SHORT TURNAROUNDS

You’re coming off a long, late ride with no day off. Or you’re playing an afternoon game after last night’s extra-inning loss.

You don’t know whether to scream or yawn. You feel achy, fuzzy, a half-second late. Grounds are growly. Liners are potentially lethal.

Baseball is way better than any other job I can imagine, but it’s not much fun on short turnarounds.

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Congratulations to Jennifer Fong, who is the winners of our Bunt -- A Baseball Story Sweepstakes. Jennifer's name was selected randomly from the people who "liked" our Facebook fanpage.

Jennifer receives a $100 prize!

Thanks to everyone who entered.

Giants Fans Introduced to "Bunt!"

Thousands of Giants fans learned about Bunt! yesterday when Marty Lurie interviewed author Bill Baynes on his Giants pre-game show.

Marty listed all the booksellers carrying Bunt! He talked about the book and encouraged people to read it several times. You can hear the interview at http://www.loveofthegameproductions.com/

Bunt! also came up during Marty’s post-game show. It inspired a call-in chat about baseball books for young people.

Profuse thanks, Marty.

LISTEN TO MARTY LURIE THIS SUNDAY!

We’re scheduled to talk about Bunt! on Marty’s pre-game show this Sunday, June 9, at about 10:15 a.m. on Radio KNBR 680. Be sure to tune in!

A FRIEND AFIELD

The foul line is your friend. Don't avoid it. Get as close as you can. Make it love you more than the third baseman.

NO SHOW

Nobody shows up anybody in baseball.

The batter doesn’t talk back to the ump. The pitcher and the catcher don’t either.

The pitcher doesn’t glare at the batter. He just goes about his business, throwing strikes, getting him out. The batter doesn’t sneer at the pitcher, especially after he gets a hit.

The runner doesn’t pump his fist at the fielder when he completes a successful steal. He doesn’t nyah nyah the catcher. Instead, he humbly looks down. He doesn’t showboat. He shows respect.

Memories are long in this game.

THE SMELL TELL

I can tell by the smell. In there with the popcorn and beer backdrop, the grass and the grit, there’s something different, maybe the pitcher’s sweat. I don’t know, but I know when the curve is coming.