Baseball!

I admit that I don't follow baseball, at least Major League Baseball, the way I used to follow it.  There are many reasons.  That said, baseball is a great game.  It really is.

I know other sports' fans can point to why other sports are their favorites.  I understand, well, except for maybe soccer I understand.  But I think baseball has so many unique features.

Just think about the distance between bases.  Who came up with 90 feet?  It was brilliant.  How many bang-bang plays are there at first base?  And each field, professional or sandlot, offers its own uniqueness.

A 450-foot home run is exciting.  So is a 60 foot-bunt.  How electric are squeeze plays?  Have you ever seen a no-hitter going into the 9th inning?  Isn't a hit-and-run a most beautiful play when executed well?

Last Sunday I took the boys to see the Tigers.  Michael, of course, loves baseball.  He understands the game pretty darn well and sees a lot, more, I think, than other 15-year olds.  It was Cody's first big league game.  ("This was the best day ever, Grandpa!" he told me.  It was a good one for me, too.)  I, unlike other, never say Major League managers are dumb or stupid.  I may disagree with their strategies or tactics, but they aren't dumb or stupid.  So, the Tigers take a 2-2 tie into the bottom of the 9th.  (Both their runs were unusual, one on a wild pitch, the other on a walk.)  Leading off is a .130 hitter and I am thinking--and saying!--"Pinch hit for this guy!"  The manager doesn't.  I think it's the wrong move.  And the .130 hitter rips a single.  OK, so I'm wrong.  The next guy, a .200 hitter, has to bunt, doesn't he?  At least I think and say so.  Nope, he doesn't square at all.  "C'mon, BUNT!" I yell.  Nope.  Instead, the .200 hitter drills one about 20 rows into the right field seats.  So much for what I know!

And today, with two on and two out, score tied, V. Martinez drilled one to LC, only to have the LF snag it a foot or two from being a game-winning HR.  It's a game of inches (or at least feet).

Mon night our 15-16 year olds had a game.  We aren't so hot, but were playing a team with a record as bad as ours.  The other team's kids, esp their starter, pitched very well.  But our kids,including Bopper I proudly add, pitched just a little better.  We fell behind and then caught them.  We fell behind midway and then caught them.  We fell behind in the top of the last inning, too.  And won it in the bottom of the last inning.

Throughout, I'm getting all these visions in my head.  Of course, our players can't do what I am envisioning as strategy and tactics.  But I'm "formulating," as Karen would say.  And that's what baseball allows.  There were so many possibilities, at least in this game that was close.  Our players aren't capable of doing some of the things I was "formulating."  But Michael did one of them to tie the score and another kid did the same, scoring from 3rd with the tying run in the 7th.  OK, we lucked out on the winning run, the catcher dropping the ball on an easy catch and tag.

Sometimes it gets frustrating, being unable to do much, but it's a mental game.  And it's very rewarding to have "formulations" actually work.