Bennie the Talking Baseball Takes Flight at the Trop
By Stefan Mathis
Auburndale, FL
The following is an excerpt from the book A Ball’s Game, a collection of stories set at Tropicana Field and told from the perspective of Bennie the Talking Baseball.
As I fly towards the plate, I look like a fastball. Suddenly I make a sharp break to the left. If Longo swings he will surely miss me. But he doesn’t, and I miss the strike zone. Ball one. The catcher signals for another fastball. The pitcher shakes his head no. The pitcher would like to throw a different type of pitch. The catcher puts down two fingers. The pitcher agrees. Again, I approach the plate and make a sharp break. Longo doesn’t swing. I’m too far outside to be a strike and too high to hit. Ball two. The catcher wants another curve ball. Three times lucky is what they say. This time as I come to the plate I don’t break at all. I almost hit Longo. Ball three.
For a fourth time, the catcher signals for a curve. The pitcher agrees. What kind of pitcher with a count of three balls and two strikes, two outs in the bottom of the ninth, throws a curve? He can not afford to walk Longo, putting another man on base. Three straight curve balls have been balls. He’s protecting a one-run lead, with the possible tying run on first. Longo represents the go-ahead and winning run if he were to come around the bases to score.
What kind of guy throws a curve in this situation? This guy, of course. He is the American League save leader. He has the ability to throw the right pitch at the right time. The three straight balls do not worry him. He can throw every pitch in his arsenal for a strike at any time, in any situation. The pitcher stares down Longo at the plate, adding to the pressure, then starts his wind-up.
Here I come, curve ball number four. I’m coming towards the plate, curving… slowly. Longo grips the bat tightly and swings with all his might. CRACK! “Ouch!” I’ve been hit very hard, and right on the bottom. I leave the bat like a rocket. I’m flying very high. And as hard as I’ve been hit, I believe I’m going to go very far. Based on my quick calculations, my trajectory has me headed toward the rays tank in right center field.
Timeout. Please stop the action. You don’t know about the rays tank? The rays tank is a ten thousand gallon aquarium just beyond the right center field fence. It is full of rays, which are small, flat, disk-shaped marine animals that can swim very fast. During the game, fans can go into the aquarium area to feed the rays. Don’t worry. They don’t bite. By the way, since I am about to land in the rays tank, there is something you need to know—I can’t swim!
About Stefan Mathis
Born and raised in Florida. Love most sports, with baseball and scuba diving topping the list. Wrote a youth baseball story: A Ball's Game: The Ball Talks. Check it out at stefanmathisbooks.com.