2064.02 - Adam Hines Signs

[R.Umali]

2064.02 Adam Hines Signs

Adam Hines had a Stratocaster and noodled around on it some but he'd never once sat in with the weekend killers at the Green Mill. That place was all Chicago Blues, which meant electric. His guitar happy place was the Delta Blues. The quartet on stage were fierce, electric, and loud enough to rattle the bottles on the back bar. The guitarist chased solos like they were chasing rent. Hines knew his lane and it wasn't hunting the loudest stage or, as the world found out this Friday afternoon, the biggest paycheck.

"Ya coulda pulled more scrilla in free agency, my guy," shouted Plicio, the diminutive Filipino bar back, slinging empties into a tub. The bar was packed, but somehow Plicio kept orbiting Adam's corner.

"What?!" Hines yelled back. He'd heard plenty since the extension hit the wire that afternoon. Tonight wasn't for that. "Can't hear you!" he shouted, smiling. Tonight was for whiskey, noise, and not thinking about the "could'a, should'a, and might'a" beens.

"Millions, man!" Plicio said, rubbing his fingers together in the age-old gesture before peeling off toward the other end of the bar.

Hines had never been wired for chasing every last dollar. Loyalty mattered more. And in Chicago, loyalty paid back in other ways. He was respected in the clubhouse, one of the de facto captains alongside youngster Tony Radtke, the earnest kid who kept sunflower seeds in his hoodie pocket, along with his mini bible.

It was a good locker room. A good mix of guys. That Tolya Shiller seems strung up too tight but he was the guy on the mound when we beat Portland to get into the playoffs. He celebrated just like everyone else.

Sure, Rocky Wattson was gone and so was the trainer Bhujabalin Padmesh. But the players were - now what was it that old Joe Melucci used to say? "strong enough of will" (a J'Kulo phrase, probably) - to work with any new bench boss, trainer, or front-office suit. He raised his glass slightly to honor the old assistant general manager Alfredo Aragon and murmured, "Hope you still have hair, senor." Hines was sure that Aragon had a heavy hand in the extension that he just signed.

Adam scanned the crowd for Persephone, the owner - all black eyeliner and a laugh that could fell a tree - but she wasn't tending tonight. Was she even in the building? He'd wanted to make a joke about his ballooning tabs, and then maybe even poke around about buying a small stake in the place. Goodness knows she's always carping about razor thin margins. With the extension signed, he could easily help her out. Then, maybe in a few years he'd have learned enough to open a joint like this back home in Brooklyn. Now that place would have Delta Blues on the weekend!

A tap on the shoulder. "Aren't you Adam Hines?"

"Cheers," he said. Out of uniform, it actually didn't happen very often.

"Oh, man. Thanks for staying in Chicago, man. We really got something cooking here! You're a great pitcher."

"Thanks." Adam raised his glass. The fan noticed it was nearly empty and waved for the bartender. "Here, let me get the next one."

Adam, fresh off a six-year $134 million extension, let him.
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Adam Hines' contract included a tidy $2m bonus for pitching over 180 innings, something he's done 6 out of the 8 years he's started. There was also a $500k All-Star bonus.

[BaseClogger]

Hines did plenty well for himself.

[Dington]

Oh my…

[Chuck V]

Nice. I was a big fan of Rosa’s Lounge when I lived in Logan Square.

[BaseClogger]

Nice. I was a big fan of Rosa’s Lounge when I lived in Logan Square.

I did not know this part of your history, Chuck! I was in Logan Square when I moved to Chicago. Currently reside in Old Irving Park.

[Chuck V]

lol. I lived there too! I lived on Monticello in Irving Park first. (This was probably around 1990-91. I later lived in Logan Square around 30010. I was born and raised in Glen Ellyn, but have lived coast to coast

[trmmilwwi]

Green Mill is an awesome room.

My kind of guys... I lived in Portage Park from 2014-2022 near Montrose and Milwaukee. 2005-2014 I lived at Western and Addison. Love the City and still try to get back every few weeks. Live in the cornfields of McHenry County now.

[R.Umali]

IRL, I've only been to the Green Mill once. My girlfriend wanted to go to a Poetry Open Mic so I tagged along. In BBA circa 2060, the Green Mill has been repurposed from a cocktail club / jazz club into a blues bar.

While I worked in Chicago, I lived in Evanston (Purple Line represent!) throughout the 90's before moving to Wisconsin.