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The next night in the bullpen was one that Coach Broadway would probably wish he could forget.
The first base umpire had this....habit? Quirk? Whatever you want to call it.
We first saw him do it in the top of the first when we turned a 4-6-3 to retire the side. He gave the thumb for the out call. Then he pulled up his pants and picked his butt.
He literally picked his butt.
Wayne Davis led off the bottom of the first by grounding out and it happened again. The first base umpire gave the out thumb, hitched his pants. And picked his butt.
Fred Carter homered in the bottom of the second and we were up 1-0. But those of us in the bullpen were waiting for another groundout.
John Carlson was starting at catcher for us to give Frierson a night off so he was there cracking up with the rest of us.
Our starting pitcher left in the third with an limp. Which really had Broadway frustrated with us. Because it happened on a ground out.
Thumb.
Hitch.
Pick butt.
And we were laughing pretty good already.
"Parks is hurt and you guys think it's funny."
So after Kevin Williamson got warmed up and the game resumed, Bernie Williams came up and grounded right to the pitcher.
So I got up, gave the thumb sign, hitched my pants and picked my butt.
And everyone fell out.
"James! What do you think is so damn funny!"
So I told Coach Broadway to watch the first base umpire the next time there was a ground ball out.
It happened in the bottom of the third.
After the umpire went through his thumb, hitch, pick routine, I mocked him again. By this time, the entire bullpen was snorting with laughter.
"Oh for crying out loud, James! Get serious! This is not a comedy show."
The very next batter grounded to short.
Thumb.
Hitch.
Pick butt.
"Good grief!" Coach Broadway even had to fight to stifle his laughter.
And then the bottom of the third ended with a ground out.
After I imitated the ump yet again, Coach Broadway kicked me out of the bullpen.
I spent the remainder of the game in the locker room.
The Giants came back to take a 3-1 lead but in the bottom of the eighth, Fred Carter struck again, hitting a 2-run double to tie the game.
In the bottom of the ninth, Kevin Maas hit an RBI single and we got a 4-3 walkoff win.
The Reno Padres had a winning streak going!
After the game, Coach Broadway called me into Coach Stephen's office and they gave me quite the lecture on being a clown in the bullpen.
I listened and nodded and when they were done Coach Stephen asked the typical question you get after being lectured.
"Have I made myself clear?"
I gave a thumbs up.
I then hitched my pants and picked my butt as I walked out of the office.
"Gawddammit James! That'll cost you five hundred dollars."
I shrugged and kept waking.
I could afford it.
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