[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb...143585014.html

On the night of March 17, Duffy found himself in San Diego, preparing to start for the United States against the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic. The game would be win-or-go-home, perhaps the most important start of his career. Duffy could barely control his nerves. But as he slept that night, he says, he found himself sitting in a car with Ventura.

The memory is a blur, as most dreams are. But Duffy can remember it all. Ventura is wearing dreadlocks, he says, extensions of the ones he had in the 2014 World Series. He is speaking perfect English, too. There is just enough time to ask a question or two.

“I was like: ‘Man, why did you have to leave us, dude?’ ” Duffy says.

The dream finishes in an instant. Ventura calls his friend “Papi.” He tells Duffy that he is in a better place. As he sits still in the car, he says: “I’ll always be with you.”

“And then I woke up,” Duffy says. “It was like weird. I’ve never had a calmer game in my life.”

Man, that gave me freakin' chills and made me a little misty-eyed.