Dropped Third Strike (Portland Pioneers #1)

by Micah K. Chaplin

  “That’s another thing. My name is Kate now. Not Katie.”

  “But I like Katie better.”

  “Do you like it better than having a job?”

  “Oh, lighten up, Kate,” Reid said, reaching out and pinching her cheek playfully. “I’ll try to remember to call you that, but I can’t help it if I fall back into old habits.”

  She pulled away from his touch as though she’d been burned. But when she spoke, her voice was ice cold.

  “Since you brought it up, calling me ‘Katie’ had better be the only old habit you struggle with here,” she said. “I know you’ve had trouble with alcohol recently, but I hope that’s changed. I won’t stand for any embarrassment of this organization.”

  Reid’s smile fell and he nodded solemnly. “Yeah, I saw that part of my contract.”

  “I thought it was necessary.”

  “I understand. And I’ll behave. You have my word.”

  “Good. I hope it’s worth more than it used to be.”

  Surprise and curiosity registered on his face at her remark. Kate could tell Reid was contemplating her words. She wondered how it was possible that he had forgotten the times he had let her down and hurt her. Yet the expression on his face told her he didn’t feel like he deserved her bitterness.

  James Scott entered the room, interrupting their conversation. He didn’t knock, but his imposing presence didn’t require warning. The Pioneers’ owner stood just a shade over 6’5”, but his linebacker-esque shoulders made him look taller. His jet-black hair was always perfectly styled, and he dressed like he had stepped out of the pages of Golf Digest. The irony was that he wasn’t much of a golfer. He played in the occasional charity event and joined some of the players for a round or two during road trips, but baseball was his focus. Growing up in the Dallas suburbs, James Scott had spent many childhood summers accompanying his grandfather, father, and uncles to Arlington Stadium. He had been in the stands for the first Texas Rangers game ever and many milestones since, including Kenny Rogers’ perfect game, which he liked to bring up in conversation at least five times each season. The man was a true baseball fan, and he preferred to keep his mind on the sport in which his money and passion was invested. Most of his fortune had come from a trust fund, which he wisely invested in stocks and some real estate. Eventually, this afforded him the opportunity to be principal owner of a Major League Baseball franchise. He expected his venture to feed his fortune as well as his competitive nature.

  Kate was not at all surprised to see the owner show up in her office that morning. Clearly, he was anxious to meet the newest member of his staff – a hire he’d been waiting for longer than he thought was appropriate.

  “Mr. Benjamin,” James said, extending his hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve been following your career for some time, and it’s great to have you in the Pioneers family. Don’t let Kate intimidate you. She’s a tough one, but she has a softer side too.”

  “Trust me, I know,” Reid said, as he turned to shake the older man’s hand. “I’m excited at the chance to work with her. She knows her baseball.”

  “That’s exactly why I hired her,” James said. “I’ve met men who know less about the game than she does.”

  “Me too,” Reid said. “I’ve even played against some of them.”

  The two men shared a laugh and started chatting about some of their shared acquaintances.

  Kate left them to their conversation and went back to her desk so she could read more e-mails and scan the latest transactions before her presence was required downstairs at Fan Fest. Now that the hitting coach situation was resolved, she had time to look at their rosters and see where they might need some extra options, such as catcher. Their current backstop was hitting a respectable .250, picking off sixty percent of would be base stealers and handling their pitching staff with ease, but Ben Ramirez couldn’t catch 162 games. Their backup from the previous season had been shipped off to Tampa Bay as part of a trade for a new bullpen arm, and she wasn’t completely comfortable with the leading catcher in their minor league system. He had a ton of upside, but he’d only recently converted from first base to catching. Kate and her staff believed he needed a little more time behind the dish in the minors before breaking into the big leagues. Catchers always developed slower than other position players, so they needed to be patient with this one.

  As the time for the press conference drew nearer, Kate made a few notes to check on the availability and cost of a few players before closing her notebook. She looked up and was suddenly aware that she was now alone in her office. Reid and James had wandered out of her office at some point while she was distracted by batting averages and on base percentages. She was impressed she’d been able to focus on her work even with Reid in the room, to the point of not even noticing whether or not he was there. It made her feel better about the prospect of working with him.

  With her phone and folder of notes in hand, Kate headed down to the lower level of the ballpark. The aforementioned men were already mingling with some of the reporters who had begun filtering into the media room. The space was used almost daily during the regular season, but it had been fairly quiet over the winter. Kate approached James and Reid, subtly urging them to take their seats at the long table at the front of the room. She couldn’t help but notice how perfect Reid looked in his grey suit and deep red shirt with the team logo in a grid-like pattern behind him. He looked like he belonged, and judging by the smile on his face as James Scott introduced him, it appeared he felt like he belonged already as well.

  Kate fought to pull her gaze from Reid and turned her attention to the reporters. With the official introduction complete, the assembled gallery began asking questions of James and Reid. Predictably, the first reporter questioned Reid’s ability to coach considering his own failures at the plate. Reid seemed to expect it, and he explained how he had worked with several young hitters at the University of North Carolina.

  “Sometimes knowing what you need to do and being able to do it are two different things,” Reid said. “I may not have the ability to hit at a big league level, but I have plenty of knowledge about it. I’ve seen a lot of pitchers and a lot of hitters. I know I can help the Pioneers improve their already impressive offense.”

  The next few questions surrounded Reid’s impressions of the Pioneers, as a team and an organization. Reid spoke diplomatically about the Mets, the organization that had launched his career, before expressing his excitement about being in Portland and starting a new chapter of his life in baseball.

  “You were only released a few days ago. How can you be sure another team won’t want you in their outfield?” a reporter asked. “How would you react if that opportunity came up?”

  Several recorders beeped as Reid took his time answering the question. His pause was a bit unsettling, and it caused Kate to turn and look at him.

  “I don’t think that’s going to be an issue,” Reid said. “But even if it does, I’ve made a commitment to the Pioneers. James and Kate can trust that I will stand by my commitment. That’s who I am.”

  Kate and James fielded a few questions about other organizational matters before the press conference ended. Reid followed the front office folks back out into the hallway and into a staff elevator. Inside, it seemed like they let out a collective breath.

  “That went pretty well,” James said. “I’m going to check out a few of the autograph lines. Reid, I’ll see you at the cocktail hour later. I know a few of the other partners are anxious to meet you. Enjoy the day, and don’t let Kate wear you out.”

  Reid laughed a little, and Kate blushed when she realized where Reid’s mind had taken that comment. The owner, of course, was unaware of their history and thought nothing of Reid’s chuckles. He simply waved before stepping off the elevator a few moments later, turning quickly to the left.

  “If he only knew,” Reid said softly.

  Kate heard Reid’s comment, but chose to ignore it as they exited the el
evator and walked in the opposite direction. Silently, she led him down the wide corridor. She was pleased to see a line at the cash register in the team gift shop. They continued on into a small conference room, where a few dozen fans sat in rows of chairs, facing two of the Pioneers’ young outfielders. Kate introduced Reid to the players, and once the session had started, she quietly left to monitor some of the other Fan Fest activities.

  For the most part, she was just relieved to be away from Reid. She’d spent more time with him in the past 24 hours than she ever thought she would again. The effects of his presence were going to be unsettling at best and disastrous at worst. She hoped she would get used to it over time so they could both do their jobs without their history interfering. She didn’t have time to dwell on the past; her job required her to look at the future.

  After a lap through the Fan Fest stations, Kate returned to her office. The upper level offices were silent, except for the humming from the heat vents as she sat back down at her desk. She decided to keep the silence and left her iPod off as she opened the trade wire web site and her notes. She began to peruse the listings for catchers who might be available to split duties with Ramirez. There were a few free agents with potential, and with camp starting in a few weeks, they might be willing to take lower dollars just to have work. It was a workable option, but Kate would prefer to work out some sort of trade for a catcher. The Pioneers had some decent chips in the farm system that might be attractive enough to another club. She wrote down a few names as well as their key stats and began assigning numbers to prioritize the list. After looking over the list, she picked up the phone to call Ed Sampson, the GM in possession of her first choice. Even though it was Saturday, GMs were never really off-duty. He answered on the third ring, and while he didn’t laugh at her initial offer, he didn’t accept it either.

  “You’ll have to do better than that if you want Jamison,” Ed said.

  He named two minor leaguers and it was Kate’s turn to scoff. He wanted two of the top prospects in the game. She had labeled the two as untouchable, which basically meant they were staying put unless she could swap them for a big fish. The catcher she was asking about was a medium-sized fish at best.

  “You and I both know that’s not happening,” she said.

  “Well, I had to try,” Ed said.

  “Same here,” Kate said. “I knew prying Jamison away would be a long shot, but I had to at least make an attempt.”

  “Yep, I get it, and I appreciate the interest,” he said. “Good luck finding a catcher. There aren’t a lot of great options out there. Some good defense, but shaky offense. Then again, maybe your new hitting coach can find a gem in there somewhere.”

  “Yeah, maybe,” Kate said.

  “That was a good pick-up, by the way,” he said. “The guy’s had it rough lately, but I think he’s still got some good in him.”

  “I do too, obviously,” Kate said. “Thanks for the vote of confidence though.”

  She hung up with Ed and made a few more calls, but no one else was willing to deal with her at the moment either. Each of them made a comment on her hire of Reid Benjamin, which wasn’t surprising but was definitely encouraging. Maybe the Mets had given up on Reid, but it was clear other GMs still saw him as somewhat of a threat. She was anxious to see how that would pan out in the weeks and months ahead.

  As she hung up with the fourth GM she’d called, her stomach growled. She looked at the clock and realized it was almost two. She still didn’t have an answer to their catching dilemma, but she needed to get something to eat. She should probably check in on Fan Fest as well.

  She shut down her computer and locked up her office before heading down to the main concourse, which was alive with people decked out in Pioneers gear milling between stations, chatting about the players they’d just seen and those they hoped to see. Kate had tried to convince all players to attend Fan Fest, but it wasn’t required, and some of them had other off-season obligations. Fortunately, many of the players in her organization understood the importance of interacting with fans, and they genuinely seemed to enjoy it. She bought a sandwich at a concession stand and ate it while she continued her rounds. As she passed an autograph table, she caught a glimpse of Ian Davis posing for a playful photo with a teenage boy. The youngster’s grin could not have been bigger, and the fans right behind him in line were laughing and enjoying the moment as well. At the next table, Justin Tanner was talking to a young girl who declared very loudly that she wanted to play baseball like him instead of softball. Kate continued on, eventually making her way to the lower levels where the fans were lined up to take a few pitches in the batting cages. Kids and adults alike were patiently waiting for their turn to feel like a big leaguer, even if only for just a few moments.

  It was nice to see the ballpark occupied again. Pioneer Stadium was a gorgeous facility – the newest in the nation but designed with tradition and old school charm. She loved coming here every day. Even during the off-season, it was a beautiful place to work. It was even more special on days like today when the optimism and excitement about the team were likely the highest they’d be all season. There is nothing quite like the start of a new season. Everyone is undefeated and still a contender for the World Series. Sure, on paper there are always favorites, but in the time leading up to Opening Day, it feels like anything is possible and everyone has a chance. That optimism would begin to fade after game one, when only half of the teams in the leagues could still claim to be undefeated and the grind of a full season began to wear on everyone in the business. But for now, there was still hope.

  Kate didn’t even try to contain her own smile as she took it all in. Days like today made the stressful offseason worth it, and they reminded her why she chose this career path. Being a GM required long hours, a thick skin, and a knowledge of stats and data that sometimes made her head hurt. Some would say she’d given up a lot for her job – romance, a family, and a home life – but, as she constantly stated, she wasn’t interested in those things anyway. Occasionally when she saw her sister’s children or kids at the ballpark, there were brief moments of wondering what her own children would be like. Then she remembered that her lifestyle didn’t even allow for a pet. Plants weren’t likely to survive her schedule either, so children were definitely out of the question.

  Chapter Four

  Kate was so lost in her thoughts she didn’t notice she was no longer standing alone. Well, she hadn’t technically been alone since she left her office, but she’d viewed everything from the perimeter, keeping to herself. She heard a throat clear a few feet away, and she shouldn’t have been surprised to look over to find Reid at her side. She should have sensed his proximity, but she didn’t, and she wondered how long he’d been standing there.

  “Seems like a pretty good turnout,” he commented. “I’m used to New York crowds, but this is decent.”

  She probably should have been slightly offended by his comparison, but she wasn’t. She was well-acquainted with the differences in fan counts among various franchises. She’d seen the good, the bad, and the ugly during her time in the business. The Pioneer fan base was steadily growing, but it was difficult with a new team, especially since Seattle was just three hours away. Many in the Pacific Northwest had adopted the Mariners when they were enfranchised in 1977. It was tough to break four decades of loyalty. Kate understood that and had encouraged stakeholders to be patient in drawing fans to the ballpark. Slowly, the Pioneers were attracting new fans and those seeking a team closer to home. Attendance went up a little with each passing season, and that’s all Kate could ask for at the moment.

  “Maybe someday we’ll have New York crowds,” Kate said optimistically.

  “That might be expecting a bit much given the population difference,” Reid said.

  “Good point, but you can’t blame a girl for dreaming,” Kate said.

  “It’s good to dream,” he agreed. “There are some great fans here anyway. I’ve had a lot of fun today.”
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  “I’m glad to hear that,” she said, smiling proudly. “I like to think we have the best fans in the majors.”

  “They’re certainly the friendliest I’ve encountered in awhile,” Reid said. “None of them have cussed me out yet, so that’s a point in their favor.”

  Even though he’d tried to drown out the fan criticism while he was with the Mets, Reid had still heard plenty. It was hard to miss when it was being yelled from nearly every corner of the stadium. And avoiding fans while he was out in the city was practically impossible. Everyone knew who he was. Funny, that’s what he thought he wanted in his childhood dreams of being a ballplayer. But the reality had turned out to be more of a nightmare. On some level, he knew he deserved the shouts and boos. He hadn’t lived up to anyone’s expectations, not even his own. He never expected to be an instant All-Star, but he believed he had the talent to be a serviceable if not reliable player for the Mets. He’d worked hard through college and the minors to build his skills, and although it felt like a long road, he’d believed it would all pay off when he finally got the call-up. At first, he was right. Everything was going just as he planned, but then it all changed. All of a sudden, he couldn’t get hits to fall in, and then the strikeouts became the standard outcome for his at bats. He still didn’t know where he’d gone wrong, and now it was too late to fix it. At least for himself.

  In his new role, however, he had the opportunity to help other players maximize their offensive talents. He only hoped he didn’t fail at that too. After spending the morning with Pioneers fans and a few of the players, he was beginning to feel the pressure. These were good people with high hopes. He wanted to help those hitters give the fans something to cheer about well into October. He would give them his best and hope it was enough. He owed them that.

  If he was being completely honest, he knew he owed it to Kate too. He couldn’t afford to let her down after she’d taken a huge gamble and hired him. When she offered him the job, he momentarily thought she was doing him a favor, extending a kind gesture to an old friend. But their conversation that morning seemed to indicate otherwise. Her words and tone made it abundantly clear that she still had some anger toward him and his past behavior, but she’d pushed past it for the good of the organization. She’d done this for the team, not for him. Because of her, he now had a new opportunity to impact the game he’d loved all his life. He needed to make sure she didn’t regret her decision. Maybe he’d manage to earn her respect again in the process.