Career Year

Luke Kelly picked up the universal remote control and turned on his media center display — a fifty-two-inch, liquid crystal technology, wall-mounted unit with matching on-wall speakers. The display was the family room centerpiece. Luke scanned his favorite broadcast channels and selected the Professional Baseball Premium Network. From the game day listings, he chose the Red Sox versus Orioles game. The program informed him the game was in progress and asked if he wanted to continue. He entered “yes.” Next, he was prompted which announcers: Red Sox, Orioles, or ball game sounds only. Luke chose Red Sox.

Luke was fifty-five years old with a lean body. He was clean-shaven and had a thin face. Luke was six feet tall with energetic blue eyes and short, thick, silver hair. He had a steady voice, and despite New England roots, he pronounced his R’s.

“Reggie Cox steps up to the plate. Reggie is one for three today. He had a two-out single in the sixth,” said the play-by-play announcer.

Wearing gray sweat pants, a loose-fitting blue T-shirt, and white athletic socks, Luke stood in the middle of the room holding the remote control in his hand.

“Reggie hits a come-backer to Torres. Torres looks off Sanchez at second and throws out Cox for out number two,” said the announcer.

“Reggie was first-pitch hitting again. He needs to learn to be more patient in those situations. Something for him to work on,” said the color commentator.

“Cripes, yes. Jeepers, Reggie, you’ve killed us all year by doing that with runners on,” Luke groaned.

“Well it comes down to Nick Hudson with two outs in the Red Sox ninth. The Sox trailing Baltimore three to two. Hudson is oh-for-three, his average dropping to two thirty-eight. The Red Sox have only managed five hits off Baltimore pitching today. Torres delivers a strike. A good fastball catching the outside part of the plate. Hudson has a few words for home plate umpire Rich Boyer about that call,” said the play-by-play announcer.

“Yeah, the pitch looked a little off the plate. Could be Boyer figures everyone just wants to go home,” said the color commentator.

Luke rocked on his feet. “Rally spot, need to get into the rally spot.”

“Torres eyes Sanchez at second. Doubt Sanchez is going anywhere, but the Orioles are being cautious. Sanchez has not stolen a base all season. The Orioles are guarding the lines. The pitch from Torres, a fastball inside and Hudson fouls it off his hands,” said the play-by play announcer.

“It’s gotten cooler as the day went on, that one might have stung. As you can see by the flags, the wind is blowing in, pretty breezy right now. Lots of papers and wrappers blowing around on the field,” said the color commentator.

“C’mon, Nick, get a hit. Who cares about the weather? End the season on a good note,” Luke said.

“Nothing and two count, two outs. Hudson trying to hang in there to keep it going. Torres looks in control with good stuff... And that will do it, Hudson strikes out swinging on a splitter in the dirt. The Red Sox lose the...”

Luke turned off the display center and tossed the remote control on the sofa. “Damn it, Dead Sox, what a pitiful season.”

The video conference telephone rang in the study. Luke hustled from the family room into the adjacent study and answered the phone. The video data was blocked by the caller, allowing voice-only communications.