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vrobx1 · 02-08-2018, 02:10 AM

"How you doing, James?"

Coach Jackson came out to the bullpen and greeted me before the game against the Reds.

"Warmed up and ready to go, Coach," I said.

"No, about everything. How are you feeling?"

"The truth?"

"Yes, James, tell me how you feel about everything. Your role here. How you are being used."

"Okay. I mean, I want to be in the starting rotation but I can't say that I am completely ready for that yet. It would have been nice to have pitched in the games we beat the Dodgers in, though."

Coach Jackson said nothing.

"It's just that I hate the Dodgers," I said. "I just really hate the Dodgers."

"So, it was just a personal thing?"

"Right, Coach. I know it sounds selfish but...."

"Oh, no, no worries there. A pitcher needs to be a little bit selfish. You have to want to be the man out there."

I nodded.

"So, you really hate the Dodgers."

"Yeah, I do."

He laughed and turned and then turned back to me.

"By the way, James, in case you didn't know, you are tied for the team lead in strikeouts with McCaskill."

"I'm what?"

"You keep it up, James. And you'll make me a very famous pitching coach."

That night, Curt Young went eight innings and we beat the Reds 6-2.

The next night was another Padres victory. Tony Gwynn went 3 for 5 with a home run, a double, a pair of ribbies and he scored three times. The final was 8-4.

The next night, Chris Bosio was absolutely nasty, giving up just two hits in six innings while striking out eight and we built up a 7-1 lead.

"Alright, James, get in there."

And here I was in the seventh inning.

One pitch. One single.

Benito was calling nothing but fastballs. I got behind Kal Daniels 2-0 but then he swung and missed at the next three pitches.

Eric Davis was next. He had a solo home run off Bosio.

All fastballs again.

I fell behind 2-1 but then the 6-4-3.

In the eighth, Santiago added the slider to his calls and I struck out Kurt Stillwell. Paul O'Neill was next and he sent a shot into center field but Willie McGee robbed him. Chris Sabo then grounded to first and John Kruk fielded the ball and I beat Sabo to the bag for the third out.

That was all for me as Ty Van Burkleo pinch it for me in te bottom of the eighth.

Roger McDowell finished it up and we won 7-2.

We were 12-4. Still a half game behind the Dodgers.

And we were the only two teams in the NL West who had a winning record.

02-08-2018, 02:10 AM	#149
vrobx1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 3,430	"How you doing, James?" Coach Jackson came out to the bullpen and greeted me before the game against the Reds. "Warmed up and ready to go, Coach," I said. "No, about everything. How are you feeling?" "The truth?" "Yes, James, tell me how you feel about everything. Your role here. How you are being used." "Okay. I mean, I want to be in the starting rotation but I can't say that I am completely ready for that yet. It would have been nice to have pitched in the games we beat the Dodgers in, though." Coach Jackson said nothing. "It's just that I hate the Dodgers," I said. "I just really hate the Dodgers." "So, it was just a personal thing?" "Right, Coach. I know it sounds selfish but...." "Oh, no, no worries there. A pitcher needs to be a little bit selfish. You have to want to be the man out there." I nodded. "So, you really hate the Dodgers." "Yeah, I do." He laughed and turned and then turned back to me. "By the way, James, in case you didn't know, you are tied for the team lead in strikeouts with McCaskill." "I'm what?" "You keep it up, James. And you'll make me a very famous pitching coach." That night, Curt Young went eight innings and we beat the Reds 6-2. The next night was another Padres victory. Tony Gwynn went 3 for 5 with a home run, a double, a pair of ribbies and he scored three times. The final was 8-4. The next night, Chris Bosio was absolutely nasty, giving up just two hits in six innings while striking out eight and we built up a 7-1 lead. "Alright, James, get in there." And here I was in the seventh inning. One pitch. One single. Benito was calling nothing but fastballs. I got behind Kal Daniels 2-0 but then he swung and missed at the next three pitches. Eric Davis was next. He had a solo home run off Bosio. All fastballs again. I fell behind 2-1 but then the 6-4-3. In the eighth, Santiago added the slider to his calls and I struck out Kurt Stillwell. Paul O'Neill was next and he sent a shot into center field but Willie McGee robbed him. Chris Sabo then grounded to first and John Kruk fielded the ball and I beat Sabo to the bag for the third out. That was all for me as Ty Van Burkleo pinch it for me in te bottom of the eighth. Roger McDowell finished it up and we won 7-2. We were 12-4. Still a half game behind the Dodgers. And we were the only two teams in the NL West who had a winning record.