PROMOTIONS
JULY 26, 2024, 6:30 P.M., BRYANT FIELD, MARYSVILLE, CA
Things went well in Marysville, considering the temperature at game time was 102. First, I did live batting practice in the cage. In my imagination, every single time I hit the ball it was ripped for an RBI (though afterwards manager Bill Rogan understatedly said, "You hit a few ropes"). Then, after warming up with Rogan, I threw out the first pitch. Everyone was SO NICE. The starting pitcher, A.J. Cordova, stepped off the mound when I came up, smiled, and said, "Show me how it's done." I managed to get the pill to the plate, though it was low and slow as molasses. The catcher, J.D. Leslie, yelled, "Way to go, man!" Thanks to Bill Rogan's kindness, I watched the first half of the game from the dugout. Quite a thrill. Thanks to the kindness of GM Jerry Bettencourt, my wife Kate, sister Carol, and brother-in-law Jeff got to cool off in the press box. Did I sell any books? Who cares? I became a lifelong fan of the Marysville Drakes. Well, until the team disbanded this off season. Rogan is off to manage my new favorite team: the Bakersfield Train Robbers, though Kate and I are not about to visit Bakersfield. Instead, we will see them play the Monterey Amberjacks July 13. (Update: The Monterey ballpark is beautiful; right on the bay. So of course their team disbanded after the 2025 season. Sorry, Bill, we are NOT going to Bakersfield to see a game!)