Read Online Baseball Great by Tim Green - Free Book Online Page B

said.
    â€œI’m not the strongest,” he said. “Not even close.”
    â€œYou don’t have to be the strongest to hit,” Jaden said. “Or play shortstop.”
    â€œIt helps,” Josh said. “But I’m getting better.”
    â€œThat stuff you drink at dinner when you hold your nose?” Jaden asked.
    â€œYou ever check out what that stuff is?” Benji asked her.
    â€œThe technical name is arginine alpha-ketoglu-tarate,” she said. “In theory, it replenishes the nitrogen in your cells and enhances the production of amino acids, the building blocks for muscle development.”
    â€œWhat?” Benji said, his eyes wide. “Steroids?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN
    â€œNO,” JADEN AND JOSH said at the same time.
    Josh looked at her, and she said to Benji, “A supplement. Like food. Some people don’t even think they do anything. There’ve been studies that show placebos to be just as effective.”
    â€œWhat’s a placebo?” Benji asked.
    Jaden sighed and said, “They tell people they’re getting a supplement, but they just give them sugar pills with nothing in them. In some tests it works just as well. People think they’re going to get stronger, and they do.”
    â€œMaybe I should be using that Stax stuff,” Benji said.
    â€œThey probably just work harder,” Jaden said. “Now, can we do this poster?”
    â€œBite my head off,” Benji said.
    â€œWell, first we’re doing a math tutorial,” Jaden said, “and now we’re doing the ESPN Sports Reporters .”
    â€œI’m a man of many interests and many talents,” Benji said, placing a hand over his heart. “That’s how you get personality .”
    â€œLast I checked, that wasn’t a college major,” Jaden said, picking up a chart and beginning to snip away the edges with a pair of scissors.
    â€œMajor?” Benji said. “I’m majoring in baseball—that’s if I don’t go straight to the pros.”
    â€œThen how come you’re not the one with the Titans?” Jaden asked, coating the back of the chart with a glue stick.
    â€œWhen I’m developed, that’s all,” Benji said. “So I’m not a behemoth like my buddy here. I’ll grow, and when I do, I’ll be right there next to him, leading off.”
    â€œI won’t be there myself if we don’t get this done and I get some sleep,” Josh said.
    They got to work, and at 9:07, Josh’s friends walked out together. He got ready for bed and went down into the TV room to kiss his parents good-night. His mom worked on a Sudoku puzzle from the couch while his dad sat stretched back in his recliner, watching a Yankees game.
    â€œBed already?” his mom asked.
    â€œWe find out tomorrow who gets cut,” Josh said. He watched his dad but got no reaction until cheers camefrom the TV.
    â€œYou see that double play?” his father asked.
    Josh turned and watched the replay.
    â€œThat’ll be you,” his dad said.
    â€œSo, you think I’ll make it?” Josh asked.
    His dad clicked the remote, muting the TV, and said, “I don’t know, Josh.”
    â€œYou’re kidding, right?” Josh said. “I mean, you work with Rocky, right?”
    His father shook his head and said, “It doesn’t work that way. Rocky’s not going to keep you unless he and his coaches think you’re better than someone else. You probably have to be a lot better than the older kids for them to keep you, Josh.”
    Josh felt pressure build up in his face, and before he could stop himself he shouted, “Then why did I do all this?”
    Josh’s mother put aside her puzzle and glanced nervously between Josh and his father. Josh’s father reached down and cranked on the lever of his chair, bringing it upright and sitting tall.
    â€œYou did it to be the best,” his