To Tired For Nerves

Backstory and history of a particular player- make them come to life!
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Clayman
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To Tired For Nerves

Post by Clayman » Sat May 02, 2020 2:08 pm

"I've never seen a guy fall asleep so quick." Cuervo.

"You watch guys fall asleep? That's creepy." Chavez.

"You know what I mean, idiot."

"Hey your going to wake the kid up." Sarge.

"Can I flick peanuts at him?" Barajas.

"What? No you can't flick peanuts at him." Sarge.

"Popcorn?"

"No."

"Sunflower seeds?"

"No and before you say anything else in the projectile sense, no throwing stuff at him. Tony, Gonzo you grab hold of him and get him on the bus."

"Bet he didn't get carried to the bus by those triple A guys." Gonzo.

1:05pm Sunday April 6th 2042
Nordiques Ballpark, Johannesburg, South Africa. 14990 fans in attendance.

Bartolo Gomez sat down in the Pirates dugout, AAA ball club of the Athens Fighting Centaurs.

I saw that fastball plain as day, got under it though. I need to get it into the bleachers, not just to the fielders in the outfield. Never get to the majors at this rate.

"Don't force it, you need to relax you'll get the call sooner rather than later."

The voice of wisdom next to him was George Woolridge, teammate, roommate and best friend on the Somali Pirates. Another one of Athens young guns looking for a trip to the majors.

I know, wait my turn, wait for my pitch.

His pitch came in the top of the 4th, a sinker that didn't sink. In the blink of an eye it was sailing over the outfielders heads into the bleachers for a solo home run.

As he reached his seat in the dugout after being congratulated by his teammates, his friend sat with a smile on his face.

Yeah, yeah relax and wait for my pitch.

Top of the 7th, a sinker that didn't sink now a curve ball that didn't curve. The sinker creeped over the outfield fence at 393ft the curve that didn't curve was crushed 423ft over the outfield fence, back to back home runs if that didn't get him noticed.

The game finished in a comfortable 5-2 win for the Pirates, Gomez was one of the last in the lockeroom.

Dan MacDonald shouted to him "Bartolo, manager wants to see you."

He approached the managers room, 2 home runs was great but that first swing was terrible, even he knew that. Butt chewing on the agenda no doubt.

"Take a seat Bartolo, seems like the big leagues were watching the game."

I know boss that first swing...........

"I don't think they cared about that first swing, they want you in Athens soon as possible."

6 hours later Bartolo Gomez was saying goodbye to his teammates at Mogadishu airport after a 5 hour flight from Johannesburg, as the Pirates bus pulled away from the airport he found a seat to wait for his flight to Addis Ababa. With no direct flights to Athens it would be a long journey via Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, via Amman in Jordan then onto Cairo in Egypt and finally Athens around 5,500 miles and a journey that started at 7pm Sunday evening he finally reached his hotel in Athens at 10pm Tuesday night. 6 airports, 5 flight meals, 8 airport meals and 3 hotel meals later he could finally get some rest for the game in the morning.

11:05am Wednesday April 9th 2042
Piraeus Park, Athens, Greece. 15674 in attendance.

Right kid your starting at third, you'll be hitting second behind Wild Bill. Those words were still rattling in my head ten minutes after the manager said them, after the game on Sunday, the three days of traveling I was going on fumes, it must have been the adrenaline of the call up that was keeping me going.

Batting second wasn't my usual spot, no idea if the manager felt I should hit there because I could get on base, maybe he didn't have confidence in me hitting third or fourth, maybe hit me high in the order so I didn't have time to be nervous. The latter was a waste of time if that was the reason, I was too tired to be nervous.

I went to the plate with Bill Hardy at first, 4 pitches later and a 2 strikes 1 ball count I'd connected on a fastball at the corner to replace Bill at first. An hit on my first at bat, I saw Sarge call over for the ball once it was in his hand he looked over to me and tipped his cap. We ended up with the bases loaded in the first but couldn't drive any runs in.

Bottom of the third we were 2-0 down, Wild Bill wasn't at first this time. I got an high fastball, sweet chin music they call it. I knew the lyrics of this song, high fastball shake the rookie up then make him look silly with a fastball right down the throat of the plate. We're 2-0 down, I'm facing Veenman one of the best pitchers in the league it's my second at bat in the majors and I'm laughing inside.

"1 ball no strikes, Gomez kicks some dirt around settles in. Veeman nods to his catcher, winds up fires a.........."

It was a fastball I knew it and when I made contact Veeman knew what was coming, he was already bent over head in mitt before the ball was over the infield dirt. It may have only just cleared the blue walls of Piraeus Park but to me it reached the moon, I went on to get another single and a double 4 for 4 in a 4-3 win over the Cedars.

"How about throw a bucket of water over him."

"Stop with the throwing, the kids earned a good night's sleep."

I woke up the morning after in my hotel room, on the bedside cabinet were two baseball's. One had a sticker on it "Bartolo Gomez 1st ML Hit" on the other ball were signatures of the guys, underneath a note, it read "The ball from the last out of the game, you deserve it. Welcome to the majors kid." I'd no idea how I'd got to my room nor how the baseball's had got there, however I must have been hungry there was popcorn on the pillows.
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2051 75-87
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2049 72-81
Valencia Stars 2045-2047 185-301
Beirut Cedars 2044 90-72
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2042-2043 112-118
Cairo Chariot Archers BC 2041 8-5

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Re: To Tired For Nerves

Post by recte44 » Sat May 02, 2020 11:16 pm

This was really good!!

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Re: To Tired For Nerves

Post by Clayman » Sun May 03, 2020 3:03 am

recte44 wrote:
Sat May 02, 2020 11:16 pm
This was really good!!
Thank you.
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2051 75-87
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2049 72-81
Valencia Stars 2045-2047 185-301
Beirut Cedars 2044 90-72
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2042-2043 112-118
Cairo Chariot Archers BC 2041 8-5

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Re: To Tired For Nerves

Post by RonCo » Sun May 03, 2020 8:30 am

Nice read!
GM: Bikini Krill
Nothing Matters But the Pacific Pennant
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Clayman
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Re: To Tired For Nerves

Post by Clayman » Sun May 03, 2020 9:53 am

RonCo wrote:
Sun May 03, 2020 8:30 am
Nice read!
I worry when they get that long, if they are to long.
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2051 75-87
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2049 72-81
Valencia Stars 2045-2047 185-301
Beirut Cedars 2044 90-72
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2042-2043 112-118
Cairo Chariot Archers BC 2041 8-5

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Re: To Tired For Nerves

Post by johnd2442 » Sun May 03, 2020 12:36 pm

Great stuff. I know we talked about the fictional player stories adding an appealing layer to the game. This is a great one.
Cairo Chariot Archers, 2042 -
General Manager: John Diaz

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Clayman
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Re: To Tired For Nerves

Post by Clayman » Sun May 03, 2020 1:26 pm

johnd2442 wrote:
Sun May 03, 2020 12:36 pm
Great stuff. I know we talked about the fictional player stories adding an appealing layer to the game. This is a great one.
Kind words John, I think the player spotlights are my favourites to write. Dont get me wrong i like writing other stuff but bringing players to life, I get a buzz out of that.
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2051 75-87
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2049 72-81
Valencia Stars 2045-2047 185-301
Beirut Cedars 2044 90-72
Athens Fighting Centaurs 2042-2043 112-118
Cairo Chariot Archers BC 2041 8-5

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