by James Finn Garner
It’s never pretty
This time of year
In Kansas City
Whose early promise
Fades without pity
And whose only solace,
Receding, itty-bitty,
Is Brett once played here.
The American League East (So Far)
by Stephen Jones
The American League East
Is a fratricidal beast.
It seems no team alone
Is sure to take the throne.
Instead, each league brother
Goes after one another.
I may be no betting man,
But I can see a future-scan:
It may just end up being,
After all the smoke is clearing,
That on a September morning
It will be the “last team standing.”
17-5
By Stuart Shea
Even Cubbie achievements
Can cause Cubbie blues.
They scored 17 runs–
Did they win or lose?
The Play
by Philip Pecorino
Oft times better part of the day
waiting for that one play.
Then, it’s “Hurray”
or “What do ya say!”
and seldom just the simple ,”OK”.
How more beautiful could it be than to admire the 3-6-3?
Perhaps a 5-4-3 clearing the sacks such a vision might be!
Or with runners on all,
just send a ball over the wall
with a loud crack of the bat
and I’ll shout “now how bout that?”
A 9-4-2 with a tag on the shoe
brings you up on your feet
at the sight of the feat
and out with a “how do you do!”
Show me a 2-6-3
and a “Well, I’ll say, lookie there!”
exclaimed loud and clear.
So play after play on through the day,
never leaving room for dismay,
if you treasure the game not a one is lame.
But, there come those that make you exclaim,
midst the ebb and flow of the game,
one for which no other rates the name:
the “play of the game”.
You might also enjoy Philip’s meditations on The Bases and The Ball.