SIDE ARM A Fictional Player Story

[vrobx1]

I was right.

The day off pushed my next start back a couple of days.

Paul McLellan started the opener in Asheville. It was close for a while before the Tourists broke the game open in the late innnings to cruise to an 11-3 rout.

The next night, we had our best pitcher, Chris Hammond on the mound. The Tourists, however, are competing with the Blue Jays on who has the best offense in the league.

Even Hammond was knocked around, giving up four runs on twelve hits in eight innings.

Our losing streak was now at seven as Asheville beat us 4-1.

As for me, I had been bumped back to pitch the finale in Asheville.

I'd be the guy trying to pitch an end to our seven game losing streak.

Against one of the best offenses in the league.

Are you sure this isn't Reno?

Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk

[vrobx1]

"It's an interesting twist to life, James," Coach Les told me before the game. "National baseball experts know all about you but the local fans are oblivious. You're just another Rainbow."

It was a partly cloudy night in Asheville, NC. The Tourists, at 59-39, held a one game lead over Gastonia in the North Division.

The Tourists had won four in a row.

They were the highest scoring team in the SALL.

"You aren't ready for this yet, James," Coach Les said. " But, hopefully, we can get that control improved enough so that I can teach you a few tricks."

He chuckled and sent me out to the mound to warm up.

Jason Porter had been moved to DH. John DiGioia would be catching for me. He had actually played in eight games in 84 for the St Louis Cardinals.

Hard worker is how I would describe him during warm ups.

My pitches were low early but I got them down in order in the first inning.

My fast ball was all over the place. I kept the slider low and had a perfect second innning as well.

The Tourists were good contact hitters and got a couple men on base in the third but the innning ended and it was still a scoreless tie.

They broke through with a run in the bottom of the fourth while we were still looking for our first hit of the game.

We answered in the top of the fifth. We got a couple hits as well as a couple of runs to take a 2-1 lead.

I felt a surge of energy like a second wind and got them down in order with two strikeouts in the bottom of the fifth.

In the top of the sixth, Randy Byers hit a solo home run to give us a 3-1 lead. I like Randy. The kind of guy who likes to get along with everyone. We were all happy for him every time he had something good happen.

Bottom of the sixth. Coming up were their 3-4-5 hitters.

To my surprise, DiGioia called for the fastball on every pitch to the first man up.

And I struck him out on four pitches!

Two more fastballs resulted in a ground out to third.

One more fastball and a fly ball out and the innning was over.

"That's the way to pitch, James!"

"Way to bring the heat that innning!"

We suddenly had a lively dugout.

But we still had three innnings to go.

Steven Johnson added to our lead in the seventh with an RBI double.

Up 4-1, I ran out to the mound in the bottom of the seventh and out of nowhere I saw Beth's face in my mind's eye.

What the....

No!

Get!

Out!

Of!

My!

Head!

I struck out the next batter on four pitches. After an innning of nothing but fastballs, I threw four different pitches in that at bat.

DiGioia knew how to call a game.

The Tourists did get a run in the seventh to cut our lead to 4-2.

Then, in the eighth, once again the heart of the order was coming up.

And they got a lead off single.

And nothing more.

I was three outs away from my first win in the SALL.

But I wouldn't be the one to get them.

Mike Henneman was brought out to pitch the ninth. All I could do was watch.

The first hitter reached on an error.

The next hitter reached on an error.

You can't be serious!

A sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third.

A walk and the bases were loaded.

A full count strike three!

The next batter. 1-0 count.

Popped up!

Three away!

Whew!

We win 4-2!

And I got Player of the Game!

8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Against the highest scoring team in the SALL!

That felt good.

Real good.

Then why did Beth's face come into my head again?




Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk

[vrobx1]

My record in Charleston was now 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA. I had pitched 23.1 innings in three starts, averaging almost 8 innings a start. I had given up 25 hits. More than a hit per inning. I had walked just 7 while striking out 18.

I was also allowing just over 1 home run per nine innings!

Coach Les said that he thought I might be trying too hard to always throw strikes. That my horrible walk to strikeout ratio in my first year in Reno could be affecting me mentally.

Our starting rotation had Grady Hall and Chris Hammond looking great and the rest of us with an ERA over 5.0. Hall's ERA was below 3.0 and Hammond was at 3.03.

We continued on the road with three games in Sumter against the Braves.

The Braves had a 17 year old phenom at short stop named Gary Sheffield. Sheffield had hit 21 home runs in just 98 games.

At age 17!

He probably already could have been at the AAA level.

Sumter won the first game 6-3 as our ace, Grady Hall, didn't even make it out of the third inning.

The next night was an exciting affair with Sheffield hitting a walkoff two run homer off Mike Henneman in the bottom of the tenth and we fell 7-6.

The next night, Paul McLellan left the game in pain after just eight pitches. The bullpen did a bang up job, pitching 6.2 scoreless innings. Alas, they pitched 7.2 innings total. And, in the seventh, the Braves tagged us for four runs and won 4-1.

The topper was in the top of the ninth, with bases loaded and one out, we sent up back-to-back pinch hitters and they both struck out.

That dropped our record to 2-10 in August and 36-66 overall.

Between all the changing of teams and the losing I had been through in less than two years, I could sense a change in my attitude about professional baseball.

Winning became less and less important.

As did the team I played for.

I began to just focus on playing and not the team or how well we did.

I was becoming numb to all the defeats and uncertainties.

At this point, whatever happened happened.

In baseball and in life.

And that included Beth.

[vrobx1]

Beth,

I spent the last few days wondering what to write back to you.

I am not going to say I'm sorry for what happened. I know it has caused a bit of a strain on us but it has also told me I need to slow down.

And not just with you.

These last few months from Reno to Miami to Charleston has been way too much too soon.

I wish they had just kept me in Miami so that I would have been able to relax and enjoy my time with you and my family.

I don't want you to apologize either. You made the decision you felt was the best one and I think you were right.

This is not a breakup letter by any means. You are still my girl. That did not change.

But this is a realization for me that the whirlwind has taken over my life and I need to regain control of the winds and regain my own course.

There's about six more weeks left in the season. Some time apart to slow things down and get them back under control.

But you better know that when the season is over, the first thing I want to do when I get home is watch my girl play some college volleyball!

With that being said, I hope you will also take a step back, take a breath and then focus on that volleyball and spike them through the court. Or something.

Love you my girl,
Bobby

With that written and mailed off, I could get her out of my head and get these last six weeks over with.

[vrobx1]

Following the series in Sumter, we were at home against the Spartanburg Phillies. They were pretty bad, too, at 41-62.

It was the last place team in the North against the last place team in the South.

Chris Hammond pitched the opener and was not the Chris Hammond we had been seeing.

By the time we came to bat in the second inning, we were already down 4-0. Chris left in the top of the seventh after giving up a lead off home run that made it 6-2.

The Phillies went on to win 7-4.

Grady Hall was back on the mound the next night as, once again, a day off had pushed my start back a day. It had worked out well the last time for me so maybe it would again this time.

Grady was abusing the Phillies batters but, once again, he left the game in pain, this time holding his shoulder. It was the seventh inning and we were up 5-0 and he had struck out nine.

What could have been for Grady if he had been on a better team and not been so brittle.

The bullpen couldn't keep the shutout as the Phillies scored three in the eighth.

Mike Henneman pitched a perfect ninth though and we won 5-3.

Grady got the third best performance of the day in the SALL to improve to 9-11 with a 2.80 ERA.

The next morning, he was gone.

Not on the DL.

To Beaumont.

He had been promoted to the Golden Gators.

Paul McClellan, however, was on the DL with a strained abdominal muscle and it was questionable if he would be back before the season was over.

Chris Hammond was moved into the #1 spot in the rotation and I jumped from #4 to #2.

It was time for me to prove I deserved it.

[vrobx1]

Besides us, the Phillies had the worst offense in the SALL. The worst OBP in the league. We were the only team with fewer runs than the Phillies.

Not a good offense.

And it was my turn to pitch.

Hopefully, the home crowd had forgotten my home debut against the Blue Jays.

And, hopefully, I would do better than I had in my one bad game in Miami when I had faced a bad offense and gotten shellacked!

Jason Porter was behind the plate for me tonight.

Five pitches and the top of the first was over with.

In the second, it took eleven pitches to get the leadoff hitter to ground out but I got them down in order again when all was said and done.

The third inning went by in five pitches again.

I had to be this perfect because our bats were nonexistent. In fact, a Spartanburg error in the second was the only thing keeping zeros from completely covering the scoreboard through three innings.

I gave up a two out walk in the top of the fourth but that was it.

In the bottom of the fourth, Thomas Brassil got a scratch single for our first hit of the game.

They got an infield single to lead off the top of the fifth. And then an RBI single and we were down 1-0.

Three up three down in the sixth.

Through six innings, I had given up just a pair of singles and yet we were losing 1-0.

As our offense had gotten a whopping total of one hit through six.

It was easy to see how Grady had an ERA below 3.0. And a losing record.

Then, in the bottom of the seventh, we got a single and a double to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Shortstop Bill Wrona, who had made a lot of defensive plays this night, also got an RBI single and we were tied!

Jason Porter came to bat.

And walked on four pitches.

Bases loaded.

Nobody out.

1-1 in the bottom of the seventh.

Jeffrey Hughes was up and he flew out to center and there was no tag up. A flyball out that did not score the run.

Oh you have got to be kidding me.

Steven Johnson was next.

Three pitches in and he was up 3-0 in the count.

A fastball way high!

Ball four!

And we had the lead!

Steven Wolff came up and grounded to short and the runner was forced out at home.

Two down.

Come on, get an insurance run!

Vic Hithe was next and he worked the count full.

A fastball on the outside waist high.

Base hit! One run scored. Another run scored!

4-1!

The bats had come through in the seventh! Now, I just needed to hold a three run lead for two innings.

And I was just at 79 pitches.

The leadoff batter worked the count full but I struck him out with an inside fastball.

Five more to go!

A 2-0 curveball in the middle of the plate was flown to deep center. And caught.

Two away.

The next batter swung at the first pitch and grounded it to third.

The top of the eighth went in order!

I was at 90 pitches. I had plenty of gas left for the ninth.

The leadoff hitter chased a 1-2 slider away and grounded it to first. I hustled to cover and Brassil tossed me the ball and there was one down.

The next batter worked the count full but grounded it to Wrona. Wrona was becoming my best friend real fast.

Two down!

The next hitter was down 0-2 but hit a single into left.

But that was it as I struck out the next batter on three pitches to get the complete game victory!

1 run on 4 hits, 1 walk and 5 strikeouts!

The #3 performance of the day in the SALL!

And we had our second win in a row!

I could feel things starting to click for me.

My first two games here had just been a hiccup. An adjustment to the new team.

It was time to get to that form I had when I was in Miami.

[vrobx1]

I was now 2-2 with a 4.18 ERA in the SALL. With 23 strikeouts and just 8 walks.

What a change from my first year in Reno when I had 89 walks and 41 strikeouts.

I took the day off to ice my arm and read the paper.

The USFL was dead and Houston Gamblers quarterback Jim Kelly was a rich man. He had signed a 5 year $75 million contract to play for the Buffalo Bills.

And here I thought a $600,000 bonus was insane.

The Macon Pirates were in town for three.

Michael McClain didn't have the best game but he got plenty of run support. Daniel Juenke went 3 for 5 with a double and a home run, drove in four and scored once himself and our win streak was at three after taking the opener 9-5.

The next night, we extended our winning streak to four as we got a 3-2 10 inning decision over Macon. The Pirates shortstop booted a bases loaded grounder with nobody out to give us the winning run.

Chris Hammond was on the mound for us the next night as we tried to complete the sweep.

In Edmond Oklahoma, a postal worker pursued and shot twenty coworkers, killing fourteen of them, before committing suicide.

Some days I really hate watching the news.

We got out to a 5-1 lead after four innings before holding on for a 5-4 win. Chris got a complete game victory, giving up just five hits but walking six. He also struck out six.

The next day was my sister's fourteenth birthday. We were on the road to Columbia, almost a two hour drive, to take on the Mets.

I gave her a call to wish her happy birthday that morning.

The Mets were in first place in the South. 3.5 ahead of the Blue Jays.

We would not see the Blue Jays again until the last series of the season. My turn in the rotation better turn up during that series.

I owed them some humiliation.

Our five game winning streak came to an end in the series opener. The Mets Kevin Brown got a complete game victory, striking out nine and we fell 5-1.

After the game, Coach Les came to me and said, "tomorrow, I want to show you something. I think you are ready for it."

[vrobx1]

Before the game, Coach Les came over to me.

"James, let me see your cap."

He then proceeded to take a jar of Vaseline and put a dab of it under the flap behind the bill of my cap.

"Don't overdo it. Just a little on the tips of your fingers."

Ah crap!

I could feel the goo on my forehead. I could also feel a little extra jittery as I just knew I was going to get caught.

"If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying," Coach Les said.

The Columbia Mets had a really good offense but the real strength of their team was defense and bullpen. I would really have to be good for us to have a chance.

DiGioia was behind the plate and he called for three straight fastballs to start the game. I was a little low on the first two but the third one was grounded to first.

It wasn't too bad starting off with the Vaseline on my fingers.

I threw more balls than strikes in the first but put them down in order.

The Mets were a patient hitting team. Not swinging at the first pitch. That was a key to their high OBP.

Jason Porter was the DH and he put us on the board with a two run double in the second.

I started each at bat in the second by throwing a strike to get ahead in the count and put them down in order again.

Blue was giving me a wider strike zone tonight as well.

The Mets were real good at keeping at bats alive fouling off pitches and quickly working my pitch count up.

They got a hit in the third but stranded the runners at the corners when I ended the innning with a strikeout.

We were still up 2-0 after three.

I found myself in a jam in the fourth. They got a one out double and then our right fielder just dropped an easy fly ball. With runners at the corners, I struck out the next hitter but they got a hit to get on the board. The next batter grounded to second so we still led 2-1.

They went down in order in the fifth.

I was being very conservative with the Vaseline use. I didn't want to be obvious always digging my fingers into my cap and I still wasn't totally comfortable pitching with the stuff on my fingers.

The top of the sixth saw a total surprise as the Mets committed two errors in the innning. What came as no surprise is that we didn't score off of them.

While Blue was very generous with the outside corner, not so much with pitches at the knees.

Three grounballs and the bottom of the sixth was over and we still led 2-1.

But I was over 100 pitches already.

The bottom of the seventh was just not what I needed. Hit batter. Wild pitch. Double. Tie ball game.

And there was still nobody out.

A ground out moved the runner to third.

A single gave the Mets the lead.

The little things.

That was why they were in first and we were in last.

They loaded the bases in the eighth but I got out of it with my sixth strikeout of the game.

We ended up out hitting them 10-6 but lost 3-2.

I went 8 innnings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts.

I also hit 3 batters!

I think, for now, I'll stick to throwing my way.

Coach Les' little trick didn't do the trick for me.

Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk

[vrobx1]

The series had two more games left but I went back to Charleston the next morning with instructions to ice my arm and practice gripping the ball with Vaseline covered fingers.

I was now 2-3 with a 3.79 ERA. I had allowed 35 hits and 17 earned runs in 40.1 innings. I had struck out 29 and walked 10 since coming to Charleston.

I didn't like it. I didn't like the feel of the ball on the slick fingers. I hated it in fact!

But I did it.

Meanwhile, in Columbia, the Rainbows fell apart in the seventh and a 1-0 game became an 8-0 game which became an 11-0 loss as Mets pitcher Steve Searcy struck out 10. My old buddy from Miami David James made his SALL debut in relief and, well, he was not good. 5 runs and 4 hits and 3 walks in 1.2 innnings. Okay, only four of them were earned.

The next night, again, late innnings. We had a 2-1 lead after six but the Mets got a run in the seventh and two in the eighth to win 4-2.

A four game sweep.

Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk

[vrobx1]

We had a day off before beginning a home series against the Savannah Cardinals.

We went out to the movies and watched The Fly.

What in the world was that?

And most of the audience seemed to love this thing.

I'm not some anti-scifi jock but this was not all that.

We went to the ballpark for some stretching and warning up.

And I went back to gripping a baseball with Vaseline.

"The parent club wants you in the ace role," Coach Les said. "Not that it really matters with just a month left to go. I don't know but I don't think they plan on you being here next season."

"Beaumont?"

"Probably."

Texas. Just a couple of hours from home. My family can see me on a regular basis.

That would be nice.

"How's the grip?"

I scowled at the Vaseline on my fingers. "If I hit three batters again, this stuff is going in the trash!"

"Throw with it in the off-season. When next season starts, you are going to be nasty!"

What I am going to be is a cheater.

Sigh.

Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk

[vrobx1]

The next night, Chris Hammond came just two outs away from a complete game shutout. And he got all kinds of run support.

John DiGioia hit a two run blast.

And their pitcher tied a team record by walking ten in the game.

We won 10-2.

Chris Hammond was the SALL top performance of the night. 9.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, W.

Frank Castro got the second best performance of the night, going 2 for 2 with a double, RBI, scored three times and walked twice.

I hope they saved some of that run support for me.

Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk

[vrobx1]

The Savannah Cardinals were 48-65, just six games ahead of us in the standings. They were another really bad offense, the team with the worst batting average in the SALL.

My turn to pitch was the middle game of the series.

I had Jason Porter behind the plate again.

Nelson Liriano got a single in the first but that was all the Cardinals got in that frame.

They did get a run on two hits in the second.

Figures.

Liriano doubled in the third but didn't get to third base.

But we had just one hit through three and still trailed 1-0.

I was not feeling it still with this goop on my fingers. But I finally got a perfect innning in the fourth.

In the fifth, I walked Liriano on a full count pitch with two out. Bolar booted a grounder and I walked another one on a full count pitch.

Bases were loaded without a hit.

Fortunately, the next hitter swung at the first pitch and grounded out to short.

I was not happy in the dugout.

"I can't throw with this crap on my fingers!"

"You've given up one run in five innnings," Porter said. "You're doing just fine."

That changed when I gave up a lead off home run in the sixth.

The game changed even more in the bottom of the sixth when Kevin Wiggins tied it with a two run homer.

I wiped my hands as dry as I could with a towel and headed to the mound for the seventh innning.

Liriano was first. I got ahead 0-2 and then he grounded out to first.

I knew it!

Three up three down.

"I am done with the Vaseline stuff," I said as I sat to watch our team bat. "It's not how I pitch!"

Bill Wrona singled to lead off but got caught stealing second.

Headed to the eighth, still 2-2.

The Cardinals got a pair of hits and went back up 3-2.

But we tied the game when Rigo Rodriguez scored on a passed ball.

Mike Henneman was brought out to pitch in the ninth. My night was done.

8.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

And the last time I would put that stuff on my fingers.

The Cardinals went on to score a run in the tenth and beat us 4-3.



Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk

[msupoke]

They were testing your character. Upper management was told that you hate cheating, but you will do it if you are told to.

Great dynasty, by the way.

[vrobx1]

The next night, the Cardinals abused Michael McClain. Six runs in the second innning alone! I'll never understand why he wasn't pulled. They made the poor guy pitch all nine innnings. We got destroyed 14-5. Michael gave up 20 hits. Their pitcher, Mike Skinner, set a team record with 12 strikeouts in one game.

Meanwhile, I was still battling with Coach Les over this Vaseline issue. I'm going to be honest. If it had worked, I'd be embracing it with all my soul. I wasn't opposed to it because it was illegal. I was opposed to it because it wasn't helping me.

Now, Coach Les wanted to start altering my grip to compensate for the usage of the Vaseline.

Change my grip now? At age 19? That would be like starting over as a pitcher.

"The secret to success at the highest level, James, is movement. Everyone in The Show can pitch hard. You got hundred mile an hour fastballs being thrown every day. But it's the movement that drives the hitters crazy. Let me tell you, James, some of the nastiest pitchers in history doctored the ball. Gaylord Perry. Don Sutton. Oh yeah. So, you just listen to me and keep working on it."

I was still 2-3 with a 3.72 ERA. In 48.1 innnings, I had allowed 44 hits and 20 earned runs. And four home runs in six SALL starts. I had 31 strikeouts as opposed to just 13 walks.

The schedule had me looking at my next start being in Columbia against the Mets.

But first we had three games at home against the Sumter Braves.

The opener saw Gregory Raymer pitch eight solid innings and John DiGioia hit two solo home runs and we got the 2-1 victory. John got the top performance of the night and Gregory got the third best performance of the night.

The next day, the South Carolina Gamecocks were getting their football season started by getting crushed 34-14 by the Miami Hurricanes.

The irony of those two teams playing was not lost on me.

I iced my arm some more and grudgingly worked on the grip Coach Les wanted me to use.

Meanwhile, the Rainbows couldn't hold a 5-1 fifth innning lead, falling 9-7 to the Braves. David James got the loss in relief.

The next day the news spoke once again of a plane crash. This one in California killed 82 people.

That's at least three plane crashes since I got drafted.

That night, Jose Cano and Chris Hammond put on a pitching duel classic. Chris went 10.2 innnings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out ten.

And got the loss.

Cano went eleven innnings and got the shutout.

Braves 2 Rainbows 0.

Chris did not deserve to lose that game.

But that's what happens when you have an offense that bad.

Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk

[vrobx1]

And onto the plane we went!

Not the news you wanted to hear just after learning about a deadly plane crash.

But September call-ups were happening and we were headed to Beaumont. Myself. Jeffrey Stewart. Frank Castro. Jason Porter. Kevin Wiggins. Mark Grimes. Bill Wrona. Randy Byers. Thomas Brassil. Rigo Rodriguez.

All heading to Beaumont.

"And they said to be ready, James. You are pitching tonight."

Strange they would call us up. The Texas League only had three days left in it.

I called home and told them all about it.

It's almost a three hour drive from home to Beaumont.

And here we go again. Hectic craziness.

And just like that with no warning, I was pitching my last game this season.

The Golden Gators were 74-59, five behind the San Antonio Dodgers.

Been a while since I mentioned that I hate the Dodgers. And I was born in San Antonio.

Talk about painful.

With just three days left in the Texas League, it meant no post season for the Golden Gators.

Vincent-Beck Stadium was the place to be that night. The opponent was the Midland Angels. 8933 were in attendance.

Including a couple hundred from my home town and alma mater.

And my catcher was Jason Porter.

And no Vaseline.

Wrona made a throwing error in the first but no harm no foul as I didn't give up a hit in the first.

There were six of us Rainbows starting so I was curious if I would get any run support.

An error in the second again prevented a perfect innning but I kept them from getting anything out of it.

So, to keep the streak going, I made the bad throw in the third innning. But then, Porter and I teamed up for a strike out, throw out double play as I think the Angels were trying a hit and run.

The Angels starting pitcher had just given up two hits but left in the third innning with a shoulder injury.

It was 0-0 after three.

The Angels got a couple of hits in the fourth but Rodriguez threw the runner out at third as he was trying to advance from first on the second hit.

Finally. In the fifth. Three up. Three down.

Then, in the bottom of the fifth, it was Rigo coming through again. With runners at the corners and two out, he singled to put us up 1-0.

Porter was making his impression on the Beaumont fans as well, catching two guys stealing in the sixth.

Not bad for a bunch of Rainbows.

Still 1-0 after six.

The seventh started with a strikeout. My seventh of the game! And ended with a strikeout. I was up to eighth!

Eighth innning. I fell behind 3-0 to the leadoff hitter. He took a fastball strike right down the middle and then grounded the 3-1 to first.

One away.

The next batter grounded a 1-2 fastball to third.

Two away.

The next batter swung at a slightly low changeup up for strike three!

I was one innning away from a complete game shutout debut in Beaumont.

Jason led off the bottom of the eighth but then the Golden Gators manager decided to pinch hit for Rigo. Rigo was 2 for 3 and had our only RBI of the game but they decided to go with one of their own.

Rickey Coleman.

And he struck out.

But the next batter, Raymond Etchebarren, also one of their own, came in and hit a two run pinch hit home run.

We were up 3-0.

A little bit of pressure was off.

"Beautiful, Jason," I said. "Let's go finish this off."

The first hitter up grounded to second.

One down.

I could hear the IHS contingent cheering louder than the regular Beaumont fans.

Swing and a miss!

Strike one.

Yeah, I would love to cap it off with a tenth strikeout.

The next slider went just a bit high.

Ball one.

Came back low with a fastball.

Swing and a miss.

Strike two.

Another low fastball. He grounded it to third.

And the throw nearly went into the second row of fans.

Error number four.

So, there was now a runner at second with one out.

And I got behind 3-0 on the next batter. Then put a slider over the plate for strike one. He was taking all the way.

A low fastball.

He almost bit.

Ball four.

My first walk of the game.

Two sliders later and a fly ball to center was the second out.

I just needed one more out.

Jason called for the slider again.

Over just above the knees.

Strike one!

Jason switched to the fastball and I jammed him inside.

Swing and a miss!

Strike two!

Back to the slider.

High and inside.

Ball one.

Another slider missed badly.

2-2 the count.

Low fastball was fouled off.

He took a low slider.

Full count.

Low fastball.

Damnit!

Base hit down the line and a run scored.

An unearned run.

Out came the manager and he motioned to the bullpen.

I was that close to a complete game shutout.

One batter later and the game was over.

8.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 9 K.

The top performance of the day in the Texas League.

We went out onto the field and congratulated each other. Then I looked in the stands and saw her.

Beth had come too.

I made a beeline for her.

"Excuse me, sir? Can I get an autograph?"

I took the ball and pen.

"Could you make it out to Poke?"

I signed the ball for the middle schooler and then had my arms around my girl.

Where they had belonged all along.

Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk

[msupoke]

I still have that ball.

[vrobx1]

This had been a crazy season.

It had started with me slated to be in the bullpen at Spokane. Instead I had gone back to Reno and then to Miami and then to Charleston and finally to Beaumont.

The next night, we went into the eighth down 2-1. Back-to-back home runs gave us a 3-2 lead but Greg Booker couldn't hold the lead and the game went into extra innings tied at three.

But Bill Wrona got a hit with runners at the corners and one out in the tenth and Beaumont won 4-3.

The Beaumont season finale also went extra innings. Midland scored three runs in the top of the fourteenth and beat us 7-5.

The Beaumont Golden Gators finished the season 76-60.



Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk

[vrobx1]

1986 Texas League Championship Series

San Antonio Dodgers vs Tulsa Drillers
Game 1: Tulsa 6 San Antonio 1
Game 2: Tulsa 3 San Antonio 0
Game 3: San Antonio 3 Tulsa 1
Game 4: San Antonio 18 Tulsa 6
Game 5: Tulsa 3 San Antonio 0
Game 6: San Antonio 9 Tulsa 5
Game 7: San Antonio 3 Tulsa 2 13 innings

The San Antonio Dodgers win the Texas League Championship.

I really hate the Dodgers.

Sent from my K88 using Tapatalk

[vrobx1]

1986 FINAL MLB STANDINGS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST
Boston 120-42
New York 100-62
Toronto 85-77
Cleveland 83-79
Milwaukee 71-91
Baltimore 62-100
Detroit 61-101

WEST
Kansas City 89-73
Seattle 85-77
California 82-80
Chicago 80-82
Minnesota 79-83
Oakland 78-84
Texas 59-103

NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST
New York 106-56
Philadelphia 90-72
Montreal 86-76
Chicago 74-88
Pittsburgh 74-88
St Louis 73-89

WEST
Los Angeles 117-45
San Diego 89-73
San Francisco 73-89
Houston 69-93
Cincinnati 68-94
Atlanta 53-109

[vrobx1]

1986 ALCS
Game 1: Kansas City 3 Boston 2
Game 2: Boston 7 Kansas City 4 10 innings
Game 3: Kansas City 7 Boston 5
Game 4: Kansas City 7 Boston 3
Game 5: Boston 6 Kansas City 1
Game 6: Boston 7 Kansas City 4
Game 7: Kansas City 5 Boston 1
Kansas City wins the ALCS 4 Games to 3.

1986 NLCS
Game 1: Los Angeles 11 New York 4
Game 2: New York 4 Los Angeles 3
Game 3: New York 4 Los Angeles 2
Game 4: New York 4 Los Angeles 3
Game 5: Los Angeles 4 New York 2 10 innings
Game 6: Los Angeles 5 New York 0
Game 7: Los Angeles 2 New York 1 10 innings
Los Angeles wins the NLCS 4 Games to 3.