Practical Jokers and superstitions

Wednesday afternoon I was approached by 3B/1B Brett Bonvechio in regards to having his Intro music changed.  I happily obliged when he told me it was because he was trying everything to get out of the hitting slump he was currently in.  Don't ever let someone tell you they are more superstitious then a baseball player.  

The very next day I was approached by Richard Lewis about a new intro song.  I didn't think anything of it.  I'm not exactly sure exactly how the whole thing went down but it had to be pretty close to this.  

R: Hey Chris,

C: Hey what's up man? 

R: Can I get a new intro song tonight? 

C: Yeah, sure. 

R: You know Bonvechio's old song?

C: Yeah, "The Originators" by Bone Thugs in Harmony

R: Yeah, The entire first time through the batting order everyone but Bonvechio is going to come out to that song.  Let him (Bonvechio) walk out to his new one.  

C: OK, we can do that.

R: O yeah, and Chris every time after that I'm going to keep coming out to that song.  

So that's how it all started.  

No one knew.  Just the players and the video booth.  The top of the first flies by and up to the plate steps Nic Jackson.  The entire walk to the plate Jackson is looking back into the dugout laughing at Bonvechio who is wondering what is going on.  

"Now batting, third baseman, number 7, Richard Lewis"   is heard over the loud speaker.  Lewis strolls to the plate looking back into the dugout and almost losing it while Bonvechio throws his hands into the air as to give up.  

The same routine took place through every player's first trip to the plate. 

As I recalled on Friday with Brett, the joke was really on the rest of the starting line up as Bonvechio was the only player to record a hit during that first trip through the batting order.  

Practical jokes are always a good sign that the clubhouse of your favorite team is loose and headed for a good season.  A team that is able to interact on and off the field will generally go further then a group of individuals playing for themselves.  

In terms of superstitions, last Thursday was also Salute to Old School Baseball.  Players were given old school stir-ups, and the highlights of some of the greatest plays of all time were played in between innings.  

Most of the players really enjoyed the evening and the chance to kick it back to the good old days.  On the other hand, RiverSharks CF Nic Jackson was having a bonfire with his stir-ups after the game.  It may have been the stir-ups or he may have just been out of sink with the another person's intro music but Jackson broke his 9 game hitting streak.  

I'm still a fan of the shaving cream pie to the face or the bubble gum bubble on the hat but the RiverSharks are a team that gets along well enough for the occasional practical joke.  This team is loose and a half game ahead of Bridgeport going into an important series this week.  

- Chris Reed