“It’s not necessarily a bad thing when you both manage good bunts, but when you don’t get good hits off then it creates a fucking problem. You and Tripp are smart enough to know when to pull back on them or use them to your full advantage.”
Dex adjusts his hat. “It’s also preseason. The Patrons had a pretty average season last year. As serious as we all still take this, they’re probably seeing what they can get away with and testing out some different tactics.”
I nod along with Dex. I like that he sees the game in a bigger picture than most of the players care to. I’m not sure if that’s from switching from player to coach, now back to player again…or maybe it’s a dad thing. Some weird sixth sense that he also uses for the game.
Beck shrugs as the ump calls for the last out. “Well, let’s just try to shut that down.”
Hitting Dex with my glove, I stop him before going out. “During your warm-up pitches, I’m going to warm up myself, sending a few back to second, so have Zane and Mateo ready.”
“Sounds good. I’ll keep a pretty fast pace throughout too, cut down on the opportunity. Might not stop Keller with how fast that asshole is, but it may deter the others.”
I nod, then make my way to home plate. Mia does what she’s done every inning: a cat-call whistle. Every time I can’t help but laugh. I know Lucie and Jensen aren’t ones for the WAG box in general, but now that Mia can be with them, I want her always right here close to the net.
Dex pitches a few warm-ups, and I send a few back to second and our shortstop, then for the hell of it send one to Tripp at third. Dex had a point with it being a boundary push for the Patrons. Some arguments could be made that stealing bases or even bunts are counterintuitive in the majors, but I think that’s a bit of bullshit.
You know how to do them well, and they trip up your opponent? Then they’re fucking gold, not to mention it’s a fun strategy to have up your sleeve when our games mostly seem to be focused on home runs and strikeouts.
Hell, makes the game a little more fun for me too, trying to stop them.
With the first batter, I prep for Dex’s fastball. With him closing out, we’ll stick to those pitches to start since they’re fucking fast and his most consistent throw.
We can adjust if need to, but the batter swings at the first pitch, the ball smacking into my glove.
The ump calls the strike and then thankfully calls two more.
Keller is up next, and while Dex gets one strike on him, on the second pitch he hits a beautiful line drive down left field.
With him now on first, Dex and I are both going to have to keep an eye on him. Like I said, ignoring the bases being stolen probably wouldn’t make a huge difference as long as we keep getting outs like we have been all game, but this is that fun part.
Using all of my brain to focus on the players in front of me and getting ready to make a split-second decision once the ball is thrown.
Keller takes his lead off, and Dex glances back at him before hauling his four-seam fastball down to me.
The ump calls the strike, and from my point of view it didn’t even seem that stealing the base was on Torres’s mind.
The tempo Dex is setting may be enough to keep him in place, but with the next pitch, he takes his chance.
The ball’s in my glove in the blink of an eye, and I shift, sending it straight back to second just as Keller slides in. I feel pretty damn good about the throw back, but the ump calls him safe and now the fucker’s on second.
As annoying as that call is, it gets worse when I hear an abrasive voice in the crowd yelling. “Hey, pretty girls up front who keep whistling and making slutty looks at our pitcher and catcher. Yeah, you guys.”
Fucking hell, this isn’t going to end well.
“Shut up and quit distracting them so they can do their fucking jobs.”
Great, I’m going to get kicked out of this game. I can tell that Dex knows something’s up from the look on his face, but I know he can’t hear what’s being said.
I’m the last player on our team who would get into it with a heckler in the freaking crowd, but I’m not about to let him talk to my girl like that, let alone her, Jensen, and Lucie.
But before I can even turn my body toward them, I hear Mia. “Fuck off. The only men who get to tell us what to do are the ones we’re sleeping with, and that’s them, so we’ll do as we damn well please. And just to warn you, anger can cause impotence, so maybe you chill the fuck out and enjoy the game.”
“Fuck you, bitch,” the guy yells back.
Ah, shit. I lift off my catcher’s mask and move toward them.
Mia and Jensen have both fully turned in their seats, and while I’m sure they’ll have the man shut down in two minutes, there’s no fucking way I’m letting him speak that way to our girls.
I immediately spot a security guard and wave him down. When I get to the net, I yell at the guy now standing over them. “Hey, asshole, if you don’t know how to speak to women, get the fuck out.”
