the fourth man

...you hear it in football (12 man--Texas A&M) and hoops (6th man), but in baseball, the extra player is an outfielder, and the fourth man. I watched the game today with the Knot Hole Gang (some 600 folks strong today), and watched 715 leave the bat and was in place on the walkway between the ball yard and the Cove for the ball that never came.

What was even more fascinating than the "historic" blast, was watching Finley play center, while Winn played right during batting practice for Col. vs. Jamey Wright in the top of the 4th. Rockies scored 6 runs, most with two outs, and were peppering line drives in between the 3 outfielders in the top of that inning. Even Pitcher Kim roped one--knocking in 2 runs which essentially put the game out of reach.

Watching those other outfielders field their positions, AT THE SAME FIELD LEVEL as them made it pretty impressive, re how they do their jobs over 162 days. I felt like I was on the field with them--like a fourth outfielder in softball.

My souvenier from 715--two metallic orange ribbons that were shot out of the cannon and landed at the harbor master's station, nestled and wind-wrapped around my dog's favorite hydrant.

Hope he doesn't get a whif of them hanging on my mantle.