Chapter 25

There is some kind of cosmic rule that when you need to know something – really know – important, everything slows down just to torment you. That is the place the Kansas City Royals found ourselves in the next two days.

The Dodgers and Cardinals invented ways to drag out ending the National League Championship Series, and the weather cooperated to extend the last game even longer. One of the negatives about the break was the extra time it gave the sports broadcasting industry to gin up drama, intrigue, and interest in who would survive to meet the juggernaut Royals, and their band of brutes and fighters.

"You PEOPLES just have to KNOW that when the Dodgers find themselves face to face with Brian Nelson, they gonna go all Schwarzenegger Conan-The-Barbarian on him. The Orioles had the right idea, make that kid sweat, then make him FEAR them, and good things will follow.

"Their problem, just like always, was they didn't do it soon enough or hard enough. The needed to pound his pretty face into the ground, then let him get up and try to pitch like a pro. Ain't gonna happen, is what's gonna happen, children."

The sports shows were full of stupid advice like that. Mr. Janacone had gotten two calls from Joe Torre about the potential for problems, and his expectation being that we would not make it worse.

Janacone had been equally blunt with me. "When you pitch the next time, we are going to have a little chat about demeanor and poise. The press is whipping up people into believing that whoever comes to play us has to kill you to win. You are far too good to let yourself fall into the trap they're setting.

"Do Not Retaliate. No Matter What Happens, let us handle it without you taking your pound of flesh out of them along the way.

"Let's face it, Brian; you won a lot of respect by keeping your head on straight and pitching such a tight game after they manhandled you the other night. Don't think of doing anything any different.

"As a pitcher, your ceiling is pretty much unlimited. The big question mark is how are you going to handle the pressure of the sports press and the expectations of the idiots.

"DO NOT believe the press you're getting. You're NOT as good as they are making you out to be, but all this distraction is good at setting up our eventual opponents to be off balance when they face you.

"Let THEM Fall On Their Asses. You stay calm, cool, and collected, whatever the hell that means."

Apparently pleased with our one sided chat, Mr. Janacone went to take care of other business, leaving me to wonder just how much abuse I was going to get, take, and absorb before I could give something back.

Wayne must have heard my thoughts, because he walked up and said, "Don't over think this. We are not letting you get beaten up. The first time someone pulls a stunt like last time, the Commissioner's Office has guaranteed us that his representatives will have the umpiring crew ready to intercede, and Joe Torre will have freedom to suspend any player, on the spot, that goes after you. They promised us that anyone suspended will not be replaced on their twenty-man World Series roster for the duration of the series.

"Anybody comes head hunting Brian Nelson will cause their side to play short-handed the rest of the way home."

"Nobody wants Baseball to become hockey. The Commissioner is adamant that we behave, which means you behave. Unfortunately for your upcoming opponents, you have a undisclosed advantage. We are fully in the picture, and know exactly what is coming if you blow up and start something, or respond to those who do.

"They won't have a specific warning. They get general, be good, or else, warnings. Just let it go, Brian. Let them go.

"You're doing an amazing job, and you have to only keep it up for a few more games. Right now public opinion is totally behind you, and against everybody that does, says, or even thinks bad things about you.

"It's a good place to be." He smiled and hit my back to make his point.

Wonder of wonders. The Cardinals decided to beat the Dodgers and play in the World Series. I never would have expected we would be playing another I-70 Series, commuting between KC and St. Louis. We were all comfortably arranged in the living room of our suite, watching the two teams trying not to win. It was not very refreshing, nor was it fulfilling, but I got a lot of ideas for how to pitch to the Cardinals.

The first game was two evenings later, and we went to them for the first two games. The new Busch Stadium is wonderful. When it got full of rabid Cardinal fans, it was a little uncomfortable, but I'm told that's what happens at World Series time.

We split the two games and went home to KC for the next three.

I was starting game three, having been promoted from spot starter, to number five starter, to number four starter, to number three, over the course of six weeks.

Benjamin went with me to the stadium. Jack and I left early, leaving Winnie to escort the family, later. We had All Sports Talk on as Jack drove, and my favorite comedians were tearing it up, again. This time the Cardinals were their target.

"You know, Holmes, those red colored birdie guys gonna need to bring it if they want to go home to play the last two games in front of the home folks." He elongated certain words to emphasize his ethnicity, and the off color rhythms of his speech added to the humor.

"I see what you getting at boy," said his partner. "Dem girly birds do need something spectacular, or our boys gonna spank their little asses so hard, they goin' run home to mama and cry." They always lived right on the edge of getting in trouble with the FCC.

"I could cogitate that," said the first one. "I can see dem little boys right now. One got him a big oh-fur and crying like the baby he is, while another getting his white ass reddened by his mama for playing in the dirt.

"I bet you they never gonna know what hit their tiny white brains, when the Royals finish schoolin' their ugly mugs."

They went on all the way until we arrived, and I headed inside to get ready to pitch.

Mr. Janacone met me as I headed out to shag fly balls. "Take it easy, Brian. Don't let the hype get to you. Go out to the bullpen early and warm up slowly. Sit down and get your breathing under control before you go out to take the field.

"I've got a good feeling about tonight. I think you're going to do something amazing out there, and I feel honored to be here to watch what comes. Be THE man, and be tough.