A Shocking Revelation

Sometimes changes in life are subtle, barely perceptible and highly nuanced. Others come upon us with a startling suddenness. The latter was the case last week when I went to two Milwaukee Brewers games.

Kids were involved in everything--the famous sausage race; announcing the batting order in a particular inning and the pregame ceremony. A lineup of kids was announced and they scampered to their respective positions on the field. When the Brewers came out, they introduced themselves to their kid counterpart, autographed a ball and stood with the child when the national anthem was played.

One of the more striking moments was at home plate. The kid pitcher and kid catcher were there and the Brewers catcher, Chad Moeller, newly acquired this season in the Richie Sexson trade, came out dressed in full catcher regalia. He introduced himself, signed baseballs, but did so squatting down. I presumed he was loosening up to start the game. But when the kids made a move to walk away, he encouraged them to stay, and stayed down at their eye level.

Clearly the kids were engaged and enthralled--touching his catching gear and smiling. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the four umpires, one of national note--Tim McClellan, and the two managers with the lineup cards made their way toward home plate. Traditionally they cluster around home plate, but that was occupied by Chad Moeller and his two new favorite fans.

The kids and Moeller didn't move. The umpires and the managers did. When the anthem was played the scene at home plate made me sigh. Four imposing umpires, Chad Moeller and the two kids (the managers had since departed to their dugouts) with their hats off in a nice formation facing the outfield. When completed the kids shook Moeller's hand (again) and scurried off the field with huge smiles on their faces.

So what was this new revelation? The Milwaukee Brewers are now officially my second favorite baseball team.