Before the Game

I believe hitting a round ball with a round bat
is the hardest thing to do in all of sports.

I believe that Roberto Clemente is the patron saint of baseball.

I believe in the sacrifice fly.

I believe that pitchers should buy catchers lunch.

I believe batting practice makes perfect.

I believe Lou Gehrig's birthday should be a national holiday.

I believe in the designated hitter.

I believe Tony Gwynn sleeps with his bat.

I believe the squeeze play should be taught in public schools.

I believe walls are hard.

No one is bigger than the game except maybe Boog Powell.

I believe somebody, somewhere, understands the infield fly rule.

I believe it's time to sing "Take me out to the ballgame.."

I believe, even I, sign better than Don Mattingly.
I believe that.

And I believe every player should have a day off after two thousand, one hundred and thirty games.

I believe domed stadiums are great .. for tractor pulls.

And I believe the two greatest words
in the English language are Play Ball!

Play Ball!
Play Ball!
Play Ball!

February Blues

Scientists have verified it
with micrometers and atomic clocks --
Winter months last longer than Summer months --
confirming my experience
of listening to sports on AM
hungry for baseball gossip,
five player trades,
firings of beloved old managers,
and hearing only hockey, golf,
college basketball, the gosh darn super bowl.

Before the Game

Pennants wave on the souvenir stand

Sausages snap, sizzle with onions on the grill

Girls with mitts practice catches to be made

Scorecard Ohhh-ficial scorecard

Boys, wearing caps of faraway teams, laugh, shove

Peanut shells crunch underfoot

Cheese oozes over nachos

Joy thick as the perfume of popcorn and boiled hot dogs fills the air as ticket takers call,

This way this way to the game