On The DL

I missed playing softball yesterday, due to the recurring hamstring problems I've been having since I started playing again this past July. I never had this problem in the years I played before, so I guess my age is finally catching up with me.

A few weeks ago, I was running out a ground ball out of the batter's box when I felt a sharp pain in my right hamstring. I was hobbled the rest of the game, but I did gut it out. I went home and put an ice pack on it, and a few days later I was back to 100%, and didn't think too much about it again.

I did a little more stretching to guard against another relapse last Sunday, but as I was running under a fly ball in left field, I felt it go again, in the same spot. Again, I played through it and finished the game. It used the ice pack again and it was a little slower to recover this time. During the week, I discovered a huge bruise on the back of my right leg, and my decision about this past weekend was made for me. (I probably wouldn't have played anyway, as the pull isn't completely gone. The hamstring is about 90% right now.) It feels a lot better, but the bruise looked really nasty.

I don't know if I'll play again this summer, as I have to let this injury heal. I now have a better appreciation of players who have hamstring problems and what they go through.