The 17th Out of Perfection

by James Motz

Matt Cain reached deep, history on his back.
The fastball felt good, he had plenty of snap.

Play of the year was still four outs away
From Gregor Blanco: the next Wille Mays.

The gloves were red hot, there can be no doubt
But more was required to get THIS man out

Sixteen had stood in, each one had got sat.
Till Snyder stepped up, and with his big bat

He made Matty wince, that ball was well struck
Gonna land 10 deep, fans are out of luck.

Deep to left, so long to their perfection
Another “almost” in this game of reflection.

Melky kept running, he would not give in
The ball going out,
.    out,
.       out

…till the WIND

Just hauled that ball back, bent back to the wall
And Melky, he leaps! Spins! Stabs at the ball!

And back on the mound, Cain raises his fist,
Toes the rubber, sets. Ten more men to get.

James Motz has maintained his Michigan sports roots despite being exiled to Twin-infested Minnesota, where he stealthily paints Olde English D’s on ice shanties. His personal mission is to make baseball verse so ingrained in our culture that Joe Buck will call games in iambic pentameter.

The Roger Clemens Trial, So Far

by Stephen Jones

5 weeks & 3 dismissed jurors later

(jurors having fallen asleep
during counsel’s endless
seemingly pointless examination
& then by law let go)

this trial has exceeded boredom
is now treading in dysfunctional limbo
& has left a bitter taste:

day-by-day less truth is being
observed/served & one could wish
somebody would call off the whole
thing on account “of legal rain”

 

Roger Clemens

by Stephen Jones

Permissible or not
There seems to be a drought
Of honesty afoot

Pitching maybe-perjury
Clemens seems for once
To be outta his league

His domineering stance
On the mound not found
Now drugs/performance

An arguance
More finger pointing it seems
As ugly truths are exhumed

2012 NL Central Prediction Haikus

By Stuart Shea

CHICAGO CUBS
Behold the savior!
He slouches toward Wrigleyville
And shops at J. Crew.

CINCINNATI REDS
Scott’s Rolen along
At least as much as one “rolls”
On two rusty wheels.

HOUSTON ASTROS
In a great big barn
The inhabitants will smell…
25 heifers

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
The abdication
Means the Milwaukee lineup
Will welcome the Mat.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Pretty park, green grass,
Lovely statue, tasty beer,
Clint Barmes at short

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Elders leave the grounds,
Leaving the young ones to play
The eternal game.

 

 

Season’s Last Day Oakland Sportswriter Blues

By Stuart Shea

The Cardinals are blanking the Astros again,
And they’ll make the playoffs if the Braves can’t win.
I wish I was there for this wild-card craze,
But I’m stuck in Seattle covering the A’s.

Hey! Tampa came back from a 7-0 hole,
Dan Johnson just tied it–right off the foul pole!
I’d love to be seeing the Yankees and Rays,
But I’m stuck in Seattle covering the A’s.

Did Baltimore really just walk off the Sox?
And Papelbon pull one more of his rocks?
So Tampa and St. Lou are in. I’m amazed
That I’m stuck in Seattle covering the A’s.

It’s cold in this pressbox at Safeco Field,
And watching a meaningless game is the yield.
The action is elsewhere, and it’s one of those days.
I’m stuck in Seattle covering the A’s.