Since Eric has been playing baseball for almost a whole season (well, spring to nearly September, that’s almost a season) and I haven’t been to a single game, I took advantage of the lull in my real life and headed to Rohnert Park for today’s game. The reason I got there late wasn’t that I was talking to David on the phone. It was because while I was talking to David I noticed a little frog hopping across my living room rug.

Lucky for me I was talking to David at the time, because he gave me the key to getting the frog out of the house without hurting it. I knew it wouldn’t let me catch it, but he suggested throwing a kitchen towel over it and picking it up that way. After I got off the phone I found a towel and, sure enough, I was able to scoop up the frog and deposit it in the garden with no harm done.

The other reason I missed the first inning was the traffic maze that Rohnert Park seems to have become. It’s a straight shot down Stony Point Road from my house, and it should be an easy amble along Golf Course Drive to the ball field. But something must have been attracting people to town. I mean, something other than Wal-Mart, which I was prepared for. So as the game was starting I was creeping along the avenue with idiots in front of me and maniacs behind me.

It was fun watching live baseball for a change, even if the skill level was a little lower than the lowest minor league. It’s still higher than anything I’ve seen in person since the last time I was in a major league park more than a year ago. The ball still pops the catcher’s mitt and line drives still streak into the outfield. It’s just that things move a little slower. There are great plays here and there, but there are also times when balls and bats seem to have a mind of their own.

I didn’t stay for the whole game, so I can’t tell you who won. I talked to Eric briefly before I left. It’s hard to get his mind away from the game. He does a lot of coaching from the sidelines and the infield and the basepaths. His head is always in the game, and he knows what everyone’s roles and duties are better than they do. He’s like a conscience, like a uniformed Jiminy Cricket helping them all be the best they can be. I’m sure this helps them be better than they would be if they were left to figure it all out on their own.