verdugo288

Ever had that happen when you’re spinning the dial on your radio trying to get the station to tune-in while you drive?

You can kinda hear the song…sometimes “bam” it comes in and you’re good. Other times the song comes in crystal clear for maybe four or five seconds and then goes back to static.

That’s what the walk to the parking lot was like for me anyways between games in this double-header.

The song? Spiro

He was over there addressing his team in the left-field foul territory area as all our guys walked out into the parking lot to get some hot dogs and a coke. Jess Rogers was out there cooking ’em up….he was even wearing an apron!!!!

Anyways ….I could see he was talking to them. But I couldn’t hear “the song” you know?

Not that I cared what he was saying….but it was all static….but I could hear his voice. There was a “sweet-spot” in the reception that covered maybe 5-6 steps. As I walked through that sweet spot ….Spiro’s “song” came in chrystal-clear. All I heard him say was “I mean….you guys just lost to a guy who drank 35 beers last night!”

I caught that part of it and then I got “out of range” and it all went back to static. I never broke stride….and that was all I heard….

Hey at least I got to hear the part of the song I wanted to hear….right?

And it’s funny. Between the games and even before the games and after the games we played today one could see (if they were looking) the differences in our programs.

The Glendale Team over there taking a knee and gathering around one of their coaches after the first game.

Our guys? We were all milling around in the parking lot. Having a dog. Having a coke. We took about two minutes where we were all together and burning a fungo and laughing. Some guys toasting each other….certainly Henry doing some “play-by-play” and re-living all the heartbreaking moments that had just gone down for Glendale.

That’s just how we roll at Verdugo.

Our “between-games” ritual probably looked more like a Friday night backyard party with people milling about with those red plastic cups and a keg….right?

I was probably out in the parking lot 5-10 minutes. We burned the fungo…smiled a lot…I told Parque to “be ready” which I had to keep telling him all day….

I made my way over to Kasey and Bir and let them know they were starting in game two and that was about it….I was heading back to the dugout. Probably smoking a cig…..

I’m not saying the way we ran things was better than Glendale or how they ran things were better than what we did.

But if anyone was paying attention. The differences in how both teams roll was on full display on this 4th of July day 1992.

If I was a free-agent sitting in the stands looking to get signed by somebody and I was watching this game? Personally….I’d be thinking…”I think I’d rather play for those dudes in the first-base dugout for sure!”