A field trip. That was what had started the craziness in the clubhouse. The simple idea for a field trip for the team to communicate and bond together ended up causing a monstrosity in the clubhouse. Joe Girardi had tried to forget the memory countless times but alas every time he closed his eyes, all he saw were his teammates yelling at the top of their lungs, trying to say what they wanted to say. Joe tried to think back at the moment where the insanity all started; when he decided to walk into the clubhouse after lunch to discuss the matter.
Joe had opened the door to the clubhouse watching his teammates put their belongings in their lockers. He saw Mariano Rivera throwing a baseball up and down, he saw Boone Logan looking through a book that had pictures of animals & he saw Nick Swisher trying to teach David Robertson & Brett Gardner how to play a guitar.
“Guys, can I have your attention for a moment?” Joe asked. The team soon shot their eyes towards Joe as Joe let out a small sigh. “Every year as you know, we have a field trip to get to know the new players on the team and I was thinking that this year, you guys would like to choose where we go.” The guys started to flash smiles as they started to think of what to do for the field trip.
“How about we stay here and play video games?” Russell Martin suggested.
“Why do we have to play video games?” Mark Teixeira turned his head towards Russell. “Besides, didn’t we do that already?”
“Yes, but we didn’t play Call of Duty…” Russell held up the video game while his teammates looked at him with eyes that were as big as a hawk.
“Russell, the point of the field trip is to get out of the stadium. Staying here and playing video games isn’t exactly what I would call a field trip.” Joe let down Russell’s suggestion gently. “Any others?” Boone’s hand shot in the air while the other teammates eyed him. “Okay, Boone. We don’t have to raise our hands. We’re not in 5th grade.”
“But…we’re going on a field trip. Right?” Boone wondered.
“Well yes.” Joe started.
“So doesn’t that mean that we took a huge step backwards and we’re now in elementary school?” Boone asked.
“No Boone. We are not taking a step backwards and we are not in elementary school.” Joe sighed.
“But do we still get nap time?” Boone questioned.
“Did you have a suggestion or not?” Joe didn’t mean to sound impatient with Boone but just asking the team for ideas was stressful enough. There were more than 20 guys in the room and all of them had different ideas.
“Can we go to the zoo?” Boone asked.
“Why do you want to go to the zoo?” Mark countered.
“I heard that they have polar bears there.” Boone shrugged.
“You do know they aren’t like Winnie The Pooh and they aren’t soft and cuddly right?” David said while still looking at his guitar.
“But they look so cute in my book.” Boone held up the book for David to look at.
“That’s a good idea Boone. We’ll put it in the maybe section.” Joe said. “Anyone else have an idea?”
“How about Karaoke night?” Brett shrugged his shoulders.
“Yes! Karaoke night!” Nick pointed towards Brett.
“Okay, does anyone know how to sing?” Joe asked. Everyone’s hand shot up in the air right away. Joe took a sigh & continued to think. “Does anyone know how to sing well?” All of a sudden everyone’s hand except for Nick’s was up in the air. “We’ll put Karaoke night in the maybe column Brett.” Joe said. “Anyone else have an idea.”
“Six Flags!” Boone shouted.
“Boone! Come on man, you thought of the zoo already!” Alex Rodriguez said sounding annoyed. Alex then snapped his fingers and smiled. “How about we go to Six Flags?”
“Gee Alex. How original.” Joe sarcastically said.
“I think we should go to Six Flags!” Robinson Cano smiled.
“I hate roller coasters.” Derek Jeter shuddered towards Alex and Robbie.
“But come on! We can take a picture with Bugs Bunny.” Robinson tried to make it sound enticing.
“I don’t think so.” Derek shrugged his shoulders.
“I want to take a picture with Bugs Bunny.” Mariano said from his locker.
“Mariano has spoken! We’re going to Six Flags!” Alex said.
“Yay!” Boone said.
“Wait a minute! So what about the rest of us? We don’t get a say of what goes on? Nick shook his head.
“I think we should get a say of what we want!” Curtis Granderson spoke up.
“I agree.” Russell Martin smiled.
“How about the aquarium?” Curtis asked. Russell’s face turned into a frown as Curtis shrugged his shoulders.
“Why do we want to go and see fish for 2 hours?” Russell said.
“I want to see Polar Bears.” Boone said.
“I thought you wanted to go to Six Flags!” Alex said sternly.
“I don’t know what I want anymore.” Boone sighed while trying to cover his face in his book.
“Guys. Can we just agree on one thing?” Joe wondered.
“Six Flags!” Alex yelled.
“Karaoke night!” Nick shouted back.
“Video games!” Russell screamed.
“Penguins!” Boone said out loud. Everyone turned to Boone as Boone looked back at them. “Oh, there’s a picture of a penguin in my book.”
From there the screaming had gotten louder and louder…and Joe still didn’t get his answer.
“They wouldn’t give you a straight answer?” Brian Cashman asked later.
“No. They all started arguing.” Joe sighed.
“Well…what are you going to do?” Brian wondered.
“Maybe they should go to the zoo.” Joe then gave a slight chuckle. “Boone does want to see the penguins.”
“Boone is full of surprises, isn’t he?” Brian cracked a small smile.
“Yep. He is.” Joe got up from his chair and headed towards the window. It was decided that they would go to the zoo…but how was he going to break it to the other 40+ men? Oh boy…