The legend arrives

CONCORD -- For decades the Hot Chasers have heard the rumors. Somewhere out there was a ballplayer who embodied all that a Hot Chaser can aspire to be -- fiery, assertive, aggressive, playful, forgetful. But can a multi-tool player like this really exist, outside the laboratory of a mad scientist? And who is this player? Where is he? And will he do a food run?

Seemingly out of nowhere, the questions were answered Saturday at Ygnacio Valley High School. As if arising from the mist of time and the muck of history, there loomed Joe Roderick, poised for softball action. Well, poised for offense but not for defense, since his fielding glove was not in his bag. But of such is the legend of Hot Chasers made.

Roderick quickly brushed off the setback of the missing mitt and displayed the innate athletic ability that made him the object of much Hot Chaser preseason conjecture.

His batting-practice turn was assertive. His shagging was inspirational. His food run was non-existent. All gist for the Hot Chaser mill. It was all a revelation, considering his long stretch of softball inactivitiy.

"To those who missed my first softball adventure in 10 years, it was like the Great Bonds coming back on the field after a lengthy layoff," Roderick noted. "No rust, no worries. The only thing missing was the steroids-enhanced upper body. I would have caught everything if not for a bad glove I borrowed from Chase. I should be fined for leaving mine at home."

But Roderick did not leave his drive, his desire, his will to live at home. Hot Chasers, take note.

"There's nothing more awe-inspiring than to see the grizzled veteran rise up out of retirement and take the field again," said sometime-rimmer Dennis Pimentel. "Sure, he's not as fast or as agile or as strong or as smart or as cute as he use to be, but dammit, that guy can still play. He was one of the first ones on the field and one of the last ones to leave. I know seeing Joe on the field made me work a lot harder. To quote Bob Costas, 'It was magical.'

"And it's just my two cents worth, but I think our management should consider signing that free agent Phillips to play on Thursdays. She could help us...A LOT."

Roderick, he of the blazing-red batting gloves, came away impressed by his new teammates as well. "Pimentel looked like Marco Scutaro at the middle infield positions," J-Rod noted. "He'd be in the running for the second base job if he was on the A's."

One teammate Roderick didn't see was self-imposed holdout Mike Wolcott, still pitching on the side in parts unknown.

"News of Roderick's dominance have inspired me to end my holdout and promise to appear at the next practice," said the affable Wolcott. "Probably."

NOTES -- Mike Lefkow was late for practice, claiming to have gotten lost attempting to find parking near the field. Hot Chaser management was considering a huge fine for the transgression .... Lefkow later paid the price by taking a searing line drive off his upper torso. The softball-sized blast left an indelible mark on Lefty, who now proudly wears the bruise as a badge of honor. Lefkow will display the bruise to all those interested at an upcoming autograph session .... Rumors abound that Neil Hayes will soon jump into the Hot Chaser talent pool. Reporters at Hot Chasers Blog are fanning out across the globe to verify these reports.