'You're Killing Us, Buddy'
Well no one died and no one had to go to the hospital - although one and a half people almost had to. See, this girl was there, and she is pretty far along on her pregnancy. She was having pains and they thought the baby was coming. And they wondered why the father wasn't at the plate ready for his at-bat. Tsk tsk.
No baby, and he struck out. We let this one slide as he probably had something else on his mind.
But, one of the other team players commented that I was killing them. I don't know why. We did win, but we had to score 8 runs, I was only responsible for 4 I believe.
My first at-bat I had an in the park home run (yeah, boring, I know). But what was more impressive was I was the first batter for our team. One batter, one run and the game is all tied up going into the second inning.
And then we let them have 6 outs and 6 runs. Not the way to start off the game, ya think?
So, we started out in a hole and we needed to claw our way back up to 7 runs to make the game more interesting.
2 runs in the third inning, 1 in the fourth, 3 in the fifth and the game is all tied up. Somewhere in there I had 3 at-bats and 3 runs. One previously mentioned homerun, a single and a bunt single. Not necessarily a big evening hit wise, but I still managed to get on base and score some runs to get us back in the game.
Now, about the other team we played. They like to bunt. A lot. So, as an outfielder, I didn't get much action (I know, I'm selfish). So me and the other outfielders were relegated to spectators as we watched our pitcher pitch, hit batters and try and field bunts.
Boy was it interesting.
But in the last inning it did get interesting. We were all tied up going into the last inning. We were the home team, if we score the game is over and we win. If we don't score we go into extra innings and continue until one team has more runs than the other to end a full inning. Rules get real simple.
So we start to bat in the last inning. My dad starts out with a single and moves to second on a passed ball - where the catcher fails to catch the ball the pitcher has pitched. The next batter flies out/strikes out/ gets out somehow. Either way there is one out when I get up.
Now the pitcher has realized I like to swing at the first pitch. I don't usually hit it, but I swing anyway. But I know he knows this, so I haven't swung at the first pitch the last two times up. I think he realized this also. But I don't know he knows this. So instead of throwing me a pitch on the outskirts of the strikezone he throws one right down the middle of the plate.
I get mad at myself for not swinging. That was a perfect pitch. It's like seeing a baby deer in the middle of the road and swerving to miss it. You just don't do it.
So I get back in the batter's box and await the next pitch. I don't know where it is, but I hit it. In fact, if you ask Ted Williams (although you can't now, he's dead with his head frozen in a Cryo lab in Arizona or something like that) he could read the writing on the ball (it's a good read, you should pick one up. Best seller's list for a couple weeks) as it left the pitcher's hand. Me? I can't tell you where the ball is where I hit it. Sometimes I can try and remember, like the homerun was up and outside. But I couldn't tell where this one was.
Anyway, I hit the ball to the right side (makes me think it was outside somewhat) just under the second baseman's glove for a single into right field. Right fielder picks it up and throws it in. I hesitate, see it's going to home, and take off for second.
Here my dad is trying to score the winning run from second. He says he was safe as the ball beat him to the plate but the catcher did not place the tag upon him until after he had touched the plate. Umpire did not see it that way, he thought the ball beat him and the tag was applied. The umpire has more say in the matter and called my dad out. So now we are tied with a runner on second (me!) and two outs (for those of you unfamiliar there are 3 outs per team's at bat).
Now our second batter gets up, and he hasn't hit the ball well all day. So I think about trying to steal third and hope for a passed ball to score the winning run. But then I remember the rule 'don't make the first or third out at third base.' But as I struggle with the decision the batter hits a lazy line drive into centerfield.
I tear around third base and score standing up. With the emphatic 'thud' of my cleat on home I have scored the winning run and the game is over. We have completed the comeback down 7-1 to win 8-7.
Exhilirating.
I finished 4-4 with 1 run, 1 RBI and 1 HR.
And before the game we got an email from our manager/statistician. I'll let the numbers speak for themselves.
Brian ~ 20 Hits, 38 At Bats, reached base 23 times, 40 Total Bases, 1.053 slugging percentage, 5-Doubles, 3 Homeruns, 11 Extra Base Hits, 18 Runs Batted In, 6 multi-Hit games, tied with Don with 20 runs. (I lead or am tied for the lead in these catagories.)
So I think I am doing pretty well in this league. In fact they are trying to get me to play in another league with most of the team. A little more competitive. Let's see how I do then.
No baby, and he struck out. We let this one slide as he probably had something else on his mind.
But, one of the other team players commented that I was killing them. I don't know why. We did win, but we had to score 8 runs, I was only responsible for 4 I believe.
My first at-bat I had an in the park home run (yeah, boring, I know). But what was more impressive was I was the first batter for our team. One batter, one run and the game is all tied up going into the second inning.
And then we let them have 6 outs and 6 runs. Not the way to start off the game, ya think?
So, we started out in a hole and we needed to claw our way back up to 7 runs to make the game more interesting.
2 runs in the third inning, 1 in the fourth, 3 in the fifth and the game is all tied up. Somewhere in there I had 3 at-bats and 3 runs. One previously mentioned homerun, a single and a bunt single. Not necessarily a big evening hit wise, but I still managed to get on base and score some runs to get us back in the game.
Now, about the other team we played. They like to bunt. A lot. So, as an outfielder, I didn't get much action (I know, I'm selfish). So me and the other outfielders were relegated to spectators as we watched our pitcher pitch, hit batters and try and field bunts.
Boy was it interesting.
But in the last inning it did get interesting. We were all tied up going into the last inning. We were the home team, if we score the game is over and we win. If we don't score we go into extra innings and continue until one team has more runs than the other to end a full inning. Rules get real simple.
So we start to bat in the last inning. My dad starts out with a single and moves to second on a passed ball - where the catcher fails to catch the ball the pitcher has pitched. The next batter flies out/strikes out/ gets out somehow. Either way there is one out when I get up.
Now the pitcher has realized I like to swing at the first pitch. I don't usually hit it, but I swing anyway. But I know he knows this, so I haven't swung at the first pitch the last two times up. I think he realized this also. But I don't know he knows this. So instead of throwing me a pitch on the outskirts of the strikezone he throws one right down the middle of the plate.
I get mad at myself for not swinging. That was a perfect pitch. It's like seeing a baby deer in the middle of the road and swerving to miss it. You just don't do it.
So I get back in the batter's box and await the next pitch. I don't know where it is, but I hit it. In fact, if you ask Ted Williams (although you can't now, he's dead with his head frozen in a Cryo lab in Arizona or something like that) he could read the writing on the ball (it's a good read, you should pick one up. Best seller's list for a couple weeks) as it left the pitcher's hand. Me? I can't tell you where the ball is where I hit it. Sometimes I can try and remember, like the homerun was up and outside. But I couldn't tell where this one was.
Anyway, I hit the ball to the right side (makes me think it was outside somewhat) just under the second baseman's glove for a single into right field. Right fielder picks it up and throws it in. I hesitate, see it's going to home, and take off for second.
Here my dad is trying to score the winning run from second. He says he was safe as the ball beat him to the plate but the catcher did not place the tag upon him until after he had touched the plate. Umpire did not see it that way, he thought the ball beat him and the tag was applied. The umpire has more say in the matter and called my dad out. So now we are tied with a runner on second (me!) and two outs (for those of you unfamiliar there are 3 outs per team's at bat).
Now our second batter gets up, and he hasn't hit the ball well all day. So I think about trying to steal third and hope for a passed ball to score the winning run. But then I remember the rule 'don't make the first or third out at third base.' But as I struggle with the decision the batter hits a lazy line drive into centerfield.
I tear around third base and score standing up. With the emphatic 'thud' of my cleat on home I have scored the winning run and the game is over. We have completed the comeback down 7-1 to win 8-7.
Exhilirating.
I finished 4-4 with 1 run, 1 RBI and 1 HR.
And before the game we got an email from our manager/statistician. I'll let the numbers speak for themselves.
Brian ~ 20 Hits, 38 At Bats, reached base 23 times, 40 Total Bases, 1.053 slugging percentage, 5-Doubles, 3 Homeruns, 11 Extra Base Hits, 18 Runs Batted In, 6 multi-Hit games, tied with Don with 20 runs. (I lead or am tied for the lead in these catagories.)
So I think I am doing pretty well in this league. In fact they are trying to get me to play in another league with most of the team. A little more competitive. Let's see how I do then.
posted by Timchula at 22:21
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