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Do Not Hit Gently into That Ground Out

by Ellen Adair

With apologies to Dylan Thomas

Do not hit gently into that ground out,
The ball should fly, although you’re down today;
Rage, rage against losing in a rout.

Though wise men know they can’t all be Mike Trout,
Because hard contact is most productive, they
Do not hit gently into that ground out.

 

Ellen Adair is an actor, with recurring roles on shows like “The Sinner,” “Homeland,” and “Bull,” and a contributing analyst to the MLB Network show “Off Base.” Their book of poetry, Curtain Speech, is available from Pen & Anvil Press. They also host the podcasts “Take Me In to the Ballgame” and “Love Takes Action,” and draws baseball players by commission.

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She Dreams of the End of Spring

By Mark J. Mitchell

She loves the hot corner. While other girls
may fall for lefties at first, she watches
deep glove work and sky-born pop-up catches
that blossom on the left field line. Balls curve
and bounce there different. When third basemen miss
a screaming liner they fall down to cheers
and dirt. The diamond dust’s light as a kiss.
Her heart smiles for forgotten Bill Mueller,
long and laconic. And Matt Williams with his fear
of the high hard one—well, everyone knows
that too-tall stance. Then Mike Benjamin’s short stint—
when God touched his bat for fifteen straight hits.
She’ll bless every utility infielder.
She prays. Training ends. Let’s go to the show.

 

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MLB Rule Changes

by Stephen Jones

First-ever pitch clock,
Elimination of the shift,
Pickoffs and “disengagement”
From the rubber
By the pitcher on the mound —
To name but a few of the new rules.

Sure I get it, MLB
Wants to attract new faces
And they figured it’s about time
To speed up the game …

But I still have trouble with the new bases.
They’re now the size of pizza boxes,
And I’m waiting for the moment,
That moment during a game,
When a hungry player on base
Tries to lift the lid.

 

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715

by Dan Spinella

We watched it together, community
We saw it through a black & white screen
No. 44’s smooth delivery
No. 44’s elegant swing

Buckner at the fence
Tom House in the ‘pen
715
Aaron met at the plate
Kissed by his mother forever

Cheers for a black man
in the South
“You can hear Georgia
around the world.”