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vrobx1 · 01-30-2018, 08:49 AM

It was something that you just don't expect to happen.

A player getting ejected for arguing balls and strikes in Spring Training.

But Terry Kennedy did just that. And then he bumped the ump as well.

Whoo, boy, that's going to go over real well.

We were up on the Phillies 7-0 when I entered in the fifth inning. Kennedy's ejection put Pete Stanicek behind the plate. Pete was a good soldier, calling for fastball after fastball after fastball.

And then, with the last batter fouling off the fastballs, we went to the curveball and struck him out.

Another three up three down.

"James, you're up."

What?

Batting leadoff in the sixth inning, the pitcher Robert James.

Oh hell....

I think I closed my eyes as an inside cutter got a generous call for strike one.

I connected, foul, on a low outside fastball for strike two.

High outside fastball.

Ball one.

"Good eye, James, good eye!"

Whatever! Someone get me out of here!

Low fastball was too far outside.

Ball two.

Oh you have got to be kidding me.

Cutter.

Inside.

On the edge of the plate.

Strike three!

Oh, hallelujah, that's over with.

And, that also meant I was pitching again in the sixth.

The leadoff hitter worked a full count walk. A couple of my fastballs missed really badly. The pitcher got a sacrifice bunt to move him to second. We came back with the heat to the next guy, going up 0-2 before really missing with a slider. Up 1-2, I came with a fastball outside low and he swung amd missed for the K.

Runner on second and two away and a high inside 2-2 fastball was grounded to second to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, I walked the leadoff hitter on four pitches. But followed up with a five pitch strikeout. Mixing in sliders and fastballs and finishing it off with a curve. The next batter flew out on the first pitch. The next man took six pitches to strike out. Five of them were fastballs.

Leadoff walk and he didn't even get to second.

"James, you're batting."

What? Again? Why?

"Runners are at the corners. Lay down a sacrifice bunt."

And so I did. And moved the runner to second. Alas, Stanicek was on third and did not go home. He probably wouldn't have made it.

Well, that wasn't that painful, I decided as I headed back to the dugout.

And it turned out to be just what the team wanted to see as Tyler Van Burkleo followed up with a two run single.

And out to the mound I went again!

Wow, four innings. The most work in one game I had gotten in Spring Training.

We mixed in a couple of fastballs with a pair of sliders and a curve to strike out the first batter. The next hitter rolled a 1-0 changeup to third for the second out. Then their pitcher was up and grounded to first to end another inning.

And they sent me out in the ninth as well. I was getting more action this game than I had the entire Spring Training.

A five pitch strikeout to 39 year old Darrell Evans. Von Hayes rolled a 1-2 single into left. The first hit I had allowed in the game. The next hitter swung at a low 3-1 fastball and flew out to left. I then got ahead 1-2 on Don Baylor and we tried to get clever and the curveball came in and hit him right on the hand. Crap! Should have just gone with the fastball. Up next, the 36 year old veteran Ken Griffey. A five pitch walk.

Bases loaded and two out.

Sure, we were ahead 11-0 but I didn't want to blow this shutout. Even if it was just Spring Training.

Benito Santiago was now behind the plate and he called for a pair of changeups and just like that we were up 0-2 on Juan Samuel. But Samuel fought back and hit an RBI single. Tim Wallach was next and sent a 1-1 fastball for a ride but it ended up as a long flyout to centerfield to end the game.

11-1 us!

It really would have been nice to get the shutout. Still, 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K.

Not a bad game at all, even if I do say so myself.

A game that had the press covering Spring Training talking about the next day.

I got grand kudos from teammates left and right.

"James!"

And here comes Coach Jackson.

"Now, you're ready, James. Now you are ready to learn the most important thing there is to know about baseball. Meet me in the bullpen tomorrow. And bring that intelligence I have heard so much about. You are going to learn the most important thing there is to know about baseball!"

01-30-2018, 08:49 AM	#137
vrobx1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 3,430	It was something that you just don't expect to happen. A player getting ejected for arguing balls and strikes in Spring Training. But Terry Kennedy did just that. And then he bumped the ump as well. Whoo, boy, that's going to go over real well. We were up on the Phillies 7-0 when I entered in the fifth inning. Kennedy's ejection put Pete Stanicek behind the plate. Pete was a good soldier, calling for fastball after fastball after fastball. And then, with the last batter fouling off the fastballs, we went to the curveball and struck him out. Another three up three down. "James, you're up." What? Batting leadoff in the sixth inning, the pitcher Robert James. Oh hell.... I think I closed my eyes as an inside cutter got a generous call for strike one. I connected, foul, on a low outside fastball for strike two. High outside fastball. Ball one. "Good eye, James, good eye!" Whatever! Someone get me out of here! Low fastball was too far outside. Ball two. Oh you have got to be kidding me. Cutter. Inside. On the edge of the plate. Strike three! Oh, hallelujah, that's over with. And, that also meant I was pitching again in the sixth. The leadoff hitter worked a full count walk. A couple of my fastballs missed really badly. The pitcher got a sacrifice bunt to move him to second. We came back with the heat to the next guy, going up 0-2 before really missing with a slider. Up 1-2, I came with a fastball outside low and he swung amd missed for the K. Runner on second and two away and a high inside 2-2 fastball was grounded to second to end the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, I walked the leadoff hitter on four pitches. But followed up with a five pitch strikeout. Mixing in sliders and fastballs and finishing it off with a curve. The next batter flew out on the first pitch. The next man took six pitches to strike out. Five of them were fastballs. Leadoff walk and he didn't even get to second. "James, you're batting." What? Again? Why? "Runners are at the corners. Lay down a sacrifice bunt." And so I did. And moved the runner to second. Alas, Stanicek was on third and did not go home. He probably wouldn't have made it. Well, that wasn't that painful, I decided as I headed back to the dugout. And it turned out to be just what the team wanted to see as Tyler Van Burkleo followed up with a two run single. And out to the mound I went again! Wow, four innings. The most work in one game I had gotten in Spring Training. We mixed in a couple of fastballs with a pair of sliders and a curve to strike out the first batter. The next hitter rolled a 1-0 changeup to third for the second out. Then their pitcher was up and grounded to first to end another inning. And they sent me out in the ninth as well. I was getting more action this game than I had the entire Spring Training. A five pitch strikeout to 39 year old Darrell Evans. Von Hayes rolled a 1-2 single into left. The first hit I had allowed in the game. The next hitter swung at a low 3-1 fastball and flew out to left. I then got ahead 1-2 on Don Baylor and we tried to get clever and the curveball came in and hit him right on the hand. Crap! Should have just gone with the fastball. Up next, the 36 year old veteran Ken Griffey. A five pitch walk. Bases loaded and two out. Sure, we were ahead 11-0 but I didn't want to blow this shutout. Even if it was just Spring Training. Benito Santiago was now behind the plate and he called for a pair of changeups and just like that we were up 0-2 on Juan Samuel. But Samuel fought back and hit an RBI single. Tim Wallach was next and sent a 1-1 fastball for a ride but it ended up as a long flyout to centerfield to end the game. 11-1 us! It really would have been nice to get the shutout. Still, 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K. Not a bad game at all, even if I do say so myself. A game that had the press covering Spring Training talking about the next day. I got grand kudos from teammates left and right. "James!" And here comes Coach Jackson. "Now, you're ready, James. Now you are ready to learn the most important thing there is to know about baseball. Meet me in the bullpen tomorrow. And bring that intelligence I have heard so much about. You are going to learn the most important thing there is to know about baseball!"