On the train to Seattle, I also wrote this baseball gem with shades of “Casey at the Bat.” Apparently, I was also thinking of the National Geographic documentary Free Solo about mountain climbers who truly hang from the cliffs, since baseball is not a life or death sport. It’s only a game:

Cliffhanger

The object is simple,
I once said to Cliff.
Hit it where they ain’t,
Pitch where they’ll whiff.

Cliff is my pitcher,
Who’s learning the rules.
I told him I’ve studied,
At the finest baseball schools.

You see it’s a game
That may seem quite boring.
But you’re certain to win,
If you keep them from scoring.

Don’t let them on base,
For any damn reason.
This is the key,
To a great baseball season.

If they can’t get to first,
They can’t make the steal.
Just strike them out,
It’s no big deal.

If they do hit the sphere,
Just be where it lands.
This maintains quiet,
With the fans in the stands.

If it falls to the ground,
Just throw them out.
But if it spins away,
There may be some doubt.

Don’t let that happen,
Keep it away from the bat.
You don’t want that hit,
To be a troublesome stat.

Keep the scoreboard at zero,
And YOU get the hits.
The logic behind this,
Doesn’t take wits.

Outscore your opponent,
And victory is yours.
In case that first score,
Somehow occurs.

Don’t make it complicated,
And make that mistake.
Keep them hitless,
For Heaven’s sake.

Cliff simply nodded,
As if he understood.
Then threw his first pitch,
And it hit wood.

It sailed into the sky,
And over the fence.
And I looked at him,
As if he was dense.

I tried to explain,
Don’t give up any more!
Because now we too,
Will have to score.

He give me a wink,
Then blew it again.
If Cliff keeps this up,
We’ll never win.

So I called for time,
And pulled him aside,
But the very next batter,
Gave it a ride.

Cliff is no genius,
It’s clear to me.
We lost that game,
‘Cause Cliff gave up 3!

Copyright 2019 johnstonwrites.com