natnotes.com
by Ozzz on Feb 26, 2008 10:44 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
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