If They Don't Win It's A Shame
A Parrot and an Otter were at a baseball game. It was the 4th baseball game they had attended in a row and all three of the previous games ended with the home team losing. Which according to the traditional baseball ballad, Take Me Out To The Ball Game, is a shame. And if you’ve ever heard the NC-17 version then you know when the home team loses, it’s more than just a shame, it’s a damn shame.
Perry, the Parrot, turned to Otto the Otter in the middle of the third inning, the away team had just scored 3 runs and the home team was up to bat.
“Why do we do this to ourselves, Otto?” Perry asked, exasperated, “We’ve seen the home team lose three games in a row and still we came today. Why?”
Otto thought about this as the first batter of the bottom of the third came up to bat.
“I don’t like losing,” Perry continued, “I don’t like watching my team lose, and they do it, All. The. Time. So why are we here?”
Otto thought for a long moment. The first batter reached base on a single and the second batter was walked. Then as the third batter approached the plate the base runners stole second and third, respectively.
“I mean what’s to enjoy?” Perry concluded, “Constant disappointment?”
The third batter up to the plate struck out pretty unceremoniously. He went down looking at three straight pitches. Some of the fans even booed the batter. Which, to his credit, the batter took accountability for his lack of aggressiveness at the plate by nodding in agreement with the fans.
“Well,” Otto sighed, “First, let’s acknowledge that there is always something about what you consider your ‘home’ baseball team that will always be a part of your heart.”
The fourth batter of the inning started fouling off pitches like it was his job. Which, it’s certainly not. Then he watched a beautiful strike go by for the second out of the inning. Two men on, down three. Third inning.
“If you stop going to games because you assume your team is always going to lose, then in a very real way, you walk around with a loss on your heart all the time,” Otto continued.
The next batter up had found himself with a full count. He had taken a swing at a bad-looking pitch at 3-1 to make the count full. The next pitch came. Ball 4. Take your base. Now, fully loaded.
“But when you go to the game,” Otto continued, “You walk in and you take in the whole stadium, it’s a beautiful day, the field looks pristine, the uniforms are crisp, maybe it’s dollar hot dog night and you get yourself a couple, you grab a big soda with lots of ice, a cold beer, and for however brief a moment, the home team has a chance. They could pull it out. No one loses every game in baseball, even if they lose most of their games, no one loses all of their games. So there is a moment where it is possible the home team can win. And that feeling of hope can be applied to your own life. You might lose a lot, but because you showed up, it’s impossible for you to lose them all. You just have to keep showing up. You never know when you’re going to win.”
The batter at the plate took a good hard swing at a fastball and made solid contact. The ball lifted into the air. It was a shot. A dart. It was going back, back, back, back, back, way back, and…GONE! Grand Slam! The home team was leading in the third.
Perry and Otto and the rest of the stadium jumped out of their seats and erupted in cheers. It was a wonderful feeling. Everyone felt like winners. What a glorious game and what a glorious day.
What a shame the game didn’t end there. The home team ended up losing their fourth home game in a row, 7-4. The fans filed out of the stadium and began making plans for the next time they would come out to the ball game.
