Injury provides time to reflect

   Brian Anderson
   Special to the Republic
   July 30, 1998
   
   Everybody goes to work every day and expects to come back the next day
   to earn their bread and butter.
   
   They don't really think about anything getting in their way to prevent
   them from doing their job. They more or less take it for granted.
   
   Baseball players sometimes do that. You never want to take things for
   granted, but you sometimes do. You think you're going to be back at it
   the next day.
   
   I sort of thought that way until the other day, when my pitching elbow
   became sore after a taxi ride in Beverly Hills. I had to miss my
   regular start on Tuesday night, but I'm hoping to be back to normal by
   my next start on Sunday in Milwaukee.
   
   Getting hurt on the field is one thing, but off it is another. The
   doctors pretty much have ruled out that laying my arm across the seat
   of the taxi was the cause, although I'm sure it didn't help it any.
   
   I've taken some grief for it already and I'm sure I'll get some more,
   but the bottom line is that it's not a long-term thing. I'd rather
   take the grief and come back relatively healthy than have it be a
   bigger problem.
   
   It was one of those freak things that happens.
   
   I feel for guys like one of our pitchers, Joel Adamson, who tore a
   muscle in his pitching shoulder early in the season and had to have
   surgery. But, thankfully, he's getting a chance to come back, maybe
   later this year. You hope that everyone who gets hurt has that chance.
   
   I know that our rookie first baseman, Travis Lee, went on the disabled
   list this week and he said that he has a difficult time just sitting
   on the bench and watching.
   
   I can understand where he's coming from. You sort of feel like you're
   not part of the team anymore. There's nothing much to talk to the
   coaches about. You're on the outside looking in. It's tough on you
   mentally.
   
   Injuries can even happen to players who are in very good shape. I feel
   like I'm in as good of shape as anybody - I work out pretty hard
   almost every day - and I still got hurt.
   
   Having an injury helps you get your priorities straight. It's a good
   reality check. I've never really had a serious injury, and I'm
   thankful this isn't.
   
   You think about what it would be like if you couldn't play the game,
   and realize how fortunate we are to do what we do.
   
   But the game isn't an end-all. I love to play, but I don't live to
   play. If baseball is the driving force of your life, one that
   encompasses every single minute, than something is wrong.
   
   Your relationship with Jesus Christ should come first, then your
   family, and then baseball.
   
   Diamondbacks left-hander Brian Anderson shares his comments each week
   in Baseball Extra.