The Smart-Arse

The brothers Mitch and Benji Cartwright were together to a baseball game. Because their father Adam Cartwright was their baseball coach the boys were brought up in the rules and terms of baseball.

It was in the 6^th inning. There was 1 man out of the visiting team. The 1^st base was occupied. The batter hit the ball away and the 2^nd baseman caught it. He threw it to the short top and he threw it to the first baseman.

A man behind the brothers said, “That was fielder’s choice.”

Mitch and Benji first looked amazed at each other and stated to laugh hard then.

“That was double play, not a fielder’s choice”, laughed Benji.

The stadium speaker said, “That was a nice double play from 4 to 6 to 3.”

The man nudged Mitch and said, “Tell me what a fielder’s choice is.”

“Imagine: there is 1 man on 1^st base. The batter hits the ball to the 2^nd baseman but he throws it to the short stop. Then the base runner on 1^st base goes out because the ball is earlier at 2^nd base than he is. The batter can then can go to 1^st base. Simple”, answered Mitch.

“How do you know that?”, asked the man.

“Our pa is baseball coach. He also trains our teams”, answered Benji.

“Thanks”, said the man.

Then he asked again, “When is there an interval during the game?”

“Interval during a baseball game?”, Mitch asked amazed.

Benji asked the same thing.

“There is only an interval if there is a big rain. Otherwise the 2 teams just play 9 innings”, said the oldest Cartwright.

Benji said adding, “Unless it’s an equal score after 9 innings. Then they play on until there is a winning team.”

“This is probably the 1^st time that you see a baseball game?”, Mitch asked carefully.

“Of course not. I come so often to a baseball game. But I heard you talking about it so I just thought to test you about your baseball knowledge”, lied the man.

“I already went to a game before I was born”, Mitch said smiling.

“That is really impossible”, said the man.

“That is possible. Because when I was underway my mother went with my father often to a game”, Mitch explained.

“Do you know what a grand slam homerun is?”, asked Benji.

The man thought for a second and answered then, “That never happens in baseball. That term really doesn’t exists.”

In the meantime all bases were loaded by the home team.

“Sir, just pay attention”, said Benji.

They watched breathless to the pitcher and the batter. A second later the ball got hit into the public. Benji caught it but it was foul. The batter already stood on 3 balls and 2 strikeouts, full count to say. Again the ball got hit away but this time Mitch caught it. Then the batter hit the ball out of the stadium.

The stadium speaker called enthusiastic, “A grand slam homerun for the Carson City Diamonds!”

“You see that the term does exists? And also happens in baseball?”, asked Benji.

“You do know that you have to give the ball back which you just caught?”, asked the man.

“We just may keep them and take home as a souvenir”, said Mitch.

For the security and safety they had put the balls into their bags.

There was a call, “Will the owner of the blue car with license plate 22 HH 66 remove his car before the lights are out? It ‘s also blocking the locker room of the away team.”

The man ran off the tribune to get his car away.

“Finally. I thought that he would never leave”, said Mitch.

His brother said, “That fellow really never has been to a baseball game.”

Then he looked behind him and he saw another ball lying.

Quickly he grabbed it and said, “This one is for Lisa.”

Mitch said, “Probably of that smart-arse. In your bag with it.”

Benji did that right away. Fortunately for the Cartwrights the smart-arse didn’t come back anymore.

Because the home team were already ahead in runs with 11-0 the game was over quite soon. Mitch sent a text to his father to pick up him and Benji. De brothers remained waiting until most visitors were away.

On the way home Adam asked, “How was the game?”

“Great. Only behind us sat a fellow who claimed to know everything about baseball. Luckily he got called away because the lights of his car were still burning and his car blocked the door of the locker room of the away team”, answered Mitch.

“And you have explained him well how it is?”, Adam asked carefully.

“In our own way of course. We both caught a ball and found another one for Lisa”, was the answer of his youngest son.

The boys have had a great evening despite the presence of the smart-arse who by the way never went to the baseball ever again.