Texas, who led the division.
"Murdoch's your only big salary," the man persisted. "Any chance front office will get you another big salary or two before the trade deadline?"
"My business is what happens on the field," Rick declared. "Any other business I leave to front office."
Despite avoiding the question, Rick was quite sure he knew the answer. What you see is what you got. Management was interested in acquiring new players only if the result were lower salaries, not higher ones. And, as he'd theorized before about Murdoch, they wouldn't even keep him were not most of his contract being paid by Cleveland.
"I'm sure you wouldn't mind another player or two," the bald man countered.
"I like the guys I got," Rick stated. "Anyway, all this is purely speculation. Something I don't have time for right now because we have a plane to catch."
He had already started to leave the room before finishing the last remarks, unzipping his jersey top as he went.
Chapter Ten
The left hander, wearing a white uniform trimmed in blue, fired a fastball over the heart of the plate. The batter swung, but much too late. Strike three. Third out. The left hander trotted off the mound, toward the first base dugout.
Karen Riley, sitting in the grandstand, waved to him. So did little Tammy. Lauren Riley clapped her hands. Terry, seated next to her, on the other side from the two girls, could feel a wide grin cross his face. Billy Riley had just pitched his fifth scoreless inning. One more and he'd record a shutout.
"Told you he's got talent,â Terry said to Lauren.
She smiled at him. He liked her smile, possibly because it conveyed a touch of shyness. He also liked sitting beside her, and had already caught himself glancing at her a couple of times during the afternoon, instead of at the game.
"He looks good in that uniform," he offered.
"He should," she chuckled. "He's had it a week and it's entirely replaced the rest of his wardrobe."
Terry grinned again. As he'd suggested to Billy, he had checked with several teammates about a good Little League. One of them knew a coach who lived near the Rileys. A couple of phone calls and Billy was on "The Dodgers," who played their games here at this park, close to the Rileys' house.
"I was sorry to hear about the children's father," Terry said carefully, once Billy returned to the mound for the final scheduled inning.
Lauren's only response was a solemn nod. Again, it wasn't the time or place to inquire further. He merely sat there silently, watching the game. Billy did give up two hits and a walk, loading the bases, but then managed to strike out the final two batters, securing his shutout.
"What happened?" Terry teased him as they all walked back to the house afterward. "Get tired out there that last inning?"
Billy, as usual, smiled shyly. Terry immediately recognized his mother's smile in his. Something he hadn't noticed before.
"Guess we'd better add a few wind sprints to our next workout," he winked.
This time, when they got to the white house, it was Karen who invited Terry inside, telling him that she and Lauren were baking a casserole for dinner.
"Sounds great," he said. "But I've got my own game to go to tonight."
"Mommy, can we go too?" Tammy bubbled.
"No sweetie. One game's enough for today."
Â
Terry was feeling especially content as he left Oakland Stadium late at night, headed for Collie Quinn's car in the parking lot. Less than an hour ago he had struck out the final batter of the game with the tying run on third, notching his eleventh consecutive save as Oakland won 4-3. Every time Oakland had a tenuous lead in the ninth inning lately, a frequent occurrence in the last two or three weeks, Rick brought him in. No question he had solidified the closer role.
He spotted Collie's car ahead. Surprisingly, when he reached it, he found other players there. In fact, the entire Oakland infield was already seated in the car. Besides second baseman Collie behind the steering
"Murdoch's your only big salary," the man persisted. "Any chance front office will get you another big salary or two before the trade deadline?"
"My business is what happens on the field," Rick declared. "Any other business I leave to front office."
Despite avoiding the question, Rick was quite sure he knew the answer. What you see is what you got. Management was interested in acquiring new players only if the result were lower salaries, not higher ones. And, as he'd theorized before about Murdoch, they wouldn't even keep him were not most of his contract being paid by Cleveland.
"I'm sure you wouldn't mind another player or two," the bald man countered.
"I like the guys I got," Rick stated. "Anyway, all this is purely speculation. Something I don't have time for right now because we have a plane to catch."
He had already started to leave the room before finishing the last remarks, unzipping his jersey top as he went.
Chapter Ten
The left hander, wearing a white uniform trimmed in blue, fired a fastball over the heart of the plate. The batter swung, but much too late. Strike three. Third out. The left hander trotted off the mound, toward the first base dugout.
Karen Riley, sitting in the grandstand, waved to him. So did little Tammy. Lauren Riley clapped her hands. Terry, seated next to her, on the other side from the two girls, could feel a wide grin cross his face. Billy Riley had just pitched his fifth scoreless inning. One more and he'd record a shutout.
"Told you he's got talent,â Terry said to Lauren.
She smiled at him. He liked her smile, possibly because it conveyed a touch of shyness. He also liked sitting beside her, and had already caught himself glancing at her a couple of times during the afternoon, instead of at the game.
"He looks good in that uniform," he offered.
"He should," she chuckled. "He's had it a week and it's entirely replaced the rest of his wardrobe."
Terry grinned again. As he'd suggested to Billy, he had checked with several teammates about a good Little League. One of them knew a coach who lived near the Rileys. A couple of phone calls and Billy was on "The Dodgers," who played their games here at this park, close to the Rileys' house.
"I was sorry to hear about the children's father," Terry said carefully, once Billy returned to the mound for the final scheduled inning.
Lauren's only response was a solemn nod. Again, it wasn't the time or place to inquire further. He merely sat there silently, watching the game. Billy did give up two hits and a walk, loading the bases, but then managed to strike out the final two batters, securing his shutout.
"What happened?" Terry teased him as they all walked back to the house afterward. "Get tired out there that last inning?"
Billy, as usual, smiled shyly. Terry immediately recognized his mother's smile in his. Something he hadn't noticed before.
"Guess we'd better add a few wind sprints to our next workout," he winked.
This time, when they got to the white house, it was Karen who invited Terry inside, telling him that she and Lauren were baking a casserole for dinner.
"Sounds great," he said. "But I've got my own game to go to tonight."
"Mommy, can we go too?" Tammy bubbled.
"No sweetie. One game's enough for today."
Â
Terry was feeling especially content as he left Oakland Stadium late at night, headed for Collie Quinn's car in the parking lot. Less than an hour ago he had struck out the final batter of the game with the tying run on third, notching his eleventh consecutive save as Oakland won 4-3. Every time Oakland had a tenuous lead in the ninth inning lately, a frequent occurrence in the last two or three weeks, Rick brought him in. No question he had solidified the closer role.
He spotted Collie's car ahead. Surprisingly, when he reached it, he found other players there. In fact, the entire Oakland infield was already seated in the car. Besides second baseman Collie behind the steering
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