90 Days to Opening Day 2008

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 90 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s excerpt is from Last Seen Wearing by Colin Dexter. This is an Inspector Morse novel. Morse is not a typical British Detective Inspector for the Thames Valley Criminal Investigation Division.

Morse seemed reluctant to begin any work when he arrived, late, in his office on Thursday morning. He handed Lewis a report on Valerie’s letter and started on The Times crossword puzzle. He looked at his watch, marked the time exactly in the margin of the newspaper and was soon scribbling in letters at full speed. Ten minutes later he stopped. He allowed himself only ten minutes, and almost always completed it. But this morning one clue remained unsolved.

“What’s this, Lewis? Six letters. Blank A – Blank S – Blank N. Eyes had I—and saw not?”

Lewis jotted down the letters and pretended to think. He just hadn’t a crossword mind. “Could it be ‘parson,’ sir?”

“Why on earth should it be ‘parson’?”

“Well, it fits.”

So do a hundred and one other words.”

“Such as?” Morse struggled hard before producing “damson.” “I’d rather have my parson, sir.”

I believe that the answer Morse is looking for is Samson. He had eyes but saw not the treachery of Delilah. But, that is just my interpretation.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.