My parents were out of town in October. As a matter of teen pride, I spent the unsupervised time throwing beer parties at the house. Game 7 was on a Wednesday, perfect time to have the guys over to support Anheuser-Busch.

It seemed so unlikely. I read this sign marking the birthplace of Jackie Robinson, in a house burned down in 1996. Only the chimney remained. The brick chimney was encircled by chain-link fence, wrapped tight as if to protect it from harm. The cast-metal sign marker was pockmarked by a shotgun blast. 

There is no substitute for being present, on the scene. I listen specifically because I cannot be there; that’s what I need from the announcer. I can watch TV myself. 

A trusted voice beckons the past into the present, a familiar phrase projects memories into the future.

At the beginning of the season, I did not think I’d be listening to more Sacramento A’s radio (non-family division) than any other. The A’s are a nomadic group of cost-controlled really fun ballers who find themselves in first place.

“Changeup!” Kevin Stocker, a former player and analyst on the WIP broadcast said to register his surprise at the pitch selection. 

“Need to change something up,” Scott Franzke offered, aridly, during Sunday’s Phillies broadcast. 

“Heh heh heh,” Stocker gave low-wattage assent.

It’s a Robert Altman movie of a baseball season and on Saturday John Henry, Sam Kennedy, and Craig Breslow delivered the first disruptive plot twist.

“What better day than today to turn it around than right here, right now.”