Play Ball

I was reading a Globe article a few weeks ago about how Pedroia and Scutaro were getting to know each other in spring training, sussing out each others’ styles, personalities. By practice, repetition, learning where to expect the ball so one of them can receive it and learning where to throw the ball so it won’t sail over the other’s head.

Francona said something about how shortstop has been a revolving position for the Sox, and how nice it is to have Scutaro in place. Someone who has all the tools. Now, knowing there’s stability, knowing there’s long haul-ness, all that’s left to do is find a rhythm. Exactly.

I’ve long seen the parallels between this particular baseball relationship and love, but never more so than now in my eighth month as a newlywed. Just as the Sox had their period of uncertainty, I had dating. You go out there, toss a ball or two, try your hardest, and see if it works.

Sometimes it feels like a rotating position, just like it did for Pedroia. Never quite right, and you can’t make it fit where it doesn’t. But now I finally have my guy. And while I’ve long ago learned that you can never stop practicing, like the Sox, we’ve had our spring training. We’ve been working hard. We’ve mapped out the way we wanted to handle certain scenarios. We’ve learned each others’ rhythms.

I just watched Scutaro and Pedroia make an out on Opening Night against the Yankees. It wasn’t perfect. It was close. You had a moment of doubt. But they made it.

I don’t know what lies ahead. I do know we won’t win every game. But it’s nice to be starting the season with a teammate I know is a keeper.