Free The Contract by Derek Jeter, Paul Mantell Page B

got a very big dream, and to make it happen, you’re going to have to do your best. All the time, not some of the time. If doing your best isn’t a habit, you won’t be able to call on that when you need it most.”
    â€œThat’s right,” his dad said. “Don’t worry. You’ll always find time to practice doing the thing you love, so try to love what you have to do. And doing well in school will make you smarter, too. You’re going to find out someday that being smart pays off, even on the ball field. Especially on the ball field!”
    â€œHow’s that?” Derek wondered.
    â€œEven if you’re playing against players who are better than you—better hitters, better fielders, whatever—you can always get an edge by outworking them and by outthinking them.”
    â€œLike . . . math?” Derek didn’t quite get it.
    â€œHey, there’s a lot of math in baseball!” his mom said, clapping him on the shoulder.
    â€œThere is?”
    â€œSure!” she said. “I’m an accountant, right? So I definitely know what I’m talking about!”
    â€œFor instance?”
    â€œFor instance, how many times have you been up at bat this season?”
    â€œUh . . . six? No, seven.”
    â€œSee? Already, we’ve got a number!” she said, rubbing her hands together enthusiastically. “Now, how many times did you make an out?”
    â€œOnce.”
    â€œYou got how many hits?”
    â€œFour. Plus I walked once and was hit by that pitch.”
    â€œRight, right,” she said. “How’s your arm, by the way?”
    â€œIt feels fine now, thanks. So, where are you going with this?” He was curious now, for sure.
    â€œSo since walks and getting hit by a pitch don’t count as at bats, you are batting .800!”
    â€œEight hundred percent?” Derek said, scrunching up his face. “How’s that possible?”
    â€œNot percent. It would be eighty percent, actually. It’s point eight, zero, zero. At any rate, it’s a really good batting average—and it’s math!”
    â€œI’ve got to admit, that’s pretty cool,” Derek said, grinning. He was batting .800! Sure, it was only two games, but it was something to be proud of and happy about!
    â€œDon’t think you’re always going to bat .800,” his dad warned. “You’ve got a pretty good swing, and a nice approach at the plate, but nobody stays that good for long in the game of baseball. Batting .300 in the pros will give you a good shot at the Hall of Fame. If you’re dreaming of being a pro, you’d better realize that right now.”
    After dinner, Derek headed straight toward the stairs to go to his room.
    â€œYou okay?” his mom wondered as she saw him go.
    â€œI’m fine! Gonna do some math.”
    â€œGreat! Just checking.”
    He ran upstairs and got out a pencil and paper.
    Derek knew he might never get to play shortstop for the Tigers that season. But there was one thing that was in his power to make happen.
    Come whatever, he was going to outscore Gary on their next math test!

Chapter Nine
    THE MIGHTY YANKEES
    Winter finally turned to spring in Kalamazoo. The snow piles were now puddles. Flowers and buds came out on all the trees and bushes. Kids shed their coats and went around in sweaters or just their shirts.
    And, incredibly, the Tigers won their next two games! They beat a terrible Marlins team, 16–13. Then they beat the Dodgers, who were even worse, with a score of 18–9.
    Both of those games took a long time because there were so many walks, hits, and runs scored by both sides. The Tigers were hitting weak pitchers well, but they weren’t getting any better out in the field. Pete continued to make errors, and so did everybody else. Even Derek muffed a grounder once, ruining his perfect fielding percentage. The thing was, nobody on the team seemed to