SOMETHING – 1

OK, here’s the situation. My catcher went away on a two-week vacation.

Well, 15 days to be exact.

Before he left, we worked on a cut fastball with the pitching coach. I was only supposed to use it early in the count, early in the game.

But early in the game, the change up was working. Now in the 6th inning, I didn’t think anyone would mind with me sitting on a two-run lead and coming up second in the bottom of the inning.

I got the first out on one pitch, a slow curve that was rolled to second base. With the number eight batter up, I decided to try it out.

I got a swinging strike on late movement inside, hence the name ‘cut’ fastball.

He didn’t bite on the outside curve, so of course I tried to go back inside, shaking off an inside curve and outside change.

This time the cut cut too much and hit the guy right on the forearm.

He made little effort to get out of the way, but that’s besides any point of argument.

As quickly as that, your luck can change in this game, this town, this life…