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Side Effect

by Greg Simetz

Taking a page
from Dan Quisenberry,
The sidearm delivery of Scott Effross
is becoming legendary.

Changing mechanics at 25,
lowering the release point to the belt,
Gave this Hoosier grad new life
causing his ERA to quickly melt.

He wears a Star-of-David necklace
and his 4-seamer is despised,
Now it’s opposing batter’s lumber
that’s getting circumcised.

He’s the stopper who won’t fumble,
exclaimed Cubs’ skipper Grandpa Ross,
Leaving flummoxed foes to grumble
“That effin’ Effross!”

 

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Northwood Little League

by Danny Barbare

Revisiting Northwood Little
League, my coach picks
me up in his car, he just
happens
to be a policeman. Nervous as
can be, I stand on the
mound, strike after strike, till I
believe,
I don’t need a trophy just
a cold Coca-Cola on a
hot summer’s day, I am happy.

 

Danny P. Barbare resides in Greenville, SC, with his wife, family and sweet dog Miley. His poetry has recently appeared New Feathers Anthology, Pennsylvania Literary Journal, North Dakota Quarterly and many others.

 

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I Signed at Seventeen

By Doug K.

(With apologies to Frank Sinatra)

When I was seventeen…

I had a very good year.
I had a very good year. I hit .315
Got four mil from the Yanks.
And Jesus I thanked…
Montero, I mean.
I signed at seventeen…

When I was twenty-one…

It was a pretty good year.
It was a pretty good year.
Crushed 32 blasts and made AA
I’ll make the majors some day
Though it hurts when I run.
When I was twenty-one.

When I was twenty-five…

I once had much better years.
They found a hole in my swing.
I’m all out of springs.
Go to Arby’s for meals.
And I am an add-on in deals.
I knew I’d never arrive

When I was twenty-five.

And now the days are short…

I’m in the autumn of my career.
But for work…baseball I played
And at least once was paid
So I can’t shed a tear
At least I had a career.

My whole life filled with green…

I signed at seventeen.

This post originally appeared on the essential Yankee blog, It is High, It is Far, It is…caught.

 

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NL Player of the Week

By Greg Simetz

A 29-year-old rook
Claimed off waiver’s wire
Has been tearing up pitchers
Setting Wrigley afire.

With the old-time name Frank
That sounds under-powered
He’s been putting up numbers
Like Franks Robinson and Howard.

Be it a game-winning slam
That set fans a-tingle
Or a headfirst slide into first
With a bizarre walk-off single.

He’s a real life Crash Davis
The longshot who paid
Taking out some of the sting
From Hoyer’s heartbreaking trades.

And though this year’s Cubs team
Will not win a ring
You can count on Schwindel
And his mighty sweet schwing!