* * *
The signing ends what became as much a civic conversation as a baseball one. The @HandsOffDeck account, which appeared in September and amassed more than a hundred thousand followers by November, became a rallying point for fans frustrated by the organization’s apparent willingness to let one of its most decorated players walk. Businesses in the Webber Field area ran Decker-themed specials for the better part of two months. The Save Decker cookie, sold at a bakery one block from Webber Field, was reported to have sold out for six consecutive weeks.
* * *
Whether any of that moved the needle inside the front office remains a matter of speculation. What isn’t speculation is the result.
* * *
Davis posted the best defensive numbers of his career this past season, with a fielding percentage that ranked first among National League third basemen and a second-half offensive surge that silenced early questions about his trajectory. He remains one of the most competent players at his position in the game.
* * *
The Colts did not make any additional comments beyond a brief organizational statement: “Decker Davis is a Chicago Colt.”
* * *
#GoldieStays
Epilogue
Easton
* * *
Love. It’s fucking everywhere. I always had my teammates and Peeper’s to count on, but one by one, love has slipped through the cracks here too.
I grew up with parents who loved one another. Hell, they were the couple everyone talked about in our small Alaskan town. Their story is probably written somewhere in the Lake Starlight archives.
I’m a Bailey, and in Lake Starlight, that means something. The problem is I’m now the problem child of my family. I moved away, which is fine with them, but I have no interest in settling down, which none of my family understands. Jesus, even my sister is settled with a kid. If someone had bet on which of us would have been married with a kid first, most would have bet on me.
I’m not stupid like my teammates. I’m not saying love isn’t for me. I’m just saying it’s not for me right now. I only have a few more good years to play ball before some hot new shortstop comes for my spot. And I don’t plan on going down without a fight.
I can’t say love doesn’t look nice though.
I glance around the back room at Peeper’s.
First there was Hayes. He didn’t stand a chance. It was his first full year with us, so I don’t know who he was before coming to the Colts, but the rumors would suggest that he wasn’t looking for love. Now, he’s sitting here with four kids and a wife. What the hell?
Lake and Lincoln are arguing at the pinball game about whose turn it is.
“You two break it, and they’re paying.” Ruby points at Hayes and Leighton.
They both mumble sorrys. Everyone is a little afraid of Ruby.
“I told you two.” Leighton gets up to talk to them both while Hayes holds their new baby girl, Flora, named after the Flora Conservatory. She had to be named after a Chicago landmark.
The name thing is a long story, all of us were vying for the naming rights. I personally liked River for the Chicago River.
After them, the one man I thought would be my ride or die in bachelorhood fell. Who the hell saw Foster Davis settling down?
He used to walk into a room and make it smaller just by being in it. Now, he’s walking over to Callie as she places a dart in their eighteen-month-old Ellis’s hand.
“You can’t give her a dart,” he says.
“She wants to throw at the dartboard.” Callie tips her head to the side.
“And she’ll poke her eye out.” He takes the dart out of Ellis’s hand, and she cries.
