Baseball 3

I try a dozen times, at various hours, never reach Indira. Finally leave a vmail, "you should know by now how much baseball means to me, I don't intend to quit. Nor am I dumping you. Any of that, it'll be you dumping me."
After a week of no reply, I interpret that to mean it's over. When Lata mentions a Bollywood flick at the University Theater, I go. Platonic, but gather that many East Indians together and someone will gossip.
Two days later, a vmail from Indira, "Swine! Cheat! All your fault, not mine!"
Women! Always find some way to make it your fault. Whether it took a week, a month, a year, matters not. Me running around on her, hadn't actually broken up yet, of course.
I push it outa my mind. Brutal four game road trip coming, against murderous pitching, I need lotsa BP and vids.
Danny doesn't or can't find the time or both.
Funny, Lata understands the need for BP and vids, gracefully backs off, allows you the time. With Indira, it was always a fight.
Our road trip stinks. Three ugly losses, our win was shaky.
Team meeting upon our return, everyone is a bit somber as they pour coffee in the clubhouse. Yes Hannigan will rage, but we'll live.
Mr Sanderson the team owner shows, he never attends team meetings, only ceremonial events that give him a photo op.
In a quiet manner, he shows us tables of attendance, revenues and costs on the overhead. Turns to me, "Mr Mullaly, please come join me."
Mystified I do.
"Mr Mullaly, I understand you are fairly close to completing your Bachelor degree in General Studies."
"Yes sir."
"I'm informed this includes all of first and second year Commerce classes."
"Yes sir."
"And your girlfriend for a period of some two years was a Chartered Accountant."
"Yes sir."
"Like most couples, I'm sure you would talk of things held in common. So, now and again, did you ask her for advice on business cases in courses? Speak of articles in the business section of the paper?"
"Sir, I would be a fool not to."
He turns to the rest, "now, are you people willing to accept that Mr Mullaly's financial knowledge would be greater than your own?"
Grunts of agreement.
"Is there anyone here to challenge this? The same or greater level of knowledge?"
No takers.
"Mr Mullaly, if you were myself, what would you do based on the figures I just showed?"
"Sir, close the team, end of season. Huge capital gain off the land, centrally located, make a great condo complex. Building beyond repair anyhow. Sell the franchise to any of a half dozen US cities who would jump at the chance."
"And would you care to estimate, how much the land would bring?"
"Sir, my bottom line would be $30 million, not take a penny less. I'd be negotiating based on that."
I hear loud gasps.
Mr Sanderson smiles gently, "and the franchise would bring almost as much. Mr Hannigan, your meeting now."
After he leaves, Hannigan allows a moment for it to sink in, "I have two sets of responsibilities. First to Mr Sanderson, his bottom line is very simple. He is willing to live with break even. Any loss that's large, he'll sell.
"Second, and even more deadly serious, a responsibility to our parent team in the Bigs. Does anyone believe you'll get a call, take a month, get lotsa BP and gym time, then show up?"
No's.
"You're sitting in Tim's, sipping your morning java. Cell rings, be on the noon plane, be ready to walk on the field for 7:05 game time. Am I right?"
Yesses.
"If you hit well, field flawlessly, there are no guarantees, your phone may never ring again. However, strike out every time, commit two fielding errors and there is a guarantee. You know for a fact your phone will never ring again. Am I right?"
Yesses.
"I could rant and rave like I sometimes do, pointless, better to give a good example. One of you is always ready for that call, always does BP, vids, exercise bike, throws and stretches. Now Quentin, could I ask you a favor?"
"What Coach?"
"You've become invisible. People take you for granted, have no idea how much time you put in. I want you to post a log every week, absolutely everything you've done for prep work, get people focused. Can you do that?"
"Yes Coach."
"Resta you, I chat with one-by-one. We'll agree on a sked that won't kill you, but pushes a tad more than some of you have done of late. Any man who can't live with that, there's the door. Lotta Double A lads would love to be in your spot."
No takers for the door.

I'm fairly good at reading Lata, much better so than I was with Indira, so I can tell her news will be huge compared to mine.
"Rough road trip?"
"I'll say, even rougher team meeting." I fill her in sketchily.
"Best that way," she asserts, "get some of the slackers producing, team will do better, more attendance, stay alive."
I nod.
"Something I applied for, never thought I would get, came through. A semester with Canada World Youth, September to December, adult literacy project in Guyana. You see Quentin, it gives a lot of things. All expenses paid, small salary. Experience to put on your resume. Even counts for some uni credit, but not a full semester."
She pauses, I sense the main plunge is about to come, "you see, all our relatives are third or fourth generation Canadian. But it's a matter of honor, a coming of age, to do something for the ancestral home Guyana. If you've never done it, not treated like a real adult. After you have, become a real Guyanese, better social acceptance, your family is proud of you." Pause. "Just one problem, where does that leave you and me?"
I see the problem. Suppose I get selfish, say no, it would force her into a corner. What happens if she doesn't go? Only come to hate me over time. Any respect I now have with her family, gonzo.
"Let me clarify what I'm asking. If you're horny, pick up a groupie for a one night stand, que sera sera. I mean emotionally faithful. Wait for me, don't find another."
"Lata, remember two years ago Hanson was sent down from the Bigs, injury rehab assignment?"
"Yes."
"Lotta talk, you see he's a decent sort, doesn't put on airs, tells you how it really is up there. Told all sort of stories, what happened to various players. Again and again, he said, look for a decent woman, not a flashy bimbo. Say you're out on a twelve game road trip, you suspect she's running around. Gets under your skin, bat more poorly, make a few fielding errors. Is why so many guys have poor road records. The guy who trusts wife or GF, he can usually do as well on the road as at home. Lata, go do the trip. I'll wait for you and I mean in both senses of the word."
She puts her hand on mine, "I am so proud of you. My family will be too."