The End(y) Was Just The Beginning

by Paul Semendinger

Originally Published - July 31, 2023

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This story can also be found at www.drpaulsem.com

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When you write your own stories, you get to tell the stories the way you want them to be told.

And, because this is my site, and my story, I'll tell the story the way I would like it to be remembered. (But, because I always strive to be accurate and fair, I will tell the whole story... it'll just be shared the way I want it told.)

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Endy Chavez played 13 years in the big leagues. He played for the Royals, Expos, Nationals, Phillies, Mets, Mariners, Rangers, and the Orioles.

In his 13 seasons, he accumulated 849 hits. His lifetime batting average was .270.

All-in-all, Endy was a pretty good Major League baseball player.

Expanding this just a small bit further, as a professional baseball player, including the years he played in the Mexican League and in the minor leagues, and such, Endy Chavez accumulated 2,219 hits.

All of those are facts. (You can check them if you'd like.)

Here's one more fact.

Against me, Endy Chavez is batting zero. He was o-for-2 against me. He might have had more than 800 hits against Major League pitchers. He might have had more than 2,000 hits against professionals. But against me, he has none.

Against me, Endy Chavez is batting .000.

That's the story. Those are the facts.

And that's the way I want the story told.

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(You don't need to read any further. Stick with the story above. It's good enough. Let's let it rest there. Go do something else, anything. There is no need to read any more of this.)

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This morning, I was the starting pitcher for our baseball team. I basically start every other week. This week it was my turn.

Endy Chavez, the former Major Leaguer, was on the other team. (They were real good.)

Endy batted third for his team. In the first inning, after the first two batters got hits, Endy Chavez hit a long deep fly to center. He hit it high and he hit it far. He hit it hard. Our centerfielder caught the ball. One out. Endy was 0-for 1.

If you want to skip this paragraph where I explain that, even though I retired Endy Chavez, his team sored five times off me (in just the first inning) that would be fine.

I did not give up any runs in the second inning.

Endy Chavez came up again against me in the third inning. He hit a laser beam line drive... right into the glove of our second baseman. Endy was 0-for 2.

I gave up a run in the fourth inning, and then that was it for me. 4 innings pitched, 6 runs, all earned. (I did strike a guy out. I'm not sure how, but I did.) All-in-all, it wasn't the most impressive game ever. We lost the game. I was the losing pitcher.

*** After the game, many of us went up to Endy and talked and laughed. He was so kind. I pointed out that he hit the ball hard off me, twice, but they were both caught. He said, "I didn't get a hit off you," or something like that, to me. It was all in good fun.

Ethan and I took a photo with him. It was great!

A few people got Endy Chavez's autograph.

No one asked for mine.

Not even Endy.