Journal: Looking back, moving forward

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Journal: Looking back, moving forward
05/29/2008 10:00 AM ET
By Joe Savery

The 19th overall pick by Philadelphia in 2007, Savery posted a 2.73 ERA for Williamsport in his pro debut after earning All-American honors three times as the premier two-way player in the nation at Rice. The 22-year-old southpaw then posted a 0.64 ERA for the Peoria Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League.
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Hello everyone! It is hard to believe that June is only a few days away. We have played more than 50 games and are only a few weeks away from the All-Star break.
This part of the year brings back a lot of memories. This past week, I watched the NCAA baseball tournament selection show. The images of Omaha and the sound of the metal bat reminded me of how much fun I had competing for the national championship. It is the greatest time of year for a college baseball player. School is over, you are getting paid rent and meal money, and the crowds and the atmosphere are by far the best of the year. I was happy to see that the Rice Owls received a national seed. They will have a tough road to Omaha, but they have the talent to get there.
In addition, the first of June means it's Draft time. It's hard to believe it's already been a year since Draft day. The anticipation and all the uncertainties surrounding it made it a very anxious time. Even though I was in a press conference talking about playing Texas A&M in the super regional when I got drafted, rather than being in front of the TV with my family, it was a very emotional and exciting day.

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about athletes is how hard it is to perform day in and day out and the sacrifices that are made. Although athletes have a lot of God-given ability, that isn't enough to produce success on the field. That couldn't be more true with the way my season has gone.
The talent is there, but it needs to be refined because there has not been as much success as I had hoped. Especially in a college setting, with academic responsibilities and social distractions, it can be hard to focus all your attention on your craft.
A year out of the Draft, I have learned a lot. I am looking forward to learning more each day and reaching the ultimate goal.
I would like to congratulate Max Scherzer and Chris Perez, who were teammates of mine on Team USA in 2005, on making their Major League debuts. They are two very talented pitchers and will have great careers. In addition, my roommate J.P. Arencibia of the Dunedin Blue Jays was the Florida State League player of the week.
Now I will answer a question from the fans:
Don asks, "I know that baseball takes up most of your time, but what do you like to do with your free time?"
Don, you are right that baseball does take up a lot of the day, especially as a starting pitcher. Starting pitchers typically get their work done before any of the team activities start, so I am usually one of the first ones to the field. I would say the most consistent part of my day off the field these days is watching Seinfeld reruns. I am a huge Seinfeld fan and can recite most of the episodes by heart. Batting practice ends every day at home around five and that's when back-to-back episodes of Seinfeld come on. Luckily, most of the guys also enjoy it, and so that is what plays on our TV in the clubhouse. After the games, I am usually home in time to watch the episode at 11 before going to bed.
Thanks to everyone who has continued to read my journal and support me. I hope everyone has a great week!
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.