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Kellen Raab
Pitcher -- Arizona Diamondbacks
Kellen Raab is a 23 year old pitcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.
In 2004, Kellen's first season of professional baseball, he posted a 3-3 record with a 4.38 ERA while striking out 56 batters in 62 innings for the Yakima Bears of the Northwest League.
Journal Entry 5-6-2005
Talk about going from one extreme to another. That
is the way my baseball playing has taken me in the
past week.
Last Thursday I came in relief just like
every time in the past. This time it was in the 3rd
inning already down 6-1. By the time I had come out
it had become my worst outing in pro baseball. I had
given up 6 runs over 4.2 innings. The only positive I
had that night was the two scoreless innings in
between the others that I gave up the runs.
That
night after the game our Manager told me that I would
be put into the starters role from that point on.
In my first start of the season I was going up
against the best team in the league, the Clinton
Lumberkings, who came in with an 18-6 record.
I went
into that game wanting to go at least 5 innings and
keep my team in the game. After the game was over I
had pitched 7 innings giving up just 1 run and getting
the win. That game was my best so far as a pro,
besting my 6 inning outing last season in Yakima.
I can't explain how it felt pitching against
Wisconsin and not being able to get the job done, and
then starting against Clinton and have everything just
going my way.
That's definitely why baseball may be
the hardest sport out there. You could show up with
the same stuff everyday and could get hammered one day
and be masterful the next. This is why I love the
game so much because nothing is ever the same. Each
day is different, you show up to the field not knowing
what will happen that night.
It might be the only
sport where the team with the worst record could win
the overall series against the team with the best
record, just because they played well for those few
games.
As for the opposing teams we played and their
players, I saw quite a few talented players.
Wisconsin
is stacked right now with hitting prospects. Matt
Tuiasosopo, if he develops with his age, will be a big
leaguer someday in the future. he has the tools,
size, and maturity to play the game. I could also see
Asdrubal Cabrera and a big league second baseman. So
far they are the best lineup I have pitched against
top to bottom in my career. From 1-9 they can hit the
ball and put it in play.
Clinton on the other hand, may not have the same
amount of prospects, they definitely get the job done
everyday. They are the most consistent team we have
played so far and that's why they are winning so much
right now. They hit the ball in clutch situations,
they play great defense, solid pitching staff, and do
the little things that help you win.
We ended up sweeping Clinton with the best starting
pitching in a whole series I have ever seen at any
level. It started with Steve Jackson going 8
scoreless the first night, followed with my 7 innings
and 1 run. Then A.J. Shappi took the mound to pitch
the first complete game of the season for us and only
giving up 1 run and it was in the 9th inning. Ross
Ohlendorf finished Clinton off by going 7 innings and
not giving up a run.
As a whole we had 31 innings
pitched giving up just 2 runs as a staff. If you
could get that every 4 game series you will win a
championship at any level.
Our team is finally starting to gel and things are
looking up for us. We are going to West Michigan
today and plan on extending our 5 game win streak
starting tonight. Will get back after this series
once we return home for Kane County.
Kellen
You may email your questions for Kellen Raab to KRaab@topprospectalert.com
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