John Miller, who is playing and coaching for the Brussels Kangaroos in the Belgian 2nd Division and is a reporter for a big American newspaper, is now also the Little League Commissioner for Belgium. He is also back chronicling the 2010 season in his “Old World Pastime” column on Mister-Baseball.com for a third straight year.
(Pre-game:)
Here’s the spirit of baseball:
Rock and roll, standing tall,
Playing catch, batting practice
Sling slider: “Swung on and missed!”
Pick apart that swing
Tee, toss, video’s the thing
Work the backhand
Left to the fast land
Bullpen sessions at sundown
Bunt defense, the one-throw rundown
Burgers, beers when it’s done
Four cheers for this fun
Tight practice plans
Dumb parent bans
Infield/outfield toned
Some pleasures can’t be loaned
(Place:)
Line field
Shine shield
Roll balls
The first pitch calls
Two teams prepared
A few hours snared
This ballgame’s all set
Place your Pete Rose bet
Managers speechify
Players self-deify
Preparation is moot
With a corner on the talent loot
(Scenes:)
Show up early, extra grounders
Sunny BP, better than rounders!
Play hard, live with the score
It’s hard, is why we want more
Good coach/dad: Hit better next time
Bad: Strikeout! That’s a crime!
Good: You’re pitching, that’s swell
Bad: Ball? Jesus Christ, What the hell?
Evaluate sign
Fingertips align
Mechanical devotion
It is the magic potion
Ball flees the hand
Hitter sees seams planned
Steps, strides, swings, strikes
Swords the sphere, likes!
The official decides
His truth is our rides
Yes, no, answers galore
Does God like us when we roar?
Ready position, jump
Take to the chest, a lump!
Pick up and fire
There, the runner retire
The hitter is to win
When he will spin
A laser/loft/line
In pierce of the nine
Then runner leads, out of the crouch
Catcher springs, fires from his pouch
Shortstop grabs, tags; to bed!
At second, spotlight: Red
As innings on tumble
Rental mental rumble
Play three times three or fold
The game goes to the bold
Fan chugs the beer
Looks far and near
Claps for it all
He can play more improved ball!
(Truths:)
On and on it goes
Twixt allies ‘n foes
Loser blames his letter
But better is, uh, better
Tho we grind and we sleuth
The game tells the truth:
Winners: pace, grace and fielding first base
Losers: race, place and saving face
(What’s next?)
When you’ve won or lost
4,000 euros or ten million dollars cost
You ask what is next to baseball:
Job, wife, coach, coffee at the mall?
The answer: We forget
As sunny Saturday we let
Lead to grass, dirt, white
Social dolls, give up the fight
This is poor stuff I scrawl
A fine ball of a free fall
But minute, hour, day, week
The spirit of baseball will speak