BY CHUCK HIXSON TNSPORTS@TNONLINE.COM There's a saying in sports which carries over to many parts of life. ‘Thing long, think wrong.' David Parkinson is a guy who looks to buck the old saying and think about a lot and sometimes, even dwell on what can be the simplest of things. For him though, it's generally worked out well. One time when he didn't think enough was following the 2018 season, and it got him into trouble. “I was coming off being the Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Year, and it didn't really dawn on me that the next season I would likely be at Double-A, and by the time hitters reach that level they're more sophisticated and tougher to fool,” said Parkinson on a recent Zoom call. “Pitchers are supposed to be better too, but I didn't put much thought into what I would have to do to face consistently good hitters. “I came into the season figuring that I had done enough to keep getting hitters out, and it didn't really work out that well for me.” After posting a combined mark of 11-1 with a 1.45 ERA in 21 starts with Lakewood and Clearwater in 2018, Parkinson fell to a 10-9 record and a 4.09 ERA in 2019. For a thinking man, Parkinson's 2019 performance gave him a lot to ponder in the offseason. Rather than just think about what he needed to do, Parkinson put a plan into motion. Parkinson wanted to attend the famed Driveline Baseball facility, but could only do so virtually because of COVID-19. “What working with Driveline did more than anything was open my eyes to a different side of training. It helped me understand my body, and how to move it in a more efficient way,” Parkinson said. “And the training showed me how, when I don't have massive gyms, to utilize small resources and still be able to get better.” When the 2020 season came around, the Phillies didn't give Parkinson a spot at their alternative site at Lehigh Valley, so he had more time to think and to work on what he had learned over the previous year. The Phillies assigned him to the IronPigs in 2021, and he started the season piggybacking with Spencer Howard rather than having his own slot in the starting rotation. Now that Howard is up with the Phillies, Parkinson is looking to take advantage of being a full-fledged starter. So far, the numbers – 0-2, 4.74 in five games, four starts – aren't impressive, but he is better aware of what he needs to do to get better. “I'm still working on that never-ending process. I've gotten better,” he said. “My analytical side helped me, but it also hindered a few things. If I can mitigate the bad part of that and continue to use the good side, that is my goal.” NEAR NO-NO ... Three IronPigs relievers backed up starter Christopher Sanchez to nearly make history for the IronPigs. The four nearly threw a combined no-hitter against the Worcester Red Sox on May 25, which would have been the first no-hitter in the team's history. Instead, Michael Chavis - who was 0-for-8 in the series and had struck out five times - delivered a line drive to center field that was weak enough to avoid the oncoming charge of Travis Jankowski and bounce off the grass for the only hit of the game for the Red Sox with one out in the ninth inning. Sanchez threw 5 1/3 hitless innings, and was followed by Bryan Mitchell, J.D. Hammer and Jeff Singer, who allowed the hit to Chavis. CHASING THE GOLD ... Luke Williams left the team last week to train with and potentially play for Team U.S.A. in the Olympic Qualifying round. Williams was placed on the temporarily inactive list with the IronPigs. Team U.S.A. is being managed by former Angels manager Mike Scioscia. Pitcher David Parkinson is eager to duplicate 2018's success. CHERYL PURSELL/LEHIGH VALLEY IRONPIGS