The Dugout
By Jon - 5-1-06
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**OnlineHost** You have entered the Atlanta Braves Reliever Alumni chatroom.
jewish_smores: No! NO! Come back! Do you regret taking on a reliever's role? Was it because of me? Was it me who destroyed you in that World Series? Am I responsible? Wait! Come back!
jewish_smores: /sigh
ChristDiedBedrosian:

What's relief to you?
Iced tea on a summer day?
Finding your car keys?
ChristDiedBedrosian:

What's relief to them?
Starters calling me to end
Their games with a win?
ChristDiedBedrosian:

What's relief to me?
Taking glory earned by the
Ones who paid for it?
ChristDiedBedrosian:

A reliever's role
Is not one of pride or shame.
It is just a role.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

If you think of it
As more than it ought to be
It devours you.
jewish_smores: /pause
ChristDiedBedrosian:

Ah! How rude of me!
I'm BEARDED RELIEF PITCHER
THE SECOND, and I
ChristDiedBedrosian:

Haven't seen a man
Start, then close, then start again.
Far be it from I
ChristDiedBedrosian:

To offer advice.
I can only ask you to
Weigh things carefully.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

It is true that I
Won the Series with you, and
That fills me with pride.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

BUT! You must know that
I did not do this without
Killing part of me.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

I once started games
For the Braves in the eighties.
Did not amount much.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

Philadelphia.
Traded one December eve.
Did not shed a tear.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

For I reasoned, "STEVE!
No emotion in business!
Take this ball and throw!"
ChristDiedBedrosian:

And so throw I did.
Salary went up, and up.
Happiness did not.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

Converted to close.
Dismantled my heart and soul
To their wretched whims.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

And yet, still I said
"Think things through rationally.
This is your career!
ChristDiedBedrosian:

"This is not the game
In your backyard as a kid.
You don't hit home runs.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

"You're not the hero.
You don't pitch the no-hitters.
You don't earn the wins."
ChristDiedBedrosian:

So I listened to
That part of me that they had
Broken and rebuilt.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

Journeyman I was.
San Francisco, then the Twins.
Each time that I left
ChristDiedBedrosian:

A city, I left
A part of myself there; a
Souvenir of my
ChristDiedBedrosian:

Abandonment of
What I was and loved and did
For the sake of what?
ChristDiedBedrosian:

Gave in to despair.
Never would I love the game
As I once did so!
ChristDiedBedrosian:

But THEN! Oh SWEET LORD!
Granted free agency, and
Then I promptly sought
ChristDiedBedrosian:

A contract with the
Braves, who claimed me once again.
'TWAS JOY RESURRECT!
ChristDiedBedrosian:

Remained there for the
Final days of my career.
Won my Series ring.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

And now I am loved.
Chipper Jones still hikes his pants
In tribute to me.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

But some days I come
To the park, and then I see
Old men in the stands.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

Wearing powder-blue
Hats, canes resting on their laps.
Offering a smile.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

I can't smile back.
For I know the awful truth:
I don't deserve this.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

They look as to say
"Where were you those missing days?
Had you had enough?
ChristDiedBedrosian:

"During those dark days
You were gone, we were hurting!
I wonder, were you?
ChristDiedBedrosian:

"Did you read the news
And see we were twenty-five
Games out of first place?
ChristDiedBedrosian:

"And, if so, did you
Shed a tear or raise a glass
As our native son?"
ChristDiedBedrosian:

And I recall, no.
I did not concern myself
With the troubles of
ChristDiedBedrosian:

Those who helped to build
The dynasty which I joined
After it was built.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

After they lost games.
After they lost superstars.
After they lost hope.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

My ring was forged from
Years of tears and shame and strength
None of which was mine.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

Cruel analogy?
This reliever's role? You think?
See, I found myself
ChristDiedBedrosian:

Living life as a
Undeserving finisher
As relievers do.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

So again I say:
I refuse to give advice
To you, dearest John.
ChristDiedBedrosian:

I will only warn:
Never allow what you do
Become what you are.
jewish_smores: I would never be that. It could never be me.
**OnlineHost** GetReardone has entered the chatroom.
**OnlineHost** The clouds begin to swell...