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HAVE A QUESTION FOR JUNIOR SHORTSTOP RYAN FLAHERTY?
Then send in your inquiries throughout the 2008 season and he may answer your entry in his weekly journal.
CLICK HERE to submit your questions.
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FRIDAY, MAY 30TH
Commodore Fans,
Our team is out here in Arizona getting ready for our first game against Oklahoma. The season so far has had its up's and downs but at this point every team in the post season has a 0-0 record. For the tournament Senior Outfielder Jonathon White chose to do a blog on the tournament so he will be the player that takes over and continues to talk about the experiences of this year's team.
I just want to say thanks to everyone who read my journals and for the support of the fans. If you would still like to ask questions you may do so, and I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.
Thanks again for all of your support!!!!!
- Flash
TUESDAY, MAY 6TH
Vandy Fans,
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I apologize for missing the last week with an entry. Last week was our finals week and with baseball and school I had little free time. As for the season this past weekend was very big, not only because we won but because it was against UT. We thank you for our support and especially to those who traveled to Knoxville to cheer us on.
As I promised in the last journal I said I would talk a little bit about this past summer and what it was like traveling all over the world.
Playing for the USA team was a great experience not only because of the great competition but also for the experience of three different continents and playing with two of my teammates (Pedro Alvarez and Mikie Minor). Pedro and I were roommates this summer, and wherever we traveled we stayed together. It was great to travel to these other countries especially when I had one of my best friends going with me. For those of you that may not know, Pedro is very good at video games so most nights we would stay up playing video games and listening to music. I also had the chance to taste some of his mother's home cooked food, which was very good!
Currently we are all done with school so all we have to concentrate on now is our season. In the off-time me and roommates (David Macias and Dominic de la Osa) usually go fishing and do things like that. We are looking forward to the next couple weeks and continue to thank you for the support of our team!
Here are some questions that have been asked over the past couple of weeks:
Jacque (Hendersonville, Tenn.)
Your Irish "step-dance" music has become a favorite of the fans. How do players select their at-bat music and does the coaching staff have any input?
Players select their music either because it has personal meaning to them, or because the like the beat of the music.
Nikki (Portland, Maine)
Hi Ryan I know you are from the great state of Maine and the great city of Portland. How have you adjusted to living so far south and what do you miss most about home? We miss you and are all wishing you well. Go DORES!
Hi to everyone back home!!!! Portland is one of the greatest cities and a place that I do miss. I miss a lot about home but especially spending time with my family and friends. I do miss Back Cove Deli which is one of my favorite places to eat and I think has the best food! Thank you for all the support from back home and it will be great to get back there when I can!
Andrew (Springfield, Penn.)
Hey Flash... I was wondering what would be a good workout for a shortstop?
I would suggest that you work a lot with agilities and your mobility because playing shortstop requires you to have range. Also playing baseball requires you to have a strong core so working on that would also help
Kerri (Boston, Mass.)
Ryan, I know you are from the New England area, are you a big Red Sox fan? If so, who is your favorite player? If not, who do you follow?
Yes, I grew up a diehard Red Sox fan and love to watch them. However, my favorite player is Derek Jeter (which is kind of ironic) because of the way he plays the game.
Jed (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Who are the most superstitious players on the team? What are the best superstitions on the team?
There are a lot of players who are superstitious but I'm not sure there is one who is the most.
Pam (Nashville, Tenn.)
Can you describe what the SEC weekends on the road are like?
Playing on the road is good because it allows you to get away from everything and concentrate on baseball. I spend a lot of time with Brad French who is my roommate, and we usually just sleep a lot and find good food in the area. The environment in the ballparks is also something that is really cool about playing on the road.
TUESDAY, APRIL 15TH
Dear Vandy Fans,
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Sorry I missed last week's entry, I have been busy trying to finish up school and the rest of the semester. As for the year last week was a good week for us and we will try and continue that this week with two tough mid-week opponents. Please come out and show your support as we take on Auburn this weekend at Hawkins Field.
I took some time to answer some of the questions for this week and next week I will talk about this summer and what it was like playing with some of the guys in the SEC and rooming with Pedro Alvarez.
Until Next Week,
Flash
Steve (Brentwood)
First of all I just wanted to tell you that me and my son love watching you play. Keep up the good work! But my question is about your back pocket that seems to always be out. Is that a good luck thing or do you even mean for it to be out? Thanks, Steve
Haha, yeah it is not a coincidence that it is always out. I have always pulled my back left pocket out since high school. It is something I just started doing and has stuck ever since.
Cole (Lexington)
As a fellow amateur baseball, I have wondered what a successful hitter thinks prior to and during your at-bat to keep your focus?
Staying focused is one of the hardest things to do in baseball, but you need to have the ability to come in and out of at-bats. After the at-bat is over you need to be able to let it go and move on. Before each at-bat I try to visualize the pitcher and try and understand how he is going to pitch me. Once I get into the box I let all the thinking go and it becomes a one on one game (me vs. the pitcher)
Jake (Nashville)
Ryan, I'm 13 and right now I'm in a slump. What do you think is the best thing to get out of a slump?
Just stay positive, every player goes through slumps no matter what level you are at. Just keep being aggressive and you will come out of it. Don't get down on yourself and know that you are a good player and you will be out of it in no time!
John (Oxford, MS)
Ryan, What do you like about the F3 bat compared with other options?
I actually use a Voodoo and like it. Most all the bats are the same to me, so whatever one feels right I like to use.
Julian (Santa Ana)
Flash...What are your thoughts on wooden vs. aluminum bats at the college level. Should D1 schools only be using wooden bats?
Many people may argue that they should use wood and that would speed the game up and keep the pace. However college baseball has a lot of history with aluminum so it would tough to change at this point.
Drew (Portland, ME)
Ryan, what is your routine before a game?
My routine is pretty simple. I like to get to the field and do a light workout in the weight room just to get ready. Some days I take swings before batting practice depending on how I feel. I usually like to listen to music on my Ipod before we go on the field. I like listening to all kinds of music mostly rap and alternative.
G Jones (Mt Airy, MD)
What do you prefer better: An Italian Sandwich or some Tennesee BBQ?
Good question because I love to eat. I have adapted to BBQ and it is great down here in the south however I would have to say the Italian Sandwich because I have been eating that my whole life. My favorite food is anything that my Grandmother cooks!
TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST
Dear Commodore Fans,
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Since there have been questions asked about what is was like growing up in Maine, I have decided to take a journal entry and talk about what it was like growing up there and how I had the opportunity to play baseball.
For those of you who have never been there, Maine is a state where not many baseball players come from. It has very cold winters, and up to this point in the year, the ground is still covered in snow. Sports are very big up there and the people from my hometown all root for the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and Patriots.
I grew up on a street that was filled with kids that were a couple years older than me and because of these kids I began to play sports everyday. Playing with kids who were older than me always made me better because it was harder to keep up with them because they were always bigger than me. Everyday after school we would come home from school and go right out on the street and begin to play whatever sport was in season. If it were spring or summer we would play baseball. And if it were the fall or winter we would either play football, hockey or basketball. I played all four sports growing up, but when I got into high school I had to stop hockey because basketball took up most of my time in the winter. If you were to look at Vanderbilt's baseball roster you could go through each player and most of them played at least two sports in high school. Playing more than one sport not only allows the player to stay in shape, but also gives a player the chance to compete all year.
As far as developing my skills as a baseball player, my father was the biggest influence on that part of my life. I would spend my weekends hanging around his baseball team and before and after games he would throw to me and my little brother Regan. Because of him I learned so much about the game and having the resources to work out inside (during the long winters) gave me the opportunity to keep up with players who played outside year round. I stay in close touch with my father throughout the season and the only advice he ever gives to me is, "to play like you're playing a pick-up game in the backyard and have fun." This is the way I try to approach every game that I play in and something I will never forget because that is how I learned to play baseball.
This week we play two midweek games and they will be two very good teams. Tuesday's game is a home game so if you have time come out and cheer us on as we take on Southeast Missouri State.
Until Next Week,
Flash
MONDAY, MARCH 24TH
Vanderbilt fans,
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Here are some questions that were asked, I did not have time to answer them all but if I missed any I will make sure I get them next week. Since there have been a lot of questions asked about my background and what it was like coming from Maine, I will talk about that in my entry next week.
-Ryan
Douglas (Nashville)
How have you become such a good hitter? Do you have some secrets that you could pass along to other players, especially young players? Thank you.
The one tip I would have for a young player trying to become a good hitter would be to fall in love with the game and when you do that, you always want to play. I can remember being 6 years old and waiting on my front steps for my dad to get home so he could throw to me. As a kid I never really worked on just hitting, but I played pick-up games with kids in my neighborhood everyday which helped me become a better player. Just play as much as you can, and always remember to have fun while your doing it!!
David (Portland, Maine)
Flash: What do you consider are your strengths on and off the field and what one thing do you think you can improve on to make it to the next level. Maine is proud of you and Bodie!
There are always ways I can be trying to improve my game. I usually work on different things each day whether it is strength and agility some days and other days I work on my hitting and fielding. There are always ways to become a better player.
Barry (Fairview, N.C.)
Dear Ryan, Is anyone leading the bench and bullpen players in
between-innings stretching exercises this season?
Yes we are still doing the in between-inning stretches as a team. Not only is it something the fans enjoy, but also something that keeps players into the game and keeps them stretched. I think Mark Lamm leads those stretches right now.
Jason (Biddeford, Maine)
Hey Ryan, I was on the Vanderbilt website trying to keep tabs on how your season was going. I am very proud of your hard work and taking your game to this level. I must be getting old as I still remember you being our bat boy for the national championship game in '97. Keep up the great work. You have a lot of people back home keeping up with you and wishing you the best.
Thank you for the support from everyone back in my hometown. I can remember those days as being a bat boy and just being around baseball all the time as a young kid has definitely helped me.
TUESDAY, MARCH 18TH
Hello Commodore Fans,
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This week's journal entry will explain what a basic day is like for me.
Today is Monday and I wake up around 8 o'clock and shower before I go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast. I try and eat as healthy as possible so I stay healthy and it gives me enough energy to make it throughout the day. After eating breakfast I have to go to my first class which is Blues from 9-10. After that I take another class and after that I am done with class until 2. Monday's are our day off so we usually take classes for most of the day. I usually eat either chicken or fish for lunch and after lunch I go down and meet with my academic advisor (Katie Feyes) who makes sure I stay on task and know when all of my assignments are due.
Then I usually go to practice, but since it is Monday I have class from 2-6. Once class is out, I go to the Hendrix Room where all the athletes eat dinner each night. "Magic" our chef, does a good job preparing food that is healthy and helps you get enough calories. After eating dinner I usually go to the field around 7 with my roommates, Dominic de la Osa and David Macias. We usually work out on Monday nights and after that we may take some swings in the batting cages. We finish up there around 8 p.m. and after that I head back to my room and usually do some studying or play video games. I try to get to sleep as early as possible to make sure I have enough energy to make it throughout the day. This is what a typical Monday will look like for me.
Below are questions I have answered from the past couple weeks.
Until Next Week,
Ryan
Mark (Franklin, TN)
Our family loves to stomp to your "at bat music". I would love to know what it is so I can add it to our "driving to the 'Dores game" CD. And if you could talk about why you chose the song?
The song is by the Dropkick Murphy's and is called, "I'm Shipping up to Boston." The song is special to me because it is by an Irish group and my father's side of my family is from Ireland. Every time I hear it, it reminds me of my hometown and where I'm from.
Jimmy (Westport)
What model baseball glove do you use?
I use a Wilson A2000.
Jay (Nashville, TN)
With SEC season underway, permanent bleachers have been built behind the right field fence. What are some of your favorite cheers that the "Bleacher Creatures" can shout from right field to motivate you and the other players?
I just like it when Hawkins Field is loud, it brings the extra element to the game and makes it very hard for opponents to play. Seeing fans out there yelling is definitely motivating.
Paul (Nashville, TN)
Flash, how stressful was it trying to keep the hitting streak alive? And now that it's broken, do you feel less pressure when you step up to the plate?
To be honest it wasn't that stressful because I really never really thought about it in that way. I just try to get on base somehow every time I get up to bat.
David
How does it feel to have walk off hits like the one you had Friday against South Carolina or last year against Boston College?
Hitting walk-offs is a really good feeling especially because it ends the game and your team wins. However I never try and get to high or too low on myself. Baseball is a tough game and failure happens a lot, so I try to stay as even keel as possible.
MONDAY, MARCH 10TH
Hello Commodore Fans,
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For this weeks journal entry I have taken the time to answer some of the questions that you have submitted. You can continue to ask them and I will answer them along with my journal entries.
Walter (Auburn, Maine)
Dear Ryan, I have followed your career after you left Portland, Maine. As a player from the Northeast, how hard was it to adapt to playing at such a high level with out playing high school in a warm climate?
This is a very good question and something that I have been asked a lot. Growing up in Maine it was hard to play outside as much as other players do in the south where it is warmer. However I always tried to hit and work out inside as much as I could and by doing this it helps you keep up with players that come from warmer climates. One good thing about Northeast players is that when they leave the north and start playing with kids who have played more than them, you really see his skills and play develop.
It was difficult to adjust, however I worked really hard at it, and knew that I could keep up with these other players. Coming from Maine, I was not used to seeing fastballs thrown at 90mph so when I came here I knew that I would have to adapt. Coach Corbin has done a very good job recruiting players from the Northeast and it is not always easy recruiting players from there because a lot of the time there talent has not yet blossomed because they have not had the experience playing.
Kalen (Portland, Maine)
Do you have any friends that you idolized that also wore number 22?
Yes, and the answer to that would be Pat Curran.
Ann (Nashville, Tennessee)
How did you get the nickname "Flash"?
I got the nickname "Flash" when I was about twelve years old. I really don't know where the nickname started other than the fact that people always called me "Flatts" because of my last name. From there my coach began to call me Flash, and it has stuck ever since.
This week our team has five games against very good teams so we ask that you come out and cheer us on!
Next week's journal entry I will talk about what the typical day is like
for me at school.
Until Then,
Ryan
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5TH
Hello Vandy Fans,
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This week is our spring break week so we have had some down time to hang out and get caught up on our school work. With all the free time we usually find new places
to go and eat at, play video games, and go to the movies.
The break is good because we usually don't have much free time during the week because of school but while the other students at the school are on
vacation, we get to relax and get some down time. Tonight the men's basketball team will take on Mississippi State which will give us something to do, as we usually go to most of the other athletic events on campus.
As far as the past week goes on the season, we have had some impressive wins and a disappointing loss.
Last night we beat a very good Louisville team in some really harsh conditions. Playing in the cold is never easy but because we spend so much time practicing in it,
it gives us an advantage when it comes time for the game. As for the team we are trying to get better everyday and stay as consistent with our play as we can.
This upcoming week we play a very tough, University of Illinois-Chicago and it will be a very good test for us. We ask that you come out and support the team and make
it a tough place for opponents to come and play at. We appreciate all the support you have given us thus far and we will continue to try and make every game as exciting as possible.
If you have any questions you may ask them this week and next week I will respond to them in the journal entry.
Till Next Time,
Ryan
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
Hello Vandy Fans,
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I am writing to you as I am sitting in the Phoenix airport. We are awaiting our flight after finishing our first weekend series of the 2008 season. Many of the guys are busy studying for midterms this week and the rest are playing cards, waiting to board the plane back to Nashville.
The trip to Arizona was a good one, but as a team, we know there are many things we need to improve upon. Personally, I had a nice trip because I had a chance to hang out with my parents, who flew out from Portland, Maine to watch me play. It is always great to see my parents because they don't have the opportunity to see me play very often, so when they do, I try my best to make the most of it. Along with my parents, we had many fans and families travel to ASU to watch us play. It is always nice to look up in the stands at familiar faces and to hear the crowd cheering for us. So, a huge thank you to all of you that came out to support us! Our team really appreciates you.
On the road, I room with Brad French, who is probably the best roommate to have, since he is one of the smartest guys on the team. I always have school work to complete while we are traveling, so whenever I need help with this homework, he is the right guy to ask. Every morning, "Frenchy" gives me a word of the day that I can use in talking with Coach Corbin. This way, at breakfast each morning, I sound extremely intelligent in my conversations with Coach and I get him on it each time. He is usually so thrown off with my large vocabulary, that he doesn't know how to respond. But, after a quick second, he always has a smart remark back to me. Off the field, our team is very close. When traveling on the road, we always go out to eat and find things to do in the area around where we are staying. We always have a great time together.
As many of you may have watched on the internet this weekend, we won 2 out of the 3 games versus some very good teams. The Saturday loss to Arizona State really hit us hard, but we knew we were going to have to get back up and play a tough game today versus Miami, Ohio. We won this last game in the bottom of the ninth inning, which is something our team works very hard to do. We never give up and always want to finish each game strong. Therefore, if you are at a Vanderbilt Baseball game and we are down on the scoreboard, do not leave early because if we are down 1 or 10, we are going to fight until the finish.
This week we have our home opener and our team is getting very excited about the game. It is always great to be at home and play in front of the best fans in the country at Hawkins Field. So please come out on Wednesday at 4:00 pm and cheer us on as we take on Evansville. We can't wait for you to see and get to know our 2008 team. With your support, this is going to be a fun and enjoyable season. Go Dores!
Till Next Week,
"Flash"
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH
Commodore Fans,
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It seems like such a long time has passed since we were playing at a sold out Hawkins Field in the beginning of June. Even though it did not turn out the way we would have liked, our team has learned from it and grown in the off-season.
The season is only a few days away and you can tell our team is eager to play. Our first three games will be a very good test and we will find out where we stand right away, as we play three tough squads out in Arizona later this week. We feel very confident in our team this year, as we brought in some very good freshmen who will be able to help this team. As the first game arrives, we aren't worried about where we will finish this year, but more concentrated on winning games and improving as a team.
I feel as though we have had one of our best off-seasons as far as weight-lifting and training. We have gotten a lot out of the weight room this off-season and have done a lot of speed training as well. Because of the late starting date, it really gave us a couple of extra weeks of workouts before we could actually start practice.
It should be an exciting new year, and we ask that you come out and support the team. I will never forget last June, when we had the chance to play at a sold out Hawkins Field. Playing in that environment, with such great fans, is something that will last with me forever. We can not guarantee wins, but we can guarantee that we will be prepared and will make every game an exciting game to watch.
Well that's all I got for this week. I will try and update this on a weekly basis.
- Ryan
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