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Running Out The Hurt
As he jogs along a beach in the coastal city of San Arturo, Mexico Cipriano Gómez notices a young vagabond leap across a jetty and he senses, immediately, “Now there’s a real athlete.” The young man, Alejandro López, denies that he plays baseball but accepts the temporary work that Cipriano offers him.
Alejandro is the novel’s unifying character and the protagonist of the between chapter breaks. The reader experiences the Mexican ambiente, “baseball the way it should be played!” and Alejandro’s transformation from a shy and irresolute teenager through the eyes of the Zancudo’s nine principal baseball team members. Along the way the reader meets wives and lovers, rambunctious opponents, a harem of hefty hula-dancing aficionados, American tourists and professional baseball scouts.
As the Zancudos continue to win enough games to keep them eligible for the league playoffs, Alejandro’s teammates and the team’s sponsor manipulate his legality as an immigrant and his eligibility as a performer. The youngster has aroused the interest of Major League scouts, some of whom suspect that he is the “Jaime López” who deserted the Yucatán Leones. Whether he can remain with the team as the Zancudos go into the playoffs becomes a controversial issue. His decision and the responses of his teammates provide a dramatic climax to an entertaining and vivid look at baseball, at Mexico, and at how human relationships struggle and prosper.
Alejandro is the novel’s unifying character and the protagonist of the between chapter breaks. The reader experiences the Mexican ambiente, “baseball the way it should be played!” and Alejandro’s transformation from a shy and irresolute teenager through the eyes of the Zancudo’s nine principal baseball team members. Along the way the reader meets wives and lovers, rambunctious opponents, a harem of hefty hula-dancing aficionados, American tourists and professional baseball scouts.
As the Zancudos continue to win enough games to keep them eligible for the league playoffs, Alejandro’s teammates and the team’s sponsor manipulate his legality as an immigrant and his eligibility as a performer. The youngster has aroused the interest of Major League scouts, some of whom suspect that he is the “Jaime López” who deserted the Yucatán Leones. Whether he can remain with the team as the Zancudos go into the playoffs becomes a controversial issue. His decision and the responses of his teammates provide a dramatic climax to an entertaining and vivid look at baseball, at Mexico, and at how human relationships struggle and prosper.
- GenresFiction
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2012
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391 people want to read
About the author
Robert Joe Stout
15 books45 followersROBERT JOE STOUT is a journalist who has worked as a magazine editor, newspaper reporter, copy editor and contributing editor. The author of Hidden Dangers, Mexico on the Brink of Disaster; Why Immigrants Come to America; and The Blood of the Serpent: Mexican Lives plus the novels Where Gringos Don't Belong; Running Out the Hurt; and Miss Sally, he has published nonfiction widely in magazines, journals, and newspapers. His short fiction has appeared in literary and trade magazines and his poetry includes the books Monkey Screams and A Perfect Throw. He lives in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Blog at http://mexicoconamor.files.wordpress....
Blog at http://mexicoconamor.files.wordpress....
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 21, 2013
Running Out The Hurt paints a vivid picture of the colorful world of Latin American baseball. Like most small towns in Mexico, San Arturo prizes its amateur baseball team, a collection of characters ranging from the catcher Sergio with some professional experience to Paco, the crafty old junk ball pitcher who could have taught Gaylord Perry a thing or two about doctoring baseballs, to El Jipi, the outfielder able to slug the odd home run and to an assortment of other players of varying ability. All work to support their families but live to play baseball.
This is not one of those stories of an unsung hero coming out of nowhere to lead a team to glory. It is a realistic story with wins and losses, a story of amateurs with dreams of what might have been and the ability to nurture a boy with real talent to live their dream.
Stout cleverly keeps readers immersed in the Latino baseball culture with unique experiences, saucy if not risqué interplay between sexes, dialog structured as though translated from Spanish, and a liberal sprinkling of Spanish words in his prose. There is no need for a knowledge of Spanish to read the book. In fact, a sensitive soul is better off not translating the more commonly used words. Nor is a knowledge of baseball necessary to appreciate this story of human relationships and aspirations. It’s a well written, entertaining book.
This is not one of those stories of an unsung hero coming out of nowhere to lead a team to glory. It is a realistic story with wins and losses, a story of amateurs with dreams of what might have been and the ability to nurture a boy with real talent to live their dream.
Stout cleverly keeps readers immersed in the Latino baseball culture with unique experiences, saucy if not risqué interplay between sexes, dialog structured as though translated from Spanish, and a liberal sprinkling of Spanish words in his prose. There is no need for a knowledge of Spanish to read the book. In fact, a sensitive soul is better off not translating the more commonly used words. Nor is a knowledge of baseball necessary to appreciate this story of human relationships and aspirations. It’s a well written, entertaining book.
August 18, 2014
I had this dream once it didn’t happen though. My son/daughter played a lot of sports in HS/college. Both still compete in several sports. Now I have 2 granddaughters who play; well their still young.
I don’t speak any Spanish/Cuban/Dominican Republic except spring-break words. I just skipped over those parts.
I played baseball, fast pitch & slow pitch softball (coed, men’s) until I decided to retire at 53. I played every position on the field. Finally I mostly pitched or played LF, CF or Rover (softball). Most summers I was the RBI King. 1 in the park solo home run in my entire career. Base hits that’s me anywhere. I also played football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, bowling, golf, water/snow skied, & fished/hunted. I tried my hand at all the other many sports also.
When I was 16, I pitched for the Denver Bears (Cubs) practices who I think were Triple A in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Never got hit by a line drive thank God.
The humorous part of this book “concubine” or “whore” in the US we call them “groupies.”
In a sense sports is still a very diverse community thing. But nowadays even all the yrs. I coached several sports; kids are watched at a very young age. Will/can they become the next college hopeful or professional superstar? Parent(s), guardian(s) & foster parent(s), pay enormous fees & equipment is a must for their kiddo’s.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A fairly well written ethnic/cultural baseball book. It wasn’t always very easy to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great cultural baseball movie, animated cartoon, or mini TV series. I would recommend this for a older teen athlete. All that said I will still rate it at 5 stars.
Thank you for the free book (Story Cartel)
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
I don’t speak any Spanish/Cuban/Dominican Republic except spring-break words. I just skipped over those parts.
I played baseball, fast pitch & slow pitch softball (coed, men’s) until I decided to retire at 53. I played every position on the field. Finally I mostly pitched or played LF, CF or Rover (softball). Most summers I was the RBI King. 1 in the park solo home run in my entire career. Base hits that’s me anywhere. I also played football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, bowling, golf, water/snow skied, & fished/hunted. I tried my hand at all the other many sports also.
When I was 16, I pitched for the Denver Bears (Cubs) practices who I think were Triple A in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Never got hit by a line drive thank God.
The humorous part of this book “concubine” or “whore” in the US we call them “groupies.”
In a sense sports is still a very diverse community thing. But nowadays even all the yrs. I coached several sports; kids are watched at a very young age. Will/can they become the next college hopeful or professional superstar? Parent(s), guardian(s) & foster parent(s), pay enormous fees & equipment is a must for their kiddo’s.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A fairly well written ethnic/cultural baseball book. It wasn’t always very easy to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great cultural baseball movie, animated cartoon, or mini TV series. I would recommend this for a older teen athlete. All that said I will still rate it at 5 stars.
Thank you for the free book (Story Cartel)
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Read
March 6, 2013it was pretty good although this is not my favorite sport
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews