Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board
“Suicide Squeeze: an existential crisis at third base”
Dr. Richard Grossman:
Hi everybody,
With the encouragement of many here (thanks ann3, Hops, teartracks, sea storm, and Cadbury!) I finished my latest 10-minute play/tragicomedy entitled: “Suicide Squeeze: an existential crisis at third base”. Here’s the description:
"It’s the ninth inning of the last game of “Philosopher First Baseman” Johnny Banner’s major league career, and Banner comes to bat. When he hits a triple and ends up 90 feet away from scoring the winning run, suddenly he’s overcome by the feeling: What’s next in my life? But nobody in the stadium seems to care. Well, almost nobody..."
and the link:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/441446
I know many don’t want to register at yet another web site (although this one is fairly painless), so if I can find another way of sharing it, I’ll let you know. I’m afraid it is my voice, style, and disturbed thinking again, so I can understand why many won’t like it! (Once again, given the similarities of our brains, my brother "loved it"!) But if you do read it, please let me know what you think good and/or bad. I’m always curious, and always trying to learn.
BTW, if you don’t know what a “suicide squeeze” is in baseball, here’s the Wikipedia description:
"In a suicide squeeze, the runner takes off as soon as the pitcher begins to throw the pitch, before releasing the ball. If properly executed, a play at home plate is extremely unlikely. However, if the batter fails to make contact with the pitch, the runner is likely to be put out at home plate (hence, "suicide"). Therefore, the suicide squeeze usually requires a skilled bunter who can make contact consistently, even on difficult pitches.
These plays are often used in the late innings of a close game in order to score an insurance, winning, or tying run."
For those who read it: thank you so much!
Richard
Dr. Richard Grossman:
Hi tt,
Thank you so much for reading the play. I’m so glad you appreciated it! There’s nothing better than to hear that a person you respect wants to read it again!
Richard
Dr. Richard Grossman:
Hi everybody,
A dear Japanese friend just wrote me: “I want to play the mother's role...sounds like some of Japanese mothers! (Thank goodness my mom isn't like them though.)” It’s very interesting to me to hear who identifies more with the mother (the "rock") and who identifies more with the father (the "hardball"). In my case, it’s not even close: the mother—although I certainly lack her public boldness/outspokenness. But things are complicated: When I was 5 and my brother 6 (approx.1960), my mother (also like the "rock") put my brother in ballet/dance school. This was unheard of at that time, at least in our lower-middle-class neck of the woods. Of course, he was the only boy—I would watch him at his recitals. When he grew up, he joined the Israeli military—tanks, Gaza, the whole deal. Is there a connection? LOL!
Thanks again to all for the read!
Richard
lighter:
I finally got through my existential crisis of setting up the smashword aocount......
I had to make 3 attempts as my preferred usernames were already taken.
Interesting to find the story not really about baseball, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
Same experience for friend, with editing experience. She started out not very interested in baseball, then, about the time the mom came onto the field, she(my friend) had her little paws on the computer, then her elbows raised, leaning in, then she was laughing and talking to herself, under her breath, reading faster and faster, then on to THE FINAL RESORT, and by this time she was just sure she recognized your name, and has read some of your other stuff in the New Yorker.
She adored both stories, and uses the words "funny, clever, and very well written," to describe them.
Really, doc......
a pleasure to read.
Lighter
Dr. Richard Grossman:
Hi lighter,
I’m so glad “Suicide Squeeze” “worked” for both you and your friend! And also that your friend liked “The Last Resort”! Thank you both for reading them! Funny: I suppose both plays are “The New Yorker”-like humor—I grew up with the magazine in the house, and it’s currently the only magazine I subscribe to. (As you might guess from "Suicide Squeeze", I cancelled my long-running subscription to Sports Illustrated years ago.)
Thanks again!
Richard
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