The following two-act play might read like a recently (and unfortunately) unearthed work by Samuel Beckett, but it is actually a direct transcript (allowing for the vagaries of microcassette recording) of White Sox manager Terry Bevington’s pre- and post-game media conferences a week ago last Saturday. Allow us to play the Russell Baker role and set the stage. The interviews took place after a win the previous night and after a loss that night, both against the Baltimore Orioles, the team closest behind the Sox in the race for the wild-card spot in the American League playoffs. The Second Reporter in act one and the Second Reporter in act two are similarly single-minded but are actually different people. Reporters are numbered just to keep them straight; within scenes reporters asking follow-up questions are identified wherever possible. Tony Phillips had been removed from the starting lineup the previous night after showing up late for batting practice, and reporters were on the alert for any simmering controversy. The mentioned but unseen character “Jeter” is Derek Jeter, the New York Yankees’ fine rookie shortstop.
Scene: The White Sox dugout at the new Comiskey Park, on the afternoon before a night game against the Baltimore Orioles. A group of reporters stand milling in the dugout or seated on the bench. Players come and go, some stretching and running in the outfield. The first group of hitters is getting ready to take batting practice. Enter manager Terry Bevington from the clubhouse runway.
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Bevington: We don’t look at chasing people. We play one game at a time. That doesn’t change. The best way to do anything is go out and try to win tonight. If you get on a hot streak, great. If we play good, good things will happen. We’ve got to go out and play good, and that’s the key. That’s what we can control. And that’s how we go about it.
Bevington: Pardon me?
Third Reporter: Looking at James Baldwin, would you tout him as rookie of the year?
Bevington: Nah. I have no problem with it.
Sixth Reporter: I heard that Bill Simas was tipping his pitches.
