Blackstock's journey
The last time Washington's newest player, Josh Blackstock, was at Consol Energy Park, he left in a teammate's Cadillac, not the team bus. It wasn't a nice ride. Blackstock, playing for Chillicothe last season, was doubled over in pain and on the way to the hospital. He would arrive at Washington Hospital and eventually have his appendix removed.
"It was inflamed and I tried to get them to let me go back," Blackstock said. "But they wouldn't let me."
Instead, Blackstock had the surgery and was back on the field 10 days later.
"It was a setback," he said.
But Blackstock knows a lot about setbacks. He's had his share over his 25 years. The small scar he had from his appendectomy was nothing compared to the ugly remnants of an operation seven years earlier to repair his liver, spleen and gall bladder.
In his senior season at Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Ga., just outside Atlanta, Blackstock was involved in an automobile accident that nearly killed him. The impact of the collision lacerated his liver and spleen and damaged his gall bladder. He was bleeding internally. Blackstock was rushed to the hospital, just 30 minutes from bleeding to death.
"At the time, I was hitting the ball well and Alabama was thinking about offering me a scholarship," Blackstock said. "Then, that happened."
Blackstock was in the hospital for 11 days and three weeks later, he was back playing. But it took more time for him to get back into shape. Instead of Alabama, Blackstock attended Brewton-Parker College, located in Southeast Georgia, then jumped to the Tarrant County Thunder of the Continental Baseball League two years ago.
He joined Mark Mason's team in Chillicothe last season and led the Frontier League in walks with 69. He hit .251 in 75 games and drove in 33 runs.
This year, he bounced from team to team in the Frontier League, the final stop at Rockford two weeks ago. Mason called him when he needed to fill a roster spot.
"He can hit," Mason said. "He's very patient at the plate. His on-base percentage is over .400. He's like a left-handed Michael Parker."
Blackstock is happy for the chance to continue playing.
"Mark is a great guy," Blackstock said. "When I got released from Lake Erie, he tried to contact me. I'm excited to get this call."
- By Joe Tuscano
"It was inflamed and I tried to get them to let me go back," Blackstock said. "But they wouldn't let me."
Instead, Blackstock had the surgery and was back on the field 10 days later.
"It was a setback," he said.
But Blackstock knows a lot about setbacks. He's had his share over his 25 years. The small scar he had from his appendectomy was nothing compared to the ugly remnants of an operation seven years earlier to repair his liver, spleen and gall bladder.
In his senior season at Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Ga., just outside Atlanta, Blackstock was involved in an automobile accident that nearly killed him. The impact of the collision lacerated his liver and spleen and damaged his gall bladder. He was bleeding internally. Blackstock was rushed to the hospital, just 30 minutes from bleeding to death.
"At the time, I was hitting the ball well and Alabama was thinking about offering me a scholarship," Blackstock said. "Then, that happened."
Blackstock was in the hospital for 11 days and three weeks later, he was back playing. But it took more time for him to get back into shape. Instead of Alabama, Blackstock attended Brewton-Parker College, located in Southeast Georgia, then jumped to the Tarrant County Thunder of the Continental Baseball League two years ago.
He joined Mark Mason's team in Chillicothe last season and led the Frontier League in walks with 69. He hit .251 in 75 games and drove in 33 runs.
This year, he bounced from team to team in the Frontier League, the final stop at Rockford two weeks ago. Mason called him when he needed to fill a roster spot.
"He can hit," Mason said. "He's very patient at the plate. His on-base percentage is over .400. He's like a left-handed Michael Parker."
Blackstock is happy for the chance to continue playing.
"Mark is a great guy," Blackstock said. "When I got released from Lake Erie, he tried to contact me. I'm excited to get this call."
- By Joe Tuscano
Labels: Josh Blackstock
posted by Chris Dugan at
3:02 PM
11 Comments:
Wash Blackstock transported to the hospital in Franni's Cadillac?
Disbanding the Wild Ones. I bet Leo and Ron Foil are not happy.
whos joe tuscano?
Disbanding the Wild Ones. I bet Leo and Ron Foil are not happy.
....
Leo is just a FL lacky.
Ron is not happy at all nor should he be. The Wild Ones wanted to help the
team but the sick jerks in the WT management are so stupid that they, once again, shot themselves in the foot!
Not sure if this is true or not, but heard that Stu Williams is now running the show and had been by Franni's side while she was in the saddle. Stu sat back and observed the last 3 months and today let go 3 or 4 upper management people from the front office. Some long time familiar faces won't be around when the next homestand rolls into town
More trouble in Paradise.
After less than three weeks on the job, the new Marketing Director told the Wild Things
to take their job and shove it! He found out what sort of people these turkeys are, wanted nothing
more to do with them, and quit.
Congratulations Rick, smart move. It would not be long before they would have tried to drag you
down to their level in the sewer – probably already did! I’m so glad you saw the light and decided to move
on.
Good luck, Rick and wish only the best for you. You just have to love a guy that won’t be intimidated.
What a contrast to Rick Minetti who just follows Ross like a little puppy dog all day! As they say, “When all else fails, a kiss on the fanny goes a long, long way!”, or something like that! Whatever it takes, right Rick?
Stu sat back and observed the last 3 months
Really? Do you meam he was so big of an idiot that he let it get this bad before doing something? He sould fire himself for God's sake!
Now don't hold back any information. If you are going to post something then name the people that you THINK were let go. I have a suggestion, Ross shpold be the first out the door folowed closely by Franni.
Man I can hardly wait for Swisscheda’s next report. He will tell all about what you just saw for yourself. I’m sure he thinks you are not smart enough to know what you saw. If he continues his fine job, I’ll never ever have to go to a WT game again. That way we won’t be scratching our head wondering what the hell happened. This guy reminds me of some brain dead news reporter telling us what a politician said just after we heard the speech with our own ears. Being that he seems to think we are not able to comprehend anything until he explains it to us, I suppose we should be grateful for his help.
Now I understand that SOME of us do need some help with comprehension, but not everyone.
Swisscheda is just what is needed these days – another intellectual.
Im sure if you never came to a game again, CEP would be a much better place. By all means stay at home
Pretty pathetic when you hate a guy for being intelligent. Yes, that is EXACTLY what this blog needs. Keep posting, Swiss! If only to keep the anonymous hero from above from coming to CEP again. Hell, I'll even buy your ticket for you!
Wally from Wolfdale
Who is/was the new marketing director? The website doesn't have anyone listed other than those who have been there forever. Maybe they didn't update after the firings
So who are the 3 or 4 upper management people who were supposedly fired? Or was this just another rumored stoked by this blog?
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