The Bullpen Season 6 Episode 9: Top Of The Fifth
Despite being October, it is in the high 80s at the Indianapolis Primitives stadium with the sun beaming down directly on the bullpen. Many members look visibly hot, and water supply is limited.
BRYAN
It is so hot out.
ACE
Isn’t it supposed to be October?
DAVE
We get it, you guys hate the uniforms. Suck it up.
ROBERT
Seriously though, I wore a sweatshirt on the way here. I’ve been on this team long enough that I figured it wasn’t gonna be 87 degrees!
MANNY
And to think, today’s the last game of the season. Plus clearly no player was prepared for this.
CARTER
I’m confused, it’s like this in July, why is this throwing everyone off now?
MANNY
When you practice in 60 degree and cloudy weather, it’s a huge whiplash to play the next day when it’s 87 degrees.
A home run ball comes flying into the bullpen and narrowly misses LORENZO.
LORENZO
That’s it! That’s the fifth baseball that almost killed me today. Not to mention all the other ones that came flying in.
FELIX
Sixth, one almost hit you while you were taking your third inning nap.
LORENZO
This bullpen is not safe to hang out in today. Come on guys, we’re going on a field trip!
LORENZO hops into the crowd. Everyone follows him.
ACE
Where are we going, Lorenzo?
VICTOR
Please tell me you know where you’re going.
LORENZO
Gift shop. There’s gotta be one around here somewhere…
FELIX
Um…why?
LORENZO
To get you guys some more comfortable uniforms. The game’s tied at 15, if anyone was gonna pitch it would’ve happened by now.
CARTER
He has a point Felix, the season’s on the line after all.
FELIX
I’m just impressed he knows the score for once.
BRYAN
There’s a gift shop!
LORENZO walks past the gift shop.
BRYAN
LORENZO!
LORENZO turns around.
BRYAN
I found a gift shop. You almost led us astray.
Everyone enters the gift shop.
DEVIN
Wow, they got a lot of t-shirts here.
ACE
I need a pair of gym shorts.
LORENZO
Everyone get what you want! Not like anyone cares what we wear.
VICTOR
You know, we should probably get back to the game soon. Just in case.
Everyone checks out with their new clothes and goes to the bathroom to change. They quickly make their way back to the bullpen to find it’s the middle of the inning.
LORENZO
Anyone have anything to say to Coach Lorenzo?
DAVE
Yeah. Now I’m REALLY thirsty. And yes, I put on even heavier pants to prove to you all that your complaining is unsubstantiated.
JASON
Me too. Where the hell were you guys, I’ve been trying to call the bullpen phone all inning! We need someone to play!
The Bullpen Season 6 Episode 10: Bottom Of The Fifth
BRYAN
You guys think Ace is ready to pitch?
VICTOR
Absolutely not.
LORENZO is standing in the corner of the bullpen, looking defeated.
DAVE
Don’t worry Lorenzo, I’m sure Ace won’t catch any flack whatsoever for going into the final game of the season wearing gym shorts and a t-shirt jersey of some guy from the other team.
LORENZO
You really think so?
DAVE
Of course not, you’re in huge trouble.
HARRY
Yeah it probably wasn’t the greatest of ideas to take them to a gift shop when we’re not even at our home stadium.
FELIX
Wait. Hold on a minute. Shouldn’t we be batting now? It’s the bottom of the inning, what’s Ace going in to pitch for?
CARTER
I don’t see him on the field at all anymore.
FELIX
You sure? He could easily blend in among all the other guys wearing our opponents’ jerseys.
CARTER
Well for one they’re all wearing pants.
FELIX
True. Does Jason really not realize we’re batting this inning?
DEVIN
I think he does. Check out the guy walking up to the plate.
Everyone looks on the field to find ACE walking up to the plate with a bat in his hands, wearing a t-shirt with the name of a player on the other team on it as well as gym shorts.
LORENZO
I can’t watch.
DAVE
You never watch.
LORENZO
And I’m not about to start now either.
ACE watches the first ball go down the middle of the plate for strike one.
HARRY
Pitcher looks kinda tired, don’t you think?
MANNY
Yeah, I would’ve taken that poor guy out a long time ago. I was always good at knowing when the pitchers needed to leave the game.
FELIX
What are you talking about, you left everyone in the entire game when you were manager.
MANNY
Exactly. Nobody ever needed to leave the game.
FELIX
Sometimes we got tired.
MANNY
Yeah but…have you seen the alternative?!
The pitcher throws another pitch, which ACE hits.
DEVIN
He didn’t hit that half-bad.
VICTOR
That ball’s still traveling…
The ball lands in the bullpen for a home run. ACE circles around the bases. He goes back to the dugout where he gets congratulated by a few players. He then returns to the bullpen.
ACE
Goes to show, just about anyone could hit a home run today. And to think we took the lead with it!
CARTER
Good thing, we were behind there for a bit and a playoff berth is on the line!
Suddenly, it starts raining.
DEVIN
Ahhh, good to finally get some water.
ACE
Tell me about it, I just had to run all around the bases and then back here!
The rain steadily picks up before turning to a downpour. The umpires huddle up.
MANNY
Since when was it supposed to rain today?!
ROBERT
The weather just does what it does apparently. Good thing I got my sweatshirt.
VICTOR
Guys…what was that flash?
LORENZO
Oh that was lightning, surprised I haven’t heard—
A loud roaring thunder erupts.
LORENZO
Ok NOW I heard thunder.
DAVE
Guys, they just called the game.
MANNY
No way.
DAVE
Look at the field! The umpires are calling off the game right now! We’re going to the playoffs!
ACE
So…I’M the reason we’re in the playoffs?!?!
DAVE
I mean…yeah I guess, you had the winning hit. Not having to play a 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th inning helped.
ACE runs onto the field to celebrate the playoff berth with the rest of the team amidst a thunderstorm.
LORENZO
I narrowly avoided getting smashed by countless baseballs today, I’m not about to get struck by lightning. Goodbye everyone, see you in the playoffs!
LORENZO leaves, prompting everyone else to follow.