Bengie and D

In 2008, San Francisco Little League had their SF Giants day.  The kids got to mingle with players before the game.  Dexter, whose team was the Cubs met some Giants and particularly friendly was Bengie Molina.  Bengie was a veteran of the team, mentor to Tim Lincecum and Buster Posey and also the oldest brother of two other Major League baseball catchers.

Today, May 30, 2015 Dexter met Bengie again.  Bengie has a book dedicated to and about his father, written with Joan Ryan.  This was at Books Inc. in Alameda.  Bengie liked the photo of him with young Dexter.  I was kind of thrilled, myself!

When Bengie was the catcher for the 2002 California Angels, he was involved in one

 of one of the weirdest plays in baseball history; game 5 in the World Series vs. the Giants. During the inning, young Darren Baker (manager Dusty's son) ran out to retrieve the bat of his favorite player, Kenny Lofton.  However in his excitement he forgot that the ball was in play, and not only would a base runner be barreling home but an outfielder would be throwing a baseball directly to the area young Darren was at, at 80-100 miles an hour.  Double jeopardy; a 200# player and a hardball both rocketing into the plate.  Without words, J.T.Snow of the Giants who was running home sidestepped Darren and at the same time grabbed him by the shirt while Molina of the other team

 kept his eyes on the ball knowing that he would need to be the one to intercept the ball if it was heading toward the young boy (he was 4 at the time).  It was a crazy moment and yet beautiful as these players did what was right to protect the boy.  Bengie later became a Giant and is still well liked by his old teammates, and the San Francisco fans.

Joan Ryan is a good writer, usually writing about sports. She has written several books.

The WaterGiver is not about sports. It is a book about parenting a different child and how

we sometimes are not at our best as parents.  We often try to show a happy public face but Ryan bravely examines

how own behavior and her struggles with parenting a son who was prone to dark moods and learning difficulties. She portrays herself not in the most flattering light but a realized one as she begins to accept her son for who he is, and ultimately fostering a stronger family bond.