The Beekeeper.

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Clayman
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The Beekeeper.

Post by Clayman » Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:13 am

It was good to be back home, Athens was great and would hopefully be my home for a good few years. However Lancashire on a cool spring morning with a slight hint of mist rolling over the green fields you couldn't beat it, even though I was born in Lancashire I'd never been to Church, well I'd been in many churches but never the village of Church.

I was here to entice Oscar Borlase a right handed pitcher who'd had a couple good seasons for the California Crusaders back in 35 & 36, thing was he retired in 39 so how much he had left in the tank who knows, for all I know he may not have even wanted to play ball anymore. His confidence took a jolt in 37 when he was in AAA playing for the Clash City Rockers, he'd finished with a 7.47 era in 19 games but he'd had 3 good seasons previously between the majors and AAA. He even bounced back the following seasons, surely he should have been worth a punt in the majors, why had nobody taken a risk on him only time would tell if they were crazy not taking a risk on him or if I was crazy taking a risk on him.

After a couple of stops asking for directions I reached my destination, Lavender Cottage. With the first signs of spring, bees dipping into their first taste of nectar from the new season and the melodic tones of birds filling the air. As a goldcrest sat on the fence with the early morning sun shining on it like a spotlight in the theatre of nature, I wondered how was I to entice somebody to leave this place to play ball when I wasn't sure if I could leave it if it was mine.

I didn't get an answer from the front door so walked along the path to the garden at the rear, some 60 feet away six hives stood near the rear fence. Next to them a figure in what looked like a fencing outfit made for someone much larger, in one hand a smoker gently puffed smoke into one of the hives. He put the smoker to one side and gently took a frame out of the hive, once he had placed it to one side he replaced the roof of the hive.

He walked towards me removing his veil as he did, it was Oscar Borlase but it wasn't the 32 year old Oscar Borlase picture that I had seen. He looked younger, he looked fresh. He looked like a ballplayer ready to hit the mound and not a tired old bush leaguer.

Please take a seat, while I make some tea, he said.

He returned with a tray of consisting of a lot of tea, cups, saucers and a plate of scones. For an Englishman who'd spent the last few years away from his home shores it was a dream to behold, in fact I'm certain I drooled before I even tasted the first sip of tea made all the better from the spoon of freshly gathered honey.

How could I persuade this man to leave an idilic life that one day I dreamed of when I'd finished with baseball or baseball had finished with me.

"Unfinished business Mr Thomas", it was as simple as that, I'd asked him would he like to play in Athens, without a thought he'd said yes. I then foolishly asked him why, almost trying to change his mind.

"I'll be honest Mr Thomas, I have a near perfect life here. I don't have the pressure of trying to get an out, I definitely don't have the worry of ripping my shoulder out, in fact my biggest worry today was wether you'd like crumpets or scones with your tea".

Then why?

"I want to prove them wrong, I want to prove the teams, coaches and scouts that they were wrong. I want to sit with my bees and know that I was right and they were wrong. I thought I had a decent first season in 35 with California, obviously they didn't as my game time dropped after that no matter what I did it wasn't enough. I just want to prove them wrong and if I don't I'll hold my hands up and they were right".

I shook Oscars hand and told him the player personnel manager would be in contact, another one down only about another 100 to go.
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Re: The Beekeeper.

Post by shoeless.db » Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:59 am

I'd like the record to show the previous regime was the one to ship Borlase out of the California organization. Good thing, too, or I'd have had to do it.
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Re: The Beekeeper.

Post by Clayman » Fri Mar 20, 2020 12:20 pm

shoeless.db wrote:
Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:59 am
I'd like the record to show the previous regime was the one to ship Borlase out of the California organization. Good thing, too, or I'd have had to do it.
He was given to me in the expansion day, would I have signed him who knows. However and I know California had a good bullpen in 35 but I thought one or two other teams would have taken a punt in 36, 37 when his appearances were decking specially 37 when he dropped to the minors, he'd have been had dirt cheap I bet.
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Re: The Beekeeper.

Post by shoeless.db » Fri Mar 20, 2020 12:26 pm

Clayman wrote:
Fri Mar 20, 2020 12:20 pm
shoeless.db wrote:
Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:59 am
I'd like the record to show the previous regime was the one to ship Borlase out of the California organization. Good thing, too, or I'd have had to do it.
He was given to me in the expansion day, would I have signed him who knows. However and I know California had a good bullpen in 35 but I thought one or two other teams would have taken a punt in 36, 37 when his appearances were decking specially 37 when he dropped to the minors, he'd have been had dirt cheap I bet.
I think his issue was his overly pedestrian skill-set. He's the not bad looking girl who ends up being your lab partner in science class. Sure, you have a good time chatting her up and flirting with her a bit, but when the cute blonde cheerleader in a skirt walks by and winks at you with her high "stuff" and "movement" ratings, well ... who the hell even remembers the lab partner at this point?
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-- Vic Caleca Team News Award Winner 2052
-- BBA Champion 2053
-- Pacific Champs 2040, 2042, 2043, 2047, 2048, 2049, 2051, 2053, 2054
Life is a bit more beautiful when time is measured by the half inning rather than the half hour.

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Re: The Beekeeper.

Post by Clayman » Fri Mar 20, 2020 12:45 pm

shoeless.db wrote:
Fri Mar 20, 2020 12:26 pm
Clayman wrote:
Fri Mar 20, 2020 12:20 pm
shoeless.db wrote:
Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:59 am
I'd like the record to show the previous regime was the one to ship Borlase out of the California organization. Good thing, too, or I'd have had to do it.
He was given to me in the expansion day, would I have signed him who knows. However and I know California had a good bullpen in 35 but I thought one or two other teams would have taken a punt in 36, 37 when his appearances were decking specially 37 when he dropped to the minors, he'd have been had dirt cheap I bet.
I think his issue was his overly pedestrian skill-set. He's the not bad looking girl who ends up being your lab partner in science class. Sure, you have a good time chatting her up and flirting with her a bit, but when the cute blonde cheerleader in a skirt walks by and winks at you with her high "stuff" and "movement" ratings, well ... who the hell even remembers the lab partner at this point?
He's a good character for a story if nothing else, sad to say if my contract offers are accepted I'm afraid he'll be in the minors.
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Re: The Beekeeper.

Post by HoosierVic » Fri Mar 20, 2020 10:03 pm

Don't let him bring any bees with him - the liability issues would be ungodly!

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Re: The Beekeeper.

Post by Clayman » Sat Mar 21, 2020 1:01 am

Useless info 101, Greece and bees are both in one of my favourite films.

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Athens Fighting Centaurs 2051 75-87
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