Curve Balls

I'm a pretty good fast ball hitter. The ball comes straight, more or less. I can judge pretty closely when and where it will arrive. When it's heading for the strike zone, I can put a good swing on it. Yes, sometimes I miss, or I hit it foul. Sometimes I pop it up. But often I hit it hard. And I get to run. To first base, to second, or, on rare occasions, to third. I feel proud of my effort, even if the ball ends up in the mitt of a fielder.

Then one day a unique opportunity came my way – a ball headed for the heart of the plate. Licking my chops I took a mighty swing. And I missed. Badly. My bat cleared the zone well before the ball arrived. Even worse, the pitch was at least a foot out of my reach. I had met my first curve ball.

What a wicked pitch is the curve ball! It can come right at me - I flinch, then I watch helplessly as it tails away into the strike zone. That missile from hell can move away a few inches or a few feet. It can catch the inside corner or sweep away beyond the zone.

Even worse, it's slower than a fast ball. If I anticipate a curve and my guess is wrong, a fast ball can blow right by me. And I look with regret as a pitch I should have hit pops into the catcher's mitt.

I am trying to figure out these curve balls. I usually swing and miss. Sometimes, I make contact, but the result seems always to be a weak grounder to the infield. And I'm beginning to notice how tired my arms are getting as I flail away at fast balls and curve balls alike.

I've never hit for much power. I usually get a bit under the fast balls and loft them a bit too high. They always fall short of the outfield fence. But to my surprise I have yet to hit a curve ball high into the air.

One of these days I'm going to recognize a curve ball heading toward the center of the strike zone. And I'm going to put a good swing on it. Swinging with all my might, I will make solid contact. And I'll watch the ball soar toward the heavens. And clear the fences easily.

Then, finally, I will run . . . all the way home.

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