Tonight the Giants play the second game of a double-header against the Cubs. The Giants pounded the Cubs in the first game and look to continue this success. One problem though, Barry Zito has returned from the disabled list to pitch in this game. We might be drinking a lot tonight.
"Long day. I need a stiff drink and a Giants victory." says the Colonel. "And Zito is pitching. He better not suck."
So we both order Old Fashions and onion rings.
There's the old man at the corner of the bar drinking his Vodka-Cranberry. The trucker drinking a Pabst Blue Ribbon. The gang of motorcyclist drinking straight Jack Daniels. The Vietnam and WWII veterans drinking Heinekens. We assume they're a father and son combo. There's another man who meets his wife in this place and they usually drink red wine. And then there is the bartender/owner Boz who knows everyone's drinks before we enter through the door. The Colonel and myself usually sit at the other corner of the bar near the TV to watch the Giants.
Mos Eisley Cantina is like Cheers and The Colonel and myself are like Norm and Cliff. Everyone knows each others names and we get along like a family that only see's each other for a couple of hours a night. The Colonel and I can't help it. We're a couple of rubes. We love the Mos Eisley Cantina and the little family we have inside that joint.
On this night the Colonel and myself arrive at the bar right when the Giants game starts. We order the old fashions and onion rings right as Cubs pitcher Rodrigo Lopez throws the first pitch. We see the war vets playing a game of pool and drinking their usual Heinekens. The old man is in his corner while the motorcycle gang is at a table playing dice. The husband/wife combo are at another table drinking their wine. And the trucker is sitting next to us watching the game and drinking his PBR.
"You guys want to make prop bets?" asks the Trucker (who we will affectionately call The Bandit from now on).
"Sure. I'm always up for some gambling." says the Colonel. "Not me." I say.
"Okay. The bets tonight are. Over/under the number of Giants runs 3, Zito walks 4, and Soriano strikeouts 2. Twenty bucks for each." says the Bandit.
"I'll take the under, over, under." says the Colonel as he slaps down sixty bucks on the counter for Boz to take to make sure no one gets ripped off. "And I'll take the over for all three and the most predictions right will win." says the Bandit.
While the Colonel and Bandit pretend their inside a Vegas bookie, I order another old fashioned and watch Zito give up a home run to Lou Montanez to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead. Ah, am I glad Barry Zito is back from the disabled list. The Cubs would have scored another run that inning if Brandon Crawford didn't make a spectacular play at short to get the third out and save a run.
"Zito signed that enormous contract and felt pressure immediately to start producing. He went in the opposite direction and doesn't have the mental capacity to correct his mistakes." says the Colonel.
"Bullshit." says the Bandit. "He fucking sucks. He had one good year in 2002 and has come nowhere near that level since. He can't throw hard and if his curveball isn't working the guy isn't even an replacement level pitcher."
The Colonel is intimidated by the sheer size of the bandit, nearly 6'7", so he doesn't even want to argue. "You're probably right. I won't play physiologist tonight." Thank goodness. I love the Colonel but some nights the physiology can be a little much.
In the fifth inning the Giants scored on a sacrifice fly but Andres Torres was called out and then called safe after Geovany Soto "dropped" the ball. After an umpire meeting Torres is called safe and the Giants have tied the game. Cubs manager Mike Quade runs out of the dugout to argue the call which prompts this response from the Colonel.
"Quade looks like Darth Vader without his mask."
"I got you now!" I say. Which elicits laughs from the both of us because we're big Star Wars
And just the Cubs luck. They can't get out of the inning and the Giants score five runs in the fifth inning and gives the Bandit one victory in the Over/Under pool on the night. "I knew the Giants would score over three runs tonight. The Cubs suck something awful" says the Bandit.
The Colonel with a distraught look on his face says nothing and orders another Old Fashioned. Sure he loves that the Giants are winning, but the sore loser in him hates the fact he's losing this bet right now. In his own physiologic speak, he's a sore loser.
The game kind of drags on. Beside that one mistake by Zito he looked good. The Giants offense actually exploded. And then the finally tally's. The Colonel went 2-1 with his Over/Under picks and the Bandit went 1-2. The Colonel won the $60 dollars and paid for the drinks.
"Well that was fun. We should do it again" says the Bandit. "Yep. And you know what, I enjoy Giants games when they're a little closer. Blowouts aren't that fun" says the Colonel.
The three of us look at each other but don't say anything. We're afraid to agree with that sentiment. The Giants are more fun to watch in close games. We decide at that moment, it's time to leave. We'll be back again.
Just another adventure at the Mos Eisley Cantina.
Old Fashioneds? Are you guys wanna be Don Drapers?
ReplyDeleteShort answer: Yes
ReplyDeleteMedium answer: I drank an Old Fashioned with my dad and always loved the taste.
Just wait until Zito pitches against a competent team.
ReplyDelete