162 Games- The 2017 season

Chapter One- Spring Training

Alright I couldn't leave these two. So here it is, the 2017 Padre's season. I had to do a lot of re watcher, screen grabbing and internet searching to try and find the names of some of the lesser known guys. Some were easier to find…other I made some liberties with what I thought I saw. Anyways this will be 5-6 chapters. I have it all mapped out to help fill in the gaps between part one and two. Let me know if you like the length of this chapter or if you like the shorter ones better.

February

Mike had been keeping his distance over the past few days. It wasn't like he was avoiding her, he had lots of pitchers to work with and try and learn while trying to get along with Livan. As much as Mike didn't like the guy, he was coming around to him. Livan had toned down the showboating and had started to listen to those around him who knew more. Mike knew that if he was going to leave this team before they had gotten to the promise land, Livan might have a chance to get his team there.

Ginny was across the field from him talking to one of the invitees from the Farm. Mike didn't recognize him, which usually meant that he was a nobody that was only here in show. Mike wondered if this guy and Ginny had been friends somewhere along the way. But then he saw her hitch her shoulder, in the way she did when she felt awkward or threated.

Casually, Mike took a few steps in her direction to catch a better read on her. It's not that he thought that she need to be saved from him, but he was still cautious of any of these guys threating her. Mike wasn't an idiot. He knew that they call ups would try and shake her confidence in the hopes of knocking her from the rotation.

When Mike was in earshot of them, he could tell that she was off. "yeah well you know, it could have been worse. But the docs and trainers got me back in shape." She was saying.

"Well I hope that was enough" Mr. Nobody was telling her in a very unconvincing tone.

"Yo Baker you got a second?" Mike called interrupting them.

Ginny snapped her head towards him as he closed the gap. She met his eyes with a look that welcomed the interruption "Yeah Lawson. What's up?" Baker and Lawson, they had not used each other's first name in a week. They were working hard to re-establish the professional working relationship that they had lost in the last four and a half months.

Mr. Nobody looked at Mike like he had just seen a rarity. He extended his hand towards Mike, "Hey man, it's nice to meet you. I'm looking forward to play—"

"Yeah I don't care who you are," Mike said in his cockiest tone possible, making no attempt to shake Mr. Nobody's hand "Now if you'll excuse us, Baker and I have some team business to discuss." Mr. Nobody lowered his hand slowly but didn't move away either. Mike turned his back on him, "So I know you were working on your cutter with Walker and Buck. Is it ready for me see?"

"Yeah and I want you see my fastball. I think we can get it to 90 this season but will need some tweaking and I'm not quite sure what to do."

Mike heard Mr. Nobody snicker at the speed of her fastball and Mike has never wanted to punch someone more. Mike took a step "Of course, I think Livan is done in one of the pens. If not, we'll just kick him out." Mike said with a smirk, while chewing his gum. "Lead the way" Ginny took a step and with out thinking, Mike came up behind her and slapped her ass. They both momentary froze, but with Mr. Nobody still watching, they both kept walking.

Once they were out of ear shot, "Sorry about that Rookie, Captain took over and I wanted to put him in his place and some how slapping your ass slipped my mind as a no-no. I guess after spending 18 years here, somethings are just ingrained and what makes you part of the team versus being an outsider." Mike said softly.

"No, it's okay. Ryan is an asshole. Thanks for saving me from him." She said with a smile. "And I think I maybe coming around to the ass slapping, at least when I know they are not for showing off" she said as she bumped shoulders with him as they continued to the pens.

"When did you play with that guy anyway?"

"Last season. He's a pitcher too. He was probably the one who freaked the most when the call came that I was going to get the spot start. He had been telling everyone since the moment Tommy broke his hand that 'just you wait. It's going to be me that get's the start', even though he had only pitched deep into games less the three times and had an ERA of like 7.86" she said with a giggle.

"Yeah like that was going to happen. I never saw tape of him, saw tape of you though." He said with a half smile. "I was actually surprised that you weren't at Spring Training last year. When I was told you got the call I seriously wondered why you weren't at camp last year."

"Well I'm use to being overlooked" she said with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"doesn't matter now, you're here to stay Rookie." He took a pause as the made their way into the vacant pen as Mike started to gear up, "Out of curiosity Rookie, what was your ERA when you got the call?"

"I don't know like 3.2 or something like that."

"Damn girl. No wonder Blip was always talking about you" he said as he put his mask on and got down into his crouch. "Okay Baker lets see this cutter you won't shut up about."

"Yeah like you weren't begging me to see it." She said with a smirk as she took her stance and threw her cutter. It hit the glove a little low.

"Again Rookie, I want to check the spin."

She threw it again and it hit the dirt, "watch your wrist Rook, I think your twisting it every so slightly and it's making it miss the spin." He says as he tosses the ball back. She gets into her wind up and goes again.

They banter back and forth about her pitches as they go through each one about 10-15 times until it comes to her Screwball. Mike stands up and starts to take his gear off "What, why are you stopping Lawson." She calls to him with her hands on her hips.

"Cuz Baker, I ain't messing with your Screwgie. I wouldn't even know how to give you notes on it. Your Pops ingrained that in you so well that you could do it blind folded and spun around three times before you throw it."

She looks at him, not sure what to say, "Was that a complement? Did you just complement me?" she asks, breaking into a smile as she makes her way to him.

"You say complement, I say the reason why your wrist twists when you throw the cutter. Come on let's get something to eat. If I'm hungry, you must be starving." He said as they walked towards the change rooms.

March

The first Friday in March, Mike declared it was time for a good old-fashioned team bonding night. They were in a weird holding pattern where they weren't playing everyday, because management and coaches wanted to see what the guys from AA and AAA could do, but also still had to put in the work and be ready to enter a game for a few innings.

Between having to share their facilities with Seattle, the Split Squad games, and the infestation of guys who didn't have a chance of getting called up, pretending that they were next on the list, the guys were in desperate need of alone time.

Jameson had a place in Glendale that Mike had convinced him to let the team use. Not that it needed much convincing, Jameson did that weird try to be cool dance move that he does anytime he is the least bit excited, it was no shocker that he was still single Mike thought.

Mike made his way through the clubhouse letting the guys know the plan and to bring their favourite party food. If this was during the regular season, he would have just made the announcement in the middle of the locker room, but he didn't want the dicks from the Farm to take it upon themselves that they needed to be there. Instead he and Blip had hand picked a few that they thought had potential to get on the roster at some point.

"What about the outfielder Smith?" Mike asked Blip from his nightly ice bath, "What do you know about him?"

"Not much, keeps his head down and only talks when directly addressed. He's got a good arm too. Never seen him miss the cut off man."

"Okay he's in. What about that kid Ronny-or is it Rudy."

"Rudy. Nah, he's not ready. He's only 19. He's got potential though. We'll keep any eye on him though. Maybe next year. What do you think about Ryan Churchill? He's got a wicked slider."

"Nope! Not while this is still my team." Blip gave him a look of protest before he continued, "He's an ass, according to Ginny, more so than Levian." Blip nodded in agreement. Ginny was their girl and called the shots. "What about DC?" Mike asked.

Just then, Ginny plopped herself in a chair at the end of the trainer's room, next to Blip, "Ugh what did he do now?" she asked.

Mike looked up at the sudden intrusion, thankful that he had opted to leave on his compression shorts. "Just picking which of the Farm guys is worthy of coming to guys night at JJ's tonight. You are coming, right?"

"But it's guys night" she said as if it was obvious.

"And…what?" she gave him a wide eye look that made him wonder what he was missing. Just then it clicked in "Right I should have said 'Guys-plus-Baker-because-she's-on the team-night'. Geeze Baker you have to get better at realizing that you are always include in team events." He said with a shake of his head.

She was still looking hesitant, when Blip said. "Gin, you don't need to tip toe around them. They can deal. And for the most part, they already have."

She paused for a moment before answering, "I'm not getting out of this am I?" she asked. When they both shook their head emphatically, she responded, "Fine. You never answered my question, what did DC do now?"

"Nothing. Was scouting him." Blip said, "I remember him from AA. He didn't really seem like the team bonding type but I was only with him a few weeks."

"Yeah and when you left, he became a real joy." Ginny said very sarcastically.

Mike looked over at her, sensing that there was bad blood there, "Baker what happened?" he asked in a tone that was half concern, half worry.

She was picking at the cuff of her jacket, avoiding his eyes. "It was nothing really. Just typical stuff I had to deal with down there."

"Ginny, what did he do." Mike asked in his special voice that was reserved when it was just the two of them. Blip crooked and eyebrow, but not daring to remind them that he was still there.

Ginny sighed, knowing that Mike would freak, but couldn't really keep this from him either, "he just would incessantly make sexual advices on me saying I could get him to the show and that it was a shame that I had to wear the uniform and that I should have something more 'fitted'" Ginny could see Mike's jaw clench, his brow crunch, and his hands work their way into fists.

Suddenly he was rising from the clod water, splashing it around. "where is he now? I'm going to find him and teach him the meaning of respect."

She stood to block the door, and placed a hand on his cold, wet, bear chest. "Mike, take a beat. It's fine. It was three years ago."

"I'm with Mike on this one G." Blip piped up, "He needs to learn some manners."

"Guys, I dealt with it. I have a thick skin. Plus, the whole time he's been here, he's cowered away from me with his tail between his legs."

Mike seemed to relax a little, "Fine, but if he so much as breathes near you, let me know and I'll take care of him.

She grabs a towel from the stack and hands one to him. "Deal. Now get dressed, you have to drive me to boy's night." She said with a smile as she left the room.

JJ was the ultimate bachelor so it was no surprise to any one that his house reflected that. He had some furniture, but he also had an air mattress in the spare room instead of a real bed "what" he said when questioned about it by Stubbs, "My overnight company usually doesn't mind sharing." He said with a wink. Salvi shook his head while Hanan slapped his back.

He also only had five real glasses, which Ginny suspected that he swiped from the bar at the end of the block. She made sure that Mike picked up some paper plates and cups while he was out picking up the pizza and some more beer. Only a handful of guys thought to bring booze. Most of them went the chips and dip route.

Omar had made a Salsa Fresca. "Don't worry Ginny, I made it with out cilantro. I know it can be a very polarizing herb for some people." Mike overhead him saying with those damn puppy dog eyes.

"Thanks Omar" was all she said as she placed some on her plate and made her way over to the other pitchers. Mike saw him hang his head low and walk over to Melky. He let out a soft chuckle under his breath.

He spent most of the night just mingling with the guys that he hadn't seen much of in the off season or catching up with the new guys. He hadn't really planned anything beyond just hanging out, but then Dusty piped up, "Lawson I thought we were having a guy's night. This is more of a kitchen party. Guy's nights usually have some sort of either binge drinking game or playing something where I can take Ellis' money from him."

"Hey! I resent that" Ellis called from the back.

"What ever. When was the last time you left with more money than you came with?" Stubbs chirped back. The whole room erupted in laughter, with Ellis admitting defeat.

"umm I don't have a poker set." JJ responded, "but I do have Cards Against Humanity."

"Seriously dude, are we like in a frat." Mike said.

"Actually, it is kind of fun." Sonny piped up.

"The answers you get do reveal a lot about a person." Blip called from the back.

"I don't mind it." Butch called. And with that they were all whispering about this one time they got the most perfect answer and won the game.

"Fine I guess we're playing Card Against Humanity." Mike said sounding defeated as he made his way to the one couch that looked like it came from a store, not a curb. Omar was sitting there with some of the Farm kids. He just looked at them and whistled while telling them to move. They instantly scattered.

"Cheer up Old Man. It will be fun." Ginny said as she took a seat next to him on the sofa.

He looked over at her and plaster his fake smile on, "See Rookie, I'm happy."

After a brief recap of the rules, mostly for Livan's sake, "What I grew up on an island where the newest model car we had was from 1958. Excuse me for not knowing the rules of a card game invented by a bunch of drunk guys."

Once they got into, Mike silent admitted that maybe it wasn't such a bad game after all. The fact that they knew each other so well, helped to make sure the answers were utterly ridicules and sometimes too on the nose.

"okay _+_=_ and drum roll please for the winner please." Blip said as the team started to slap their thighs "Dead parents+ Making a pouty face= Batman!"

"Yes! I finally won something" Ellis said emphatically, with the rest of the guys rolling their eyes. It was the first round he'd won and they had been playing for an hour and a half.

Some were well crafted answers; I learned the hard way that you can't cheer up a grieving friend with giving the tumour a cutesy name. Others just needed to be said; In his new self-proclaimed album, Kanye West raps over the sound of Kanye West. And then there was one tailor made for Mike.

"okay I am seriously going to regret this one but the rest pail in comparison. I can only imagine which of you fuckers thought this would be funny with me deciding" Ginny said while trying to supress the laughter. She took a sigh and tried not to blush as she read the cards in front of her "If God didn't want us to enjoy the size of my penis he wouldn't have given us the whole goddamned thing." The whole room erupted with laugher and they all shoot their glances to Mike who has remined uncharacteristically still. Ginny followed the team's gaze to him. "Really Mike that's yours?" she asked in almost disbelieve.

"Of course, it's him Mami. Did he tell you the story of how we met?" Livan said. Mike's ears turned slightly red.

"I'm a gentleman Livan. Of course I don't need to mention who's the bigger man" he said between greeted teeth.

He just shrugs his shoulders "you just tell each other everything else." Mike saw the nodding from the rest of the guys. He wasn't that obvious, was he?

They play a few more rounds until Jameson declares that this is the last one, he wants his sleep so make it a good one. Ginny thought long and hard before playing her card.

"Okay I think this maybe reflects my stance on this game." Mike says, "What's fun until it gets weird? A bunch of idiots playing cards instead of interacting like normal humans."

There were groans from the guys as they admitted defeat as Ginny clapped her hands. She had been the clear winner through most of the game. They started to pack up their things and Ginny stared to help JJ, Mike and Blip clean up the garbage.

"This was fun Mike. Thanks for making me come."

"Hey what I said before is true Gin. You are a member of this team and always included in boy's night." He said reaching his hand around waist to give her a hug with a quick peck on the top of her head. Blip looked on from across the room at the sight of his best friend and the women he protected like a baby sister. They were happy with each other he thought.

"I wonder how long it will take" Jameson said quietly behind him as he nodded in their direction. Blip looked at him with a slightly shocked expression.

Blip had a feeling something might be there but he didn't think the other guys knew. "How long for what" Blip asked stupidly.

"For them to realize that they are in love with each other, and are like perfect matches. Jeez and they say I'm thick." He said as he moved around the room cleaning up the cups.

Hmm Blip thought and remembered to make a note to tell Evelyn when he called her later that night.

There is a Split Squad game at the end of March, before the exhibition games, that Ginny is not looking forward to. She would be the starting pitcher at the home game with most of the second stringers and Livan, while the 'big guys' were playing the Cubs in Mesa. She didn't mind catching with Livan, she just didn't like when she was out numbered.

Mike didn't like it either. "Maybe I can talk to Al and see if we switch." He said running his hand over his beard as he was looking at the starting line ups. "we're not due to leave for another hour. He has time to make the switch." he noticed that Ginny was bouncing her knee on the trainers table while she was having her arm worked on.

"No it's okay. It's the last game. I can handle it. Besides, it's not like I'll be on my own. Livan will be here, along with Stubbs. He's always got some candy for me to steal."

Mike just nodded. He didn't like it, but he wasn't going to step on her toes. If she said she could handle it, Mike would have to believe her. "Text me if you need anything. My phone will not leave my side. Well except when I have to catch and hit. But otherwise you know…"

"By you side. Got it." She said with a smile.

She pitches well. She has a few miss communications with Duarte that neve happens with Mike. Dusty is playing Short instead of second and makes a few errors turning double plays, but other wise it's a pretty decent game. Her count is around 85 pitches. She says she can go another frame but Buck says they are not going to waste her arm on a game that doesn't matter when the season starts in a few days. She has it tightly wrapped in ice when she is back in the trainer's room with Kiki making sure she is rebounding fine. He's pushing and pulling it in different directions. She's wearing her leggings and a sports bar so that he can have full rang of motion.

"Good job Mami." Livan said as he entered the room while eating something that Gabe and Marcus would find delicious.

Ginny looked up at him, "You too Papi. What are eating anyway?"

"Ice cream sundae with chocolate, caramel, and strawberry sauce. And loaded with peanuts." He said taking a large spoonful.

She laughed, "You eat like a child."

"Mami, you never have any fun. Live a little."

They recount the game and try and work out where they went wrong with their sequence. They were getting ready to leave the trainer's room when Ginny asked "So how's Isabella? Have you been able to get her a visa or something. Or is that not how it works? I know things are complicated in that area."

His face sunk a little when he shook his head, "I'm trying to get her here but it's not easy. Thanks for asking Mami." He took another spoonful of his mostly melted sundae.

They made their way from the trainer's room when DC was coming out of the next room. He bumped into Livan, which sends his ice cream flying on to and mostly into Ginny and her hair.

"DC, you asshole!" Ginny called after him.

"What. It's not my fault" he snickered as he walked away.

"Ugg I can't stand that guy." Livan said. I was only in El Paso like 6 weeks and that was more than enough. Go take a shower Ginny. Get that mess off you before it gets hard."

She usually waits until she is back at the hotel to shower. She rarely showered in the clubhouse. It was just easier for everyone for her to get out of the way quickly. She looked at her clothes and ran a finger over her now dripping hair. She groans "yeah, you're probably right."

She doesn't have a closet her like she does at Petco. She just has privacy screen like she has on most road games. Which is usually how she ends up ¾ of the way dressed before she even arrives to the park. She grabs a towel and some conditioner for her hair. The showers are empty and the clubhouse is mostly vacant. She decides it's worth it to shower just so she doesn't have to sit with ice cream on her for the next two hours.

She stands under the warm water, rinsing the conditioner from her hair, missing her condo. She had been here for 11 weeks now, longer than she had been in her condo for, and was ready to get back home. Home. The word brought a mix of images; her condo, her house in Tarboro, and the house on the hill in La Jolla. She shut off the water, dried her self off before wrapping the towel around her torso.

She makes her way back to her locker. "Looking good Baker. How 'bout you drop that towel and show us why you're still here" DC calls from the corner of the room.

Before she can even respond, Livan is pressed up again him with Dusty, Butch, and Stubbs right behind him, "What did you say to her asshole"

DC starts stammering "I…uh was..uh"

"That's what I thought. You don't talk to any woman like that. Let alone a Padre." Dusty said getting closer to him. Poking him in the shoulder.

"Have some respect" Butch says from the other side. "You speak to them that way" he said pointing at the on lookers, that had come from all corners of the clubhouse.

"Well, I .." he was shaking and barely able to form words.

"Now leave before we teach you some manners" Livan was spiting out.

The four of them move over to Ginny, to create a wall between her and DC as he fumbles his way out of the locker room.

They all turn to look at her. "Ginny, are you okay" Stubbs asks.

She nods. "Yeah thanks guys for having my back. He really is an ass and can't help himself." She says, trying to appear calm even though she is still slightly shaking.

"Doesn't matter, you're a Padre. He's not. We take care of our own." Dusty said

"Thanks guys." She gave them a soft smile as she made her way behind her privacy screens to quickly pull on some fresh clothes. She just wanted to get out of there and crawl into bed. she pulls her phone out and sees a text from Mike, Buck told me how it went today. You did good kid. We're just leaving Mesa. Be back in like an hour.

She had to shake off the thing with DC and hope that her four musketeers don't tell Mike what happened. He was about to deck the guy over something that happened three years ago, she could only imagine what he would do now.

55 minuets later, the frantic knocking on her hotel room door told her that one of the guys, likely Dusty told Mike about what happened. "Ginny! I know you're there" She rolled her eyes and pushed herself up from the couch. She trekked over to the door and pulled it open.

"Lawson. So nice to see you. What brings you by on such a pleasant evening?" she said in a sarcastic tone.

"Are you okay Baker? You should have let me punch him when I wanted to and we wouldn't be in this mess."

She raised an eyebrow at him "We, Lawson?"

His eyes started to dart around the room, trying not make eye contact. "yeah we as in the team?" he said running his hand over his beard.

"Well 'we' handled him just fine. Really Lawson it's fine" she said moving towards the couch and pulls her legs up into a ball.

Mike moved to take the spot next to her. "No Ginny, it's not fine. He had no right to speak that way to you. You need to feel safe and comfortable in you place of work and he threated that right." He said wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his chest. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that. That shit doesn't fly in my clubhouse. Not while I'm papa Padre." Ginny started laughing. He looked at her with a quizzical look, "What is it Baker, do I have something in my beard?"

"You called yourself Papa Padre…literally dad father. Jeez didn't you learn anything from Ms. Miranda"

"Not really I was a little distracted by Lexi Jones. She sat in front of me, she smelled like candy." He said with a grin.

They were both laughing, even though Ginny wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or not. She knew he moved around a lot as a kid, but didn't know if that extended into his teens. Instead of calling him on it. She just curled into his warmth. She knows this isn't what they should be doing, they are still teammates. But she doesn't care. In this moment, there is nothing else in the world but them. The season will start soon enough and they won't get much down time alone, so these moments need to last 162 games.

I took some liberties with the rules of Cards Against Humanity. I choose CAH mainly because there have been some fantastic fics that have used the poker and never have I ever trope and didn't want to go there just yet. Maybe in the future team bonding chapters ?

Also all CAH answers came from a Buzzfeed post…sadly my genius does not extent that far.