His walk up music brought the crowd to thier feet, its familiar tune a beacon to anyone within earshot that someone special was at the plate. That’s what happens when you’re the best on the team in the same city for a long enough time.

I stood still and straight on the mound through all these antics, awaiting my turn to change this narrative and quiet the crowd.

He got in the box and went through all the quirks and adjustments that are the unspoken menace in the game time issue. I started quickly with an inside change up for a called strike.

Settling in, the batter didn’t show any respect to my next pitch, a fastball low that was just below the zone. He’s already turning away before the catcher has finished framing. Looking back, I see the problem with it, but still see where it could have been called a strike.

I had been working up and down in and out of the strike zone all inning and this would be no exception. I threw a high fastball for ball two, but it was only to set up going low, first with a called change up for strike two then a fastball that was fouled off.

The power of video shows that I had an opportunity to switch and attempt to work an inside-outside combo. Gotta file away that that strategy should work better the next time we face this team.

But this time would end with little pomp and no circumstance. I forgot about attempting to throw everything off with a cut fastball. Instead I can clearly see myself on the screen decide to just challenge the batter.

My best fastball isn’t great, but after all the movement I felt I could get away with it. It wasn’t a quick pitch or anything, but the batter did seem a touch surprised. However, he wasn’t fooled and got a great swing on the pitch.

From the sound of it, one would have thought it went farther. But it was a harmless slow roller to the left side. Not slow enough for anyone to beat out and with the final out of the inning, I made a gracious exit and left the field.