Gentlemen- I've been fortunate, over the years, to have
coached my son in his various summer leagues after school baseball has ended.
From 10 and under through American Legion, I've been involved, generally as a
first base coach. This year is the first year my son has played in a men's league.
We have a real good hitting team, but lack depth on the mound. And, as the following
will show, we have problems getting players to the game.
A few nights
ago, we knew our catcher and an infielder, both starters, would not be there as
they are involved in a club team world series in Florida- they both play for Central
Michigan University. My son has a job with a moving company and cannot leave for
the game until the particular move he is involved with is finished. Another starter
on our team also works for the same company. Finally, a fifth starter had a late
class and was absent.
When I got to the park, I knew that at least 3 guys,
(the 2 in Fla and my son) would not be there. I did not know that the 2 other
guys would not arrive. The bottom line is that we had 8 players. The head coach
and I looked at one another and quickly decided that I would be 'rostered' and
play until someone else showed up. We were on the phone to the other 2 guys to
try to explain the situation, but to no avail.
Anyway, as the game approached,
I had to find some cleats. Fortunately, one kid has shoes for me that come close
to fitting (they're a little tight) so I put them on. It's about 5 minutes before
game time now, so I decide I'd better loosen up. I stretch a bit, but it's not
doing any good. I grab one of the guys to play catch and after about 10 throws,
realize my arm is starting to hurt, so I discontinue this.
All of the
sudden, I start to panic. I look over to the opponents 'bullpen' and am relieved
to see a righthander warming up. (I bat lefthanded and did not need to see any
curveballs starting at my head).
Anyway, we as coaches decide that I can
do the least harm at first base. Our normal 1bman offers his firstbasemens glove.
It just didn't feel right so I used another regular fielders glove. Having grown
up as a catcher, no glove really feels 'right'. But, I'm still enough of an athlete
to be able to catch throws from the infield. Rightfield was another possibility.
This league is a pretty competitive league. It's dotted with former minor
leaguers, college players and local 'heroes' who still love playing. Our team
is 2-0 having beaten 2 of the weaker teams. We are playing one of the better teams.
We are the home team.
We have our best pitcher on the mound. Unfortunately,
only the shortstop is playing his natural position. Catching is another pitcher
who does not normally start. Our 1bman is playing 3b. At 2b is another pitcher
who is also a utility man. In left is a real athlete who will close for us if
the stater gets in trouble. He's usually an infielder. In CF is our weakest hitter,
who, dispite being an athlete and a pitcher, can't hit a lick. In rightfield is
our DH and leadoff hitter who is fast, but a lousy fielder.
The other
team scores 2 in the top of the first. We answer with 2 in the bottom half. In
the bottom of the 2nd, I get up with no one on and 1 out. For those of you that
only know me as the guy who owns ULO and MFM, I'm a fifty year old guy, a former
athlete that is in decent shape- for a fifty year old guy. It has been 29 years
since I played in the very same league. 29 years since I have faced live pitching!
I'm batting 8th in the lineup. The 9th hitter can't hit at all, but if he gets
on base, he's fast, so he's like the 'pre-leadoff man'.
Anyway, as you
can guess, I'm a bit nervous. The first pitch comes in- at the letters- ball 1.
This used to be a strike when I played. The 2nd pitch is also a ball. On 2-0 the
guy grooves one. I am way ahead of it and catch it right at the end of the bat.
It's fairly well hit, right down the 1b line- foul by about a foot. I was that
close to a potential double, though I probably would have held up at first. Our
kids in the dugout are oohing and aahing. Really hooting on me. On 2-1 the 4th
fastball is low and outside. Strike 2. I tell the kids not to argue balls and
strikes with the ump so I say nothing. The next pitch is in the same spot so I
throw my bat at it and hit a slow roller to 3b. I run my ass off. As I'm running
I hear my wife laughing. I get thrown out by a step. Not a bad AB for a 29 year
lay off.
In the 4th I'm the 2nd batter of the inning. We're down 3-2 and
the leadoff batter gets to 1b on an error. Before I'm anywhere near the batters
box, our coach and I make eye contact. It is an obvious bunt situation. Both of
us know this. So do our opponents. The bunt sign is given. The first pich comes
in low- almost in the dirt. I try to bunt it and foul it off. Stupid. Bunt strikes,
asshole. The next pitch is a perfect pitch to bunt, belt high, a bit inside. The
3b, by the way, is playing like it's a softball game- about 40 feet away from
me. I catch the ball right on the sweet spot and lay down a good bunt about 1/2
way between the pitcher and the 1b line. He has only the play at first. I'm thrown
out easily. But, I did my job. The players high-five me coming back to the dugout.
A GREAT feeling. Unfortunately, we don't score.
In the field, I've had
nothing but routine catches. Our infielders did a great job. No throws in the
dirt. Nothing wild. Somewhere in the middle innings, a lefty nubs one that is
a slow roller past the pitcher in the direction of our 2nd baseman. To me, it
seemed like I made an instantaneous decision to go cut the ball off. It was the
right move. The ball was traveling much too slow for the 2bman to get there in
time. Anyway, I field it cleanly. Our pitcher see this and is over covering 1b
like he should. I overhand the ball to him- a mistake, it should have been underhanded.
The throw was high. I thought he could have caught it, but it was definitely my
error. Fortunately, it doesn't cost us as we get out of the inning.
I'm
leading off the 6th inning. We're still down, now 4-3. Each team has homered to
get to that score. Our opponents bring in their closer. Shit, this guy throws
hard. But, at least, he's right handed. So far, I have just seen fastballs. Good
thing. By this time in the game (a 6:15 start), the sun is low in the sky and
the background for lefties is a bunch of old trucks past the centerfield fence.
There's a bit of a glare. I decide to take the first pitch no matter where it
is. A mistake. He lays a fastball right down the middle. Best pitch I saw all
night. Fuck! The next pitch is also a fastball, inside. I swing and hit a weak
popup to the 2bman.
This closer gets the next 5 guys in order and we
lose.
It was a lot of fun, and I didn't embarrass myself. But, as I laid
in bed, I was still thinking of that first pitch. What if I got a hit? Man, it
was a good pitch. Getting on base could have changed the outcome. I guess that's
why I coach. I think about things like that.
Baseball is such a great
game. So many things can affect the outcome. My son, Eric, says that those who
don't like baseball, don't understand baseball. He's right. People who say that
it's 'too slow' are just plain wrong. They have no clue.
bz