opening the day

(third inning)

if he runs
you gotta go to first, if he
manages to foul it off ..
if you get the signal from 3rd, then
if the software's changing running,
how you see the game ...

if the groundskeeper has the grass
just short enuf, down the third-base line;
if the catcher muffs the throw,

if the wheels come off in the eighth, or
if the manager isn’t there for his guys;

if you see the mindset they’ve got
going into the tenth ...
if you can’t stand yr third-baseman;
if conditionality were part of
thinking, of going from
first to third—