The Big Field

The next day, Hutch wants to practice, but Cody wants to sleep. Hutch wins, and after Cody has his “breakfast of champions”—Gatorade and donuts—they practice on a nearby field. A car pulls up, and Hutch wonders if it’s his dad.

Hutch asks Connie if Carl was driving today, and Connie wonders why Hutch cares. Carl comes home after dinner, and Hutch waits a half hour before saying “hey” and “night” to him. Carl watches the Marlins game on TV in the living room, and Hutch listens to it on the radio in his room. Hutch has two shortstops in his life—his dad and Darryl—and he is barely speaking to either of them.

The Cardinals practice at Roger Dean Stadium before the first game of the series. Cody and Hutch used to buy $10 tickets to sit on a grassy area in the outfield, and Hutch fantasized about playing shortstop in the stadium for an MLB team. For the next three games, Hutch will be on the field, but as a second baseman.

Cullen throws batting practice, and Hutch hits a deep fly ball that hits the warning track and bounces over the wall. Hutch thinks he’ll hit a ball that hard in one of the games.