Sometimes, a poem writes itself. This time,
The poet was a ballplayer whose words came
Floating from his mouth like a horde of butterflies
Which alighted on my shoulders and told me
To put this player’s prayers into poetic form, and
That is what I’m doing. He is the pitcher . . . and
I am his receiver. TZ has earned the appellation
Journeyman Reliever, having performed for the
Royals, Guardians (never made it out of the
Spring training season), Long Island Ducks, the
Rays – – – and as of August 2024 – – – the Mets.
He came thisclose to giving up on baseball, but
His love for the game re-emerged when he
Remembered why he loved the sport, as he
Connected with former Major Leaguers as
Teammates on the independent Ducks. He
Used such phrases as “getting to the lowest
point,” “God’s way of humbling me” and starting
“from the ground up again.” It didn’t hurt that
He’s developed a 95 mph fastball and “a sweeper
With characteristics and numbers . . . that
Jumped off the page” — as scouts poetically
Pointed out. So, TZ has reinvented himself from
The ground up. And the butterflies fluttering by
My head have managed to communicate in their
Spiritual way that this once ugly LI Duckling is
Going through a transformation that will put
Smiles on the faces of Met fans who love to
Dream . . . and isn’t that the defining trait of
True Met fans everywhere?
THE POETRY OF THE GAME