“Well, at least you’re not being called out for retirement three weeks into the season.” Bainbridge hands me my phone and sighs. This is my second season in the league and he’s been a mentor to me. Toward the end of last season, I had a lot going for me until I messed up one night. Bainbridge was there to help get my ass out of hot water before our general manager, Ryan Stone, could kick me off the team. The incident in question? I bought a minor some drinks who was celebrating her birthday, and she was in the bar. Apparently she had snuck in, but because I’m a major league baseball player, the district attorney thought he’d try to make an example out of me. Thankfully, the Renegades have a stellar legal team and I was able to get away with a few hours of community service.
Hard lesson learned. In fact, I’ve had to learn a few over the year - for instance, tweeting out my address isn’t the smartest thing to do. Women of all ages show up wearing next to nothing, and when your mom answers the door…let’s just say there are things even she shouldn’t see.
“Are you done at the end of the season?” We prepare our whole lives for moments like this without even realizing it. Like when your best friend moves away, or the seniors on your team graduate. It’s really no different when someone retires or gets traded. Retirement is harder to deal with because guys usually move back to their hometown or their wife’s hometown and you don’t see them as often. At least with a trade, the next time you play that team, you can hang out.
“My wife… she gave me an ultimatum. I quit, or she walks with the kids.”
“Oh.”
“Nothing for you to worry about, kid,” he says, as he walks down the stairs and through the dugout, disappearing down the hall. Just a handful of the guys have wives on the team. It’s a low statistic according the BoRe blogger, citing that our General Manager is rebuilding a young team with talent that can last a few years. I think our GM wants to win and is doing everything he can to make sure it happens. It has nothing to do with age or marital status.
I pick up my glove and one of the loose balls sitting by my feet and toss it into the stands. We have two home games before we hit the road for six away and then back home for three before we get a day off. It’s the start of the season and I’m already looking forward to a day off.
Before each home game, a young fan, along with his or her family, is chosen to be our guest for the game. Not only do they gain early access to the ballpark for a tour, but if a few of us are here early, we’ll come out and throw the ball around for a little while so they can watch. The fan becomes our honorary bat boy or girl for game, going home with a ton of selfies with the players, autographs and souvenirs.
Tonight’s fan is a girl with pigtails and a thousand watt smile. Her Renegades hat sits on top of her head, barely hanging on. Her face lights up when she catches the ball easily in her glove and waves at me before turning to her parents with excitement. Being good to your fans is something my college coach instilled in me after every single game. It didn’t matter what test we had in the morning, what the weather was doing, how tired we were, or whether we got our asses beat – we’d stay to sign autographs and take pictures until the last fan left. Our boss, Ryan, feels the same way. He says fans make or break you and he’s right. That’s why the BoRe blogger gets under my skin so much. I don’t know who he is, but I’d like to meet him to find out what his beef is with me.
Reporters line the wall outside of our clubhouse, waiting for an interview. The media are allowed in the clubhouse until batting practice begins. Cal Diamond, our manager, has a list of guys who will talk each day, even though the media tries to get audio clips from everyone. I’ve yet to be chosen. I try not to let it bother me, but it does. I know I’m young and say stupid shit sometimes, but I don’t do it to be harmful to the team. My mouth just works faster than my brain. It’s something my agent says I need to work on. Stone says he’s looking for someone to come in and give us all some media training. In the meantime, I usually visit the trainer or go into our lounge before batting practice, which is off limits to the media.