good news regarding wednesday's softball: i went 4-for-5, all singles, scored a run.

that's all for good news.

wednesday was a beautiful day...however, the night got cold and ugly. from the start of our 8 p.m. game (to be immediately followed by a 9 p.m. game), things were off-kilter.

actually, they started okay. we allowed three runs in the top of the first, but scored five times in the bottom half. and that was it for good news. we lost 19-8. the rain fell. we had a brief rain delay. (it did give our late-arriving team time to purchase a pitcher, finally.) i think they scored nine in the top of the second, leading to a 1-2-3 inning.

we were about all partially at fault. a dropped ball at first. a dropped ball on a force at second. a ball that our left side of the infield pulled an "i got it, i got it, you got it, ohhh..." on. a ball that fell between left-center and right-center. and at least three misplayed balls in left by yours truly. one, a single that got past me. secondly, a single that i overran and played into two. and three, a liner to me that i charged in on, then turned and watched it sail to the wall for a three-run job. ugh.

i'd like to devote a paragraph to our struggling pitcher, who was truly terrible, unfortunately. with a three-week break (we were rained out last week, and he was out of town the week before), the big fella was off his game. in a league where a walk sends a dude to second and the girl behind him to first...the big fella walked four straight girls during the nine-run second inning. it was simply awful.

game one was awful to the point where we were actually mildly grumbling to each other.

the only good part? tadahito had blasted his three-run shot on the way over. i heard big ed farmer's call, and heard bud joining him on the call. the rocket had the headphones tuned to the radio and was keeping us posted (although i'm sure it negatively impacted his play.)

oh yeah. also, our manager was not there, apparently in a wife-related squabble. so that was sort of good too.

when it couldn't get worse, game two was worse. we allowed 12 - count them - 12 runs in the top of the first inning. leadoff man walked (putting runners at first and second.) big lefty in the number three spot hit a towering popup to shallow left. our hustling leftfielder sprinted in, as it was just beyond the reach of third. our hustling leftfielder went to the knees to make the sliding-in-the-wet-grass catch. our hustling leftfielder go tthe glove under it, felt it pop in the glove, then watched it bounce out. loaded bases. then, back-to-back two-pitch walks. down 4-0. then more trouble. then more trouble. at least three more walks in the inning, and the big fella finally turns to call the shortstop in. so shortstop starts to make the call to the bullpen. but he doesn't want the call to the bullpen, only wants to say "we're not fucking swinging when we get up there." sigh. 12 runs. sigh.

after the third out, rain delay.

after the rain delay, this guy singles to left to open the inning. then a popup from our number two hitter. then a popup - dropped - by our three-guy, putting me at third and the rocket at second. then an "i saw lightning!" excuse. then a cancellation.

so we're sitting there, finishing pitcher number two. and the owner comes up. "bad news. normally, we start over. but if any team is ever ahead by seven runs, we pick up from there." assballs.

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surprisingly good fortune today found me ignoring a phone call at 9:52 a.m., then getting a second phone call at 9:52 a.m., and begrudgingly picking it up. "come here. [the rocket's office] now." "what?" "come. now."

so the rocket's fallen into cardinals tickets. we had given them to a sponsor, and the sponsor couldn't use them. so we leave the office. by 1005. woof!

it was a great time. the game was better than the score indicates. the cards turned double plays in the 4th 5th 6th 7th innings. the padres left the bags jammed in the second and eighth (randy flores k's mark sweeney. awesome!)

on the way back, the rocket gets a call. he had missed a different softball league tonight. "we did better in game two!" a pair of slaughter-losses, one in the third and one in the fourth. so at least we were better than that.

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hey, i sure like this white sox team. and i sure think that the opening cut on the new franz ferdinand record rules. haven't heard beyond there.