“Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee. Sink all coffins and all hearses to one common pool! and since neither can be mine, let me then tow to pieces, while still chasing thee, though tied to thee, thou damned whale! Thus, I give up the spear!”

An ancient manager meeteth three Pitchers bidden to an opening day start, and detaineth one

It is an ancient Manager
And he stoppeth one of three.
“By thy love of long-term contracts and your arrogant eye,
Now wherefore stopps’t thou me

The Blue Jays’ doors are opened wide,
And I am the opening day starter;
The schedule’s met, the roster’s set:
Mayst hear our moderate, yet passionate attendance."

He holds him with his aggressive trade proposals,
“There was a World Series contender,” quoth he.
“Hold off! unhand me, black haired jerk!”
Efstoons, his pitch balkt he.

The Pitcher is spellbound by the tenacious bargaining of the old, baseball-faring man, and is constrained to hear his offer.