The plays of summer

Today really felt like summer. The Braves played the Phillies. I don't like the Phillies. Never have. I kind of like the Eagles some times. I would like the A's if they were back in Philadelphia. But I don't like the Phillies. Never have. And the Braves beat them again for the third time in a row. And it made eight in a row, I think and they are now 2 1/2 games in first in the East. Above the Phillies. Above the accursed Mets. Above the Marlines. Above the Nationals.

This morning I woke up early and watched a bit of television and saw the Sports anchor excited about the Braves being hot. Hot, like summer.

Then it was hot and sunny this morning until the rains came and covered everything with summer showers. Cool and hot together. Just like Dairy Queen.

Then I turned the television over to ESPN so I could watch a bit of baseball between the Cardinals and the Reds. It was tied. 0-0. And they turned the broadcast over to Detroit to show a young pitcher from Argentina who had a perfect game through seven. And he was working on eight, striking out one, a couple of ground outs. Then the Tigers scored two more runs to make it easier and the pitcher stepped up to the mound in the top of the ninth and let one go and the ball soared toward the centerfield fence and the centerfielder ran it down and caught it like Willie Mays catching the fly off Vic Wertz's bat in 1954. Then they threw the ball back so the pitcher could heave a ball and let the shortstop pick it up and throw it to first base for out number two.

Then the Indians brought the last batter to the plate. A young skinny kid who didn't look like he was going to do anything. And the pitcher threw one for a strike, then a ball low and outside. Then the third pitch was low but the batter hit it toward the gap between the first base man and second and the first baseman back-handed it and the turned and the pitcher and the batter were running toward first when the the ball was thrown by the first baseman to the pitcher who caught it and looked down and stepped on first a good step before the batter and he looked at the first base umpire and the first baseman was jumping up with joy and the arms of the umpire were showing safe and everyone looked with incredulity.

I couldn't believe it. Cindy replayed it slowly to see. It was so clear. The pitcher walked back to the mound and the runner ran unimpeded from first to second to third. And the new batter finally grounded out for the final out.

But there was still one more player who got to come to bat than was necessary. I called Kate. I called Frank. I called Ed. I was amazed.

That one will be shown for years to come. Summer is here.