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My line score:
Games: 1
At-bats: 2
Runs: 0
Hits: 0
Batted In: 2 (tied for team lead)
Walks: 1 (tied for team lead)
Strikeouts: 0
Sacrifice Flies: 1 (team leader)
Average: .000
Slugging: .000
On-Base Average: .333
Put-outs: 4
Double-Plays: 1
Errors: 1

As the visiting team, we batted first, and, in the all-powerful three spot, I came to bat in the top of the first. There was a runner on, so I didn't face the ignominy of ending the inning. Unless, of course, I grounded into an inning-ending double play, as foreshadowed in yesterday's post.

But, no, I lined out to third. Not hard. Not a good hit. AND, I swung at the first pitch I saw, which is a total rookie move. Take a pitch. Make the pitcher throw strikes. But no, I was up there, flailing away.
Out. Oh-for-one.

I didn't play the field in the bottom of the first. I'm on a platoon with a guy named Jason, and he took the first field. Ball found him a couple of times; made an error, made a putout.

Look, I think I'm coming down with something (I think it's a 24-hour tumor, I hear they're going around), so I'm going to wrap this up here. Maybe I'll come back and embellish it later.

The rest of my at-bats:
Lined out HARD to third base. Should have been a hit, the guy just made a heck of a catch.
Sacrifice fly to deep left center. Got in a run.
Walked with the bases loaded, another RBI.
While I was on first, the next batter flew out to right field, so I didn't get to advance past first.

The rest of my plays in the field:
First ball to me was a low liner, at my feet. I should have knocked it down, kept it in front of me, and gone for the play at first. But I tried to make a lunging catch, allowing the ball to scoot past me into left field, scoring a run. Damn.

Next ball to me I fielded cleanly, and underhanded to the second baseman to start a 6-4-3 DP. Thing is, he didn't make the pivot, so we only go the one out. I should have kept the ball, crossed the base for the out and then fired to first for the double play.

NEXT ball to me I did just that: fielded it cleanly, glided over second to get the out, and put a good throw on it to nail the runner at first, a 6-4 double play. Highlight of the game.

My only other defensive play was a sharp grounder the pitcher fielded and spun around to throw to me to start a 1-6-3 double play. But I rushed it, and tried to make the throw before I made the catch at second. I booted it, both runners safe. The runner on second became the eventual winning run. Double-damn.

Still, I think every single fielder mis-played at least one ball. Every guy. We were a virtual cornucopia of errors. We were the "how not to field" drills you see on baseball training videos.
AND YET . . . we only lost by one run.

We could be okay. I've begged for more time at short. Not sure why, as -- except for that one double-play I started -- I kind of butchered it out there.

But it's a start. We're 0-1. My batting average is .000. But it's a start.

INJURY REPORT:

NO INJURIES!

I actually feel better today than the last few days. My hips are good, my shoulder's good, my ankles are good, my groin is still assembled in the correct order . . . I feel like I dodget a bullet!