“...And we're back. Y'know, Chip, Charlotte has been really impressive throughout this whole game. Depending on how the second half goes, I'm not gonna be too surprised if we're back here tomorrow night with game seven.”
“Exactly, Stan. However, I wouldn't count New Jersey out quite yet. They've been consistently able to come back and win in the final quarter. 33 times this season, including two games in the first round against Nashville.”
“And of course if New Jersey does win game six tonight, they'll meet Alexandria for the division title. SportsPrime will be there, of course. The price is only $49.95 a game. Press number three on your console for more information. OK, the second half is ready to get underway, and New Jersey is up. Here's the first pitch to Chico Velasquez...it's a ball, low and outside.”
“We were talking earlier about Velasquez's numbers, but here's one we didn't bring up: he has four extra points, all of them scored at the Cubadome in Havana. Guess how many he scored in Havana during the five years he played with the Rough Riders.”
“The second pitch is a strike. Three?”
“None, which brings up an interesting point, Stan, excuse the pun. Because of the low number of extra points this season, there's talk of changing the diameter on the mouth of the net, or, get this, adding additional nets to the walls in left and right field. The commissioner apparently feels it would add a little more drama to the game.”
“Valasquez fouls one to the right...off the front of a skybox. The count is one and two. If that's true, that would be the first change to the game since fluorescent green balls were added back in 'eight.”
“Of course, the Cubs and the Marlins are still using the old white ones. But most of the batters I've talked to during the last few years love the green balls. Plain and simple: they're just easier to see.”
“And hit. Takagura burns one in. Just outside, Ball two. Chip, I can't say enough about this young left-hander. That last pitch clocked in at 107 miles an hour. I remember when 95 was considered phenomenal.”
“But you also knew George Washington, Stan.”
“Good one, Chip. Here's the pitch...ball three. Takagura walks Velasquez, his third walk of the game. That brings up the Six Billion Dollar Man, Ed Marston.”
“Take a look at center field, Stan. Lemke is making a substitution.”
“So he is. Mitch O'Hare leaves the field, and Lester Daniels, who started the game, is back in for the Colonials.”
“What a trooper! After that collision with Chester in the second quarter, I thought Daniels would be questionable for tomorrow, let alone the rest of today. But he looks fine.”
“Let's take a look at that play again. Chester takes off from second as Wakabayashi bunts. Klaus Rentzsch scoops up the ball and throws to Daniels.”
“Now, you see how Daniels is positioned in front of the flag? It probably would have been a little safer to wait to the side and just tag Chester out, but Daniels knew a collision would stop the clock, and keep Miller from scoring from third base. Of course, Daniels saved himself some work by preventing the capture. Believe me, covering the entire outfield by yourself for an inning can be a nightmare.”
“As we've seen again and again, Lester Daniels is not known for taking the safe route. Marston swings and misses. That pitch clocked in at 109 miles an hour!”
“That'll put a dent in your bat!”
“Hopefully no where else! Marston is calling a time-out. We'll return to game six of the National League East semi-finals after this message. It's Charlotte 14, New Jersey 10.”
* * * * *
“Okay, the music's up, and we're off of you.”
“Thanks, Ken. Hey, look Stan, it's the new Coke ad.”
“The one with the Redmond Raiders? During a baseball game?”
“Yeah, but this is what people want to see. The Raiders have won the Superbowl two years in a row. Has anyone seen my mirror?”
“Yeah, what am I complaining about? At least Football's still basically the same game it was when I was a kid.”
“Oh, right! Boy, I really miss those one-to-nothing pitchers' duels! But then again, you'd probably like to see pitchers hit again. In case you've forgotten, baseball wouldn't be around anymore if it hadn't been brought up to date.”
“Five seconds.”
“Maybe that would have been better.”
* * * * *
“Welcome back to the 2012 National League East semi-finals, the New Jersey Colonials taking on the Charlotte Spiders here on SportsPrime. The time-out has expired and the clock is running. Here's the pitch to Marston...and he sends it to right field. It's a base hit! Marston holds up at first. Chip, the pressure's on Ellen Williams.”
“Stan, as we all know, Ellen is the first woman to play for the Colonials; but like her mentor Barbara Allen, she is a run producer.”
“Well, that's just what New Jersey needs right now. Ten minutes left in this quarter. Takagura throws to first, but Marston is back in time. Speaking of Barbara Allen, I understand she might be managing at Shea Stadium next year.”
“The Mets are talking to her, but interim manager Bill Ripken has done wonders with the team over the last month. It'll be interesting to see who gets the job.”
“It certainly will be. Here's the wind-up...and the ball is hit right over the head of shortstop Kenny Parker. Marston slides into third, and Ellen Williams stops at first base.”
“By sending Marston to third, McGuire is obviously not going to make another try for the flag in center field. That's what makes him fun to watch as a manager; you're never quite sure what he's going to do in a given situation.”
“One out in the third quarter here at the Meadowlands, and coming up to bat for the third time is Pat Carbone.”
“Carbone definitely has the potential to hit a home run or even an extra point. Remember, when Carbone was with Prague, he single-handedly won game four of the 2010 World Series with a grand slam extra-pointer.”
“The famous triple-overtime game in Tokyo. Carbone takes a big cut, but misses, strike one. The Republics of course, went on to lose that series in game seven in Prague. The big question on everyone's minds this year, Chip, is there even going to be a World Series?”
“That's a good question, Stan. The strike is set to begin October 31st, the day after the Columbia League championship ends, if it goes seven games. The other three league championships should be wrapped up by then. With talks between the owners and players at a stand-still, it could be an unhappy Halloween.”
“Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that. Here's the pitch...Carbone pops it up to center field...and Lester Daniels makes the catch for the second out. So, with 7:03 remaining in the third quarter, it's still Charlotte 14, New Jersey 10. It's the top of the order for Charlotte, after this message.
© 1996 Michael Butzgy