The “unofficial” Ottawa Lynx blog

This is the fourth and final attempt - WordPress seems to have a problem with “cutting and pasting” the last few days.

HT to blog reader for Darlene for finding a couple of english interviews with Gary Burnham.  Seems that due to some convoluted roster rules regarding foreign players, Gary’s been bumped backed down to the minors.

Well, for me its been life in the minors again. Its been 50% of the first half. This was something I didn’t expect. The team hired more foreigners than are allowed on the roster and are going with all pitching for now. Very frustrating for me considering I am trying to market myself to Korea and Japan.

On the field its been torrential down-pouring and batting practice in the cages I have had a lot of time to myself to think about my career, family, goals, and where this is all heading. Time in the minor leagues in a foreign country can play tricks in your mind and sometimes I feel as if the baseball gods are punishing me and testing my emotional fortitude in the minor leagues for something I did in the game. When you are in the minor leagues as long as I have been you always start to question the reasons and what it is you have to work on to finally get that secure feeling that you are in the majors to stay, you never get it.

So with that all being said I find myself getting closer to God and becoming more spiritual and leaving the ultimate destiny out of my hands. Running poles for a half hour late at night helps my mind deal with all of this. I try to remain positive. Something keeps me going and I am not sure what but it does. That faith, that someone sees my success and signs me to a bigger contract. Some team out here that needs my offense.

Here’s hoping that some team out there picks up on Gary’s availability.  And what about his plans for the future?

 My short term goal is to put up solid numbers here in Taiwan every time I get an opportunity and to market myself to Korea or Japan. I’d like to play five years in Korea or Japan and then retire.

In other non-Gary news, this is the kind of stuff that does our heart good: Brian Sanches was recently moved to the Washington Nationals’ 40 man roster.  On another site - as recently as last August, Brian was politely referred to as a “re-tread” and “fodder”.  Unbelievable.  There are 1200 such 40 man roster spots in all of MLB, and the “re-tread” has earned one.  Congrats Brian - and happy first Father’s Day!

In less joyful news, blog favorite Zack Segovia was released by the Phillies a few days ago.  Zack had started the season in Reading and was sent down to Clearwater.  AFter 7 rough outings, the Phillies cut him on Tuesday of last week.    At 25 Zack’s still a relatively young man - maybe getting a bit old to be a “prospect”, but he’s roughly a year removed from having a legit shot at the Phillies roster.  Our guess is that he’s still not recovered from the posterior shoulder release surgery he underwent in the off-season.  Hopefully, like Gary, he’ll be able to work his way back onto someone’s roster.