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vrobx1 · 11-26-2017, 10:17 PM

"James! You James? Yeah, you're James. Xavier Broadway. Get your stuff. Let's go. We have to get to the stadium. You're starting in three hours."

Ah, the joys of having two first names. Well, three when you consider my middle name is Wayne. Everyone calls me by my last name. James. Nobody ever calls me Robert.

I followed Xavier Broadway out of the San Jose International Airport and we got into a rental car and headed to San Jose Municipal Stadium. Home of the San Jose Bees. The first place team in the California League North Division!

I wasn't playing for them.

I would be pitching for the visiting Reno Padres. The last place team in the California League North Division.

Sigh.

"They want to see what they got and they want to see it right away!"

Jet lag and all, huh.

"Especially that 90 mph fast ball, James. I hope you brought that fast ball with you from Texas!"

Xavier looked to be about 40 years old. As it turned out, he was 39. He was the pitching coach for the Reno Padres. Not the most inspiring thought when you considered the Padres had the worst ERA in the entire California League. Worst starters ERA. Worst bullpen ERA. Most runs allowed. But they balanced that out by being last in the league in every offensive category as well.

"Always work on improving location. Younger pitchers struggle the most with finding the strike zone."

Still, I paid attention to his words of wisdom even as I tried to process how all of this had happened exactly.

It certainly wasn't supposed to happen like this.

I had just graduated from high school. Two. Days. Prior!

When the Padres had drafted me, the plan was for me to report to Spokane and I would start my career with the Indians. Yeah, I found it a little weird that the Padres had a minor league affiliate called the Indians.

But, the Northwest League would not begin play for another month.

So, for graduation, I got a $600,000 signing bonus and one way air fare to San Jose, California.

The $600,000 went into the credit union. And, like it or not, Dad, it's going to pay off your medical bills.

We'll get into that later.

But first, time to take the mound as the 9-23 Reno Padres face the 26-8 San Jose Bees!

I hope I am ready for this....

Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk

11-26-2017, 10:17 PM	#3
vrobx1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 3,430	"James! You James? Yeah, you're James. Xavier Broadway. Get your stuff. Let's go. We have to get to the stadium. You're starting in three hours." Ah, the joys of having two first names. Well, three when you consider my middle name is Wayne. Everyone calls me by my last name. James. Nobody ever calls me Robert. I followed Xavier Broadway out of the San Jose International Airport and we got into a rental car and headed to San Jose Municipal Stadium. Home of the San Jose Bees. The first place team in the California League North Division! I wasn't playing for them. I would be pitching for the visiting Reno Padres. The last place team in the California League North Division. Sigh. "They want to see what they got and they want to see it right away!" Jet lag and all, huh. "Especially that 90 mph fast ball, James. I hope you brought that fast ball with you from Texas!" Xavier looked to be about 40 years old. As it turned out, he was 39. He was the pitching coach for the Reno Padres. Not the most inspiring thought when you considered the Padres had the worst ERA in the entire California League. Worst starters ERA. Worst bullpen ERA. Most runs allowed. But they balanced that out by being last in the league in every offensive category as well. "Always work on improving location. Younger pitchers struggle the most with finding the strike zone." Still, I paid attention to his words of wisdom even as I tried to process how all of this had happened exactly. It certainly wasn't supposed to happen like this. I had just graduated from high school. Two. Days. Prior! When the Padres had drafted me, the plan was for me to report to Spokane and I would start my career with the Indians. Yeah, I found it a little weird that the Padres had a minor league affiliate called the Indians. But, the Northwest League would not begin play for another month. So, for graduation, I got a $600,000 signing bonus and one way air fare to San Jose, California. The $600,000 went into the credit union. And, like it or not, Dad, it's going to pay off your medical bills. We'll get into that later. But first, time to take the mound as the 9-23 Reno Padres face the 26-8 San Jose Bees! I hope I am ready for this.... Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk Last edited by vrobx1; 11-27-2017 at 09:06 PM.