

Talented surgeon and nearly irrepressible lothario, Nicasio Beckett.

Frequently in this life, we do things for reasons that are mysterious. Like marry a woman despite her open contempt for us, for example. Or remain married to her, for example, despite her continued and unwaveringly open contempt for us.

This post represents such a mystery, as well. Whilst composing today’s diamond-encrusted edition of the Daily Notes, the author discovered that, by pairing the surname of a visiting pitcher with the surname of that same contest’s home pitcher, that the resulting name — in really almost every case — resembled those such as are frequently encountered within the confines of America’s most popular soap operas.

What follows, then, is the result of the author not only identifying that phenomenon, but also following through on it in such a way so as to make any reasonable person question the value of this life.

Names listed in order of today’s first-pitch times.

Gee LeBlanc

Of unclear, but decidedly nefarious, French-speaking origin. CEO of corrupt and profitable LeBlanc Pharmaceuticals. Irrepressible lothario.

Diamond Sanchez

Wealthy and brilliant Mexican heiress who suffers amnesia and becomes exotic dancer.

Gomez Burgos

Priest who is constantly tempted by Diamond Sanchez. Also, CIA secret agent.

Bailey Lynn

Amiable Southern belle who arrives in town after the earthquake. Loves Cashner Feldman with her heart, but Wilson Milone with her loins.

Wilson Milone

Owner of local fitness club and irrepressible lothario.

Bedard Phelps

Executive of LeBlanc Pharmaceuticals and childhood friend of LeBlanc himself.

Lee Bauer

Female geologist who’s asking too many questions about the earthquake, so far as Gee LeBlanc is concerned.

Buchholz Buehrle

Rancher, rugged individualist, and irrepressible lothario. Knows the truth, but doesn’t much care for it.

Zimmermann Maholm

Swiss competitor of LeBlanc’s.

Sale Tepesch

Belgian competitor of Maholm’s.

Cashner Feldman

Unassuming tax attorney at LeBlanc Pharmaceuticals. Highest bowling score in town. Frequent companion of Bailey Lynn. Suspected eunuch.

Hellickson Mendoza

Brazilian footballer who settled in town following retirement. Irrepressible lothario.

Lincecum “Lin” McCarthy

Nun with troubled and mysterious past. Also, Lutheran secret agent.

Chen Harang

Foreign exchange student, but actually secret daughter of LeBlanc.

Nicasio Beckett

Talented surgeon who saved, then plotted to murder, Leblanc. Lothario, but capable of being repressed.

It has come to the attention of the author that the creators of Twitter account Mashing Pitchers have identified a phenomenon not unlike the one explored here.