Page 34 of Sweet Spot

Gordo and I played together in college. I got drafted and he moved into coaching. He molded and mentored these players better than anyone, including me. “Like I used to, huh? The old Anson instincts?”

He shrugged. “I’m talking about on the field, Anson. No one wants or needs another of your last second road trips.” With a swipe of his hand we both remembered and then promptly forgot the summer of junior year and the road trip that shall remain nameless.

“Here’s my problem: it’s too much. I look at this shit and I know it’s important, but once I go out on that field, my instincts kick in. I want to believe I can go with my gut knowing all that data is sloshing around in the background, but the fact that those stats are sitting around, full of good info, that I might be ignoring, is killing me.”

“You need a nerd.”

I balked. Gordo was the last person I would have expected to use a word like that.

He shook his head and waved at me. “Don’t do that. It’s what they call themselves on the third floor. I didn’t make it up.”

“The research room?”

He nodded. “I personally call them the Big Brain Bandits.”

“Can I have one?”

“We have a Mental Performance coach.”

And Liam was damn good at his job. But it never occurred to me to appoint someone as my mental assistant. “Gordo, you are a very smart man.”

“Just doing my job.” Nothing usually phased Gordo, so it was extra shocking when he jumped out of his seat as Nathan Baker, the assistant hitting coach, came flying through the office door.

“He’s here!”

“Who’s here?” Gordo swept his hands down his clothes, attempting to right them.

“Eli Stirling!”

At first I didn’t react. Stirling wasn’t a phenomenon to me anymore. If anything he was a thorn in my side. But since he got my players signed I decided to stay out of his way. Until I heard her voice.

“It’s not the end of the world to admit you don’t know something,” Kate said. Probably to Stirling.

And then the man filled my doorway. He wore a suit, like always. A contrast to the t-shirt and warm-up pants Gordo, Nate, and I wore. Then right behind him came Kate. She wore what seemed to be her work uniform of a t-shirt and blazer, jeans, and sneakers.

Suddenly I was all reactions. My heart rate shot up as did my excitement level. I didn’t think we’d see each other until Loretta’s, but now, thanks to Stirling, she was here. In my office.

“Anson!” He said, hands stretched out wide as he took in my bare office. “How’s my team?”

Kate rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth.

It made me smile. “Coming along.”

“Have we cleared up third base?” He began strolling, examining the bare walls and furniture.

“Not yet.”

Another woman and man came hurrying in behind them.

“Ah yes. Anson, this is our new social media managers for the players. Scott Duncan and Charlotte Mortimer.”

“Social media managers?”

Kate stepped forward, still gritting her teeth. “With Wes Allen’s successful social media platform, Mr. Stirling thought it best if we helped coach all the players on how to be present online. It will help the team at all levels—and it won’t interfere with your job at all.”

If it wouldn’t interfere, why were they in my office? “It’s good to meet you both. If I can be of any help, please let me know.”

The woman—Charlotte—cleared her throat and stepped forward. “Actually, we wanted to start with you.”

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