Prompt Images
Dodgers Stadium, circa 1988, somewhere in a parallel universe.
Vin Scully: Welcome back to Chevez Ravine, where the Dodgers lead the Chicago Cubs, 3-2, going into the top of the ninth. On to try and close it out for the Dodgers, their top pitching prospect, Joey Rosedale, making his major league debut. With the Dodgers’ bullpen hampered by injuries, and their star relief pitcher, Jay Howell, overworked these past few weeks, skipper Tommy Lasorda called up Rosedale yesterday afternoon. Rosedale made the flight yesterday evening from Albuquerque and suited up for the first time this afternoon while taking questions from reporters. One thing that can be said about Rosedale, he works out. A trim fit young man, all of 25-years-old, he looks like he could have suited up in the Trojan Army.
Jim Henny: Well, that would have been a sight to see, Joey Rosedale marching in the mythological army into the battle of Troy.
Scully: Certainly would have been a sight to see. Here’s Rosedale’s first pitch to Cubs’ first baseman Mark Grace, and it’s in there for a called strike. So, Rosedale’s first pitch as a major leaguer, is a fastball strike to all-star first baseman, Mark Grace.
Henny: Wonder if he flew in from Albuquerque on Pegasus.
Scully: And another fastball in there for a called strike, and Rosedale is ahead quickly in the count, 0-2.
Henny: Maybe he brought along with him the head of Medusa and has it sitting in his locker. You should ask him after the game if he used the head to fight the Kraken.
Scully: Curve ball, got ‘em! Rosedale strikes out Grace on three pitches—what a debut for the young righthander: three pitches, three strikes, and one out here in the ninth.
Scully (covers his hand over his microphone): Look, I know what you’re doing. I’m sorry, I’m not a history buff, whatever it is that I got incorrect, let it go and let’s just finish out the game.
Henny (covering his hand over his microphone): What? What’d I do? What I say?
Scully: Up comes the right-hand hitting second baseman, Ryne Sandberg; Sandberg providing much of the Cubs’ offense today, driving in one run, while going 3-3, and scoring a run. Here’s the first pitch from Rosedale, fastball in there for a called strike.
Henny: He hasn’t provided “much” of their offense, Vin—he’s provided ALL of their offense. He’s accounted for both runs in some way shape or form. If it weren’t for Sandberg, it’d be a 3-0 Dodgers’ lead.
Scully: Curve ball in there for strike two to Sandberg, and so far, rookie Joey Rosedale, has been perfect in his debut, throwing five pitches for five strikes, and now he’s got another Cubs all-star in an 0-2 count. Sandberg calls time, and the home-plate umpire is going to take a moment to wipe off the plate.
Scully (covering his hand over his microphone): Why are you on me, huh? Every little thing. The whole game!
Henny (covering mic): What? What I say?
Scully (covering mic): You’re on me about me about my errors in history.
Henny (covering mic): Mythology.
Scully (covering mic): Every time I mention the bullpen, you ask, “Where are the bulls!?” “If it’s the seventh inning stretch, why aren’t we stretching?!”
Henny (covering mic): It’s an honest question!
Scully (covering mic): Every little thing, you’re on my back. If I wanted my wife in the booth, I’d have brought her with me.
Henny (covering mic): Does that make me your “work wife”?
Scully: (uncovers hand) Strike three call! Sandberg down on strikes, and Joey Rosedale, so far has been perfection. Sorry about the delay back into the game folks, having some technical difficulties.
Henny: Actually, Vin, your hand was covering the microphone. It completely blocks the sound waves from our mouths from being transmitted via the microphone.
Scully: Thanks, Jim. And now the Dodger fans in Chavez Ravine have come to life, as yet another Cubs all-star steps in the batter’s box, Andre Dawson, who is one for four today, with a single in the first inning. And Rosedale starts Dawson with a strike on the outside corner. Seven pitches, seven strikes.
Henny: You’re a regular abacus, Vin. For folks following at home, Rosedale threw three pitchers to Grace, three pitches to Sandberg, and now that is one pitch to Dawson for a total of seven.
Scully (trying to ignore Henny): STRIKE TWO to Dawson. Rosedale, not messing around. Coming right after the Hawk with two fastballs painting the outside corner.
Henny: That would be a total of eight pitches, Vin, if you add the previous pitch from the previous seven, seven plus one is eight. Eight pitches, one away from nine.
Scully (shoots Jim a look): Now, the fans at Dodger Stadium are on their feet, sensing the moment. Joey Rosedale, one pitch away from an immaculate inning, in his first inning in the major leagues. For those of you that don’t know, an immaculate inning in a sense is a perfect inning—
Henny: Not really “in a sense,” actually is a perfect—
Scully (keeps going): Which means nine pitches to three batters and three strike outs. A feat that has never been done by someone in their very first inning as a major leaguer.
Henny: And what if he does it, Vin—what will change? Huh? Anything, though, when you really look at it? I know my life won’t change.
Scully: Listen to the Dodger Faithful, cheering young Joey Rosedale to accomplish a most significant feat. Rosedale takes a moment to take off his cap and wipe his brow. He grabs the rosin bag, which I’m sure he needs here on a hot and humid night in the City of Angels.
Henny: You know what will change? The pressure. The pressure this young man will feel. The pressure to live up to such a moment. I’m not sure this would be a good thing.
Scully (covers the microphone): WOULD YOU SHUT UP? YOU’RE RUINING THIS.
Henny (still on air): What? What I say? I’m just saying best-case scenario, he throws at least one ball, regroups and strikes Dawson out; worst-case scenario, he strikes Dawson out, is expected to live up to not only to the hype that was surrounding him before the game, but after a perfect inning…? It’s basically a death sentence… well, a living death sentence, probably giving him a drug problem, at least a drinking problem—especially in this town…
Scully (uncovers the mic): Rosedale gets the sign, he’s ready, he winds, he kicks, he delivers—SWING AND A MISS STRIKE THREE, there it is! Joey Rosedale pitches an immaculate inning in his first inning as a big-league pitcher!
Henny: Gotta be honest, I wish he’d one-hopped it to the catcher!
Scully: And now catcher Mike Scioscia is running out to give the ball to Rosedale—and what’s this? Rosedale is bent over holding his right arm, oh no! Scioscia is waving to the Dodger’s dugout for the trainer. Rosedale is on the ground, clearly in agonizing pain! This is not good. What a turn of events! Oh, it makes you sick!
Henny: Okay, well I stand corrected. This would be the worst-case scenario. Because his career is over and what else do you do but start popping pain pills, or drinking away the thoughts of “What could have been,” especially in this town… even Albuquerque.
Scully (covers his hand over momentarily over the microphone, while hitting Jerry over the head with an open palm, his hand comes off the mic): You did this! YOU DID THIS! YOU ARE A DEMON! THIS IS YOUR FAULT!
Henny (covering his head): Ow! What?! What I do?! What did I say?!? Ow! Ow! STOP!
Chyron displays Dodgers 3, Cubs 2, over the televised scene of the Dodgers’ training staff attending to Joey Rosedale while players surround the wounded pitcher.
Muffled sounds of a man protesting while being slapped on his head can be heard in the background.
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