Ron's relationship with baseball is a thread that runs through the entire book, and serves as a direct barometer of Ron's fortunes. During his early life, he is playing constantly, and everyone agrees he has great things ahead. As his baseball career declines (far more rapidly than he had imagined it would), Ron has more and more trouble keeping his life together. His brief marriage starts soon after he signs to a minor-league team, and endswhen he is cut from the team. Once he is permanently benched by his injuries, it also gradually becomes more obvious that Ron has mental health issues, as well as a substance-abuse problem. Without the structure offered by practice and game schedules and team rules, Ron's life falls apart over the course of several years.

Ron's self-image is also greatly tied to his identity as a baseball player. He lived for the small-scale stardom he experienced as a teenager. Long after he had been cut for the last time, Ron still tells anyone who would listen that he was just about to be called back up, that his greatness was still there, and someone would recognize it soon. But as his legal troubles escalate and he becomes distraught, imagining how his neighbors' opinions of him must have changed.