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vrobx1 · 01-13-2018, 05:03 PM

Meanwhile, I had gotten settled into Charleston, met my family and Beth, gone up to Greensboro and then met my new team.

"James? Your James. You must be James. She's too pretty to be James."

61 year old Les Moss. My new pitching coach. He grabbed my right arm with both hands. I didn't know if he wanted to eat it or make love to it.

"This arm. I've heard about this arm. I've heard that, when under control, this arm will be able to dominate the best hitters in the Big Leagues. This is the arm. Wow."

Yeah, that was weird.

The team got settled into Greensboro for the three games and I met my new teammates again.

Just hours before pitching for them.

Again.

My catcher was 26 year old Jason Porter. We shook hands and began to talk and I saw right away that he had a great knowledge of the game.

I leanred that my opponents, the Greensboro Hornets. were not one of the better hitting teams in the league. Pitching and defense is what had gotten them to a 47-40 record.

With my family and Beth in the stands, I certainly hoped they wouldn't correct their offensive woes at my expense.

I went through the first inning in just five pitches, only throwing one fastball. Mostly I went with sliders and they were impatient and swinging early.

It was a subdued dugout with the Rainbows. The bad record could do that but it was also peaceful as opposed to the tension in the Miami dugout.

Porter called a lot of fastballs in the second inning and the Hornets were able to get a run on two hits and we were down 1-0.

Their pitcher was on fire. He had five strikouts through three innings.

Their hitters were more patient, not swinging at the first pitch and I was falling behind in the count but wasn't giving up much.

Through three, I had allowed one run on three hits and struck out one.

And we were down 1-0.

Watching in the fourth, it looked like the Hornets might be getting some home cooking from the umpire. He was calling strikes in locations he was not giving to me.

We stranded runners at the corners in the fourth. I answered with a pair of strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth.

I was in a pitching duel with a guy who had an ERA over 5. And he was winning!

I walked the first two hitters in the fifth and both of them would cross the plate and we were down 3-0.

The Hornets made two errors in the sixth inning to get us our first run. But, before the inning was over, their pitcher had his tenth strikeout.

I set them down in order in the bottom of the sixth so we still trailed 3-1.

Uncharacteristically, the Hornets committed their third error of the game in the seventh and then Steven Johnson hit a 2-run homer to tie the game.

And the game stayed tied until one out in the bottom of the ninth.

Up 0-2, Porter called for a changeup.

It was too much in the meat of the plate.

And then it was gone.

I had just given up a walkoff home run in my debut with my new team.

In front of my family and my girlfriend.

Somebody please end my misery.

01-13-2018, 05:03 PM	#92
vrobx1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 3,430	Meanwhile, I had gotten settled into Charleston, met my family and Beth, gone up to Greensboro and then met my new team. "James? Your James. You must be James. She's too pretty to be James." 61 year old Les Moss. My new pitching coach. He grabbed my right arm with both hands. I didn't know if he wanted to eat it or make love to it. "This arm. I've heard about this arm. I've heard that, when under control, this arm will be able to dominate the best hitters in the Big Leagues. This is the arm. Wow." Yeah, that was weird. The team got settled into Greensboro for the three games and I met my new teammates again. Just hours before pitching for them. Again. My catcher was 26 year old Jason Porter. We shook hands and began to talk and I saw right away that he had a great knowledge of the game. I leanred that my opponents, the Greensboro Hornets. were not one of the better hitting teams in the league. Pitching and defense is what had gotten them to a 47-40 record. With my family and Beth in the stands, I certainly hoped they wouldn't correct their offensive woes at my expense. I went through the first inning in just five pitches, only throwing one fastball. Mostly I went with sliders and they were impatient and swinging early. It was a subdued dugout with the Rainbows. The bad record could do that but it was also peaceful as opposed to the tension in the Miami dugout. Porter called a lot of fastballs in the second inning and the Hornets were able to get a run on two hits and we were down 1-0. Their pitcher was on fire. He had five strikouts through three innings. Their hitters were more patient, not swinging at the first pitch and I was falling behind in the count but wasn't giving up much. Through three, I had allowed one run on three hits and struck out one. And we were down 1-0. Watching in the fourth, it looked like the Hornets might be getting some home cooking from the umpire. He was calling strikes in locations he was not giving to me. We stranded runners at the corners in the fourth. I answered with a pair of strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth. I was in a pitching duel with a guy who had an ERA over 5. And he was winning! I walked the first two hitters in the fifth and both of them would cross the plate and we were down 3-0. The Hornets made two errors in the sixth inning to get us our first run. But, before the inning was over, their pitcher had his tenth strikeout. I set them down in order in the bottom of the sixth so we still trailed 3-1. Uncharacteristically, the Hornets committed their third error of the game in the seventh and then Steven Johnson hit a 2-run homer to tie the game. And the game stayed tied until one out in the bottom of the ninth. Up 0-2, Porter called for a changeup. It was too much in the meat of the plate. And then it was gone. I had just given up a walkoff home run in my debut with my new team. In front of my family and my girlfriend. Somebody please end my misery.