since when did i like baseball so much? oh wait.
I typically do not watch baseball on TV. In fact, the only sport I regularly choose to watch on TV is football...anything else just doesn't hold my attention. But after watching all the pre-game ceremonies for MLB's All-Star Game last night, I figured I'd leave the game itself on while I worked on my computer.
Next thing I knew, it was 1:30 in the morning...and I was still watching. In fact, I couldn't turn the TV off. Now I could have cared less who won, because I definitely don't follow the teams or the season closely enough to have any favorites. It was simply that, after watching this craziness for fifteen innings, I had to know how it would end. And really? Wow. Even with my limited knowledge of baseball, I understood what a wild game this was.
However, watching the game last night, there were a few things that struck me as odd or curious...
...if it's league against league, why do the players wear their team uniforms? Why not league uniforms?
...if looking out for the players' abilities for upcoming games is so important, why do they bother having this game in the middle of the season?
...in games during the regular season, is there a limit to how many innings a game can last?
...if a base man has his foot on the base when he catches the ball, why does he still have to tag the runner for it to be an out?
At some point, I'll get around to figuring all that out. But let's be honest...no matter how much I know (or don't) about the sport of baseball, what really makes it so much fun to watch are the good-looking guys in tight pants. (I mean, a baseball outfit is really just a different type of uniform!) It's part of why I agreed to be a scorekeeper in the dugout for my friend's club baseball team in college, and it definitely made staying up so late to watch last night's game worthwhile. Because even if they're not having a good night play-wise, they make it look good, regardless.
Sigh. What can I say? I may like watching sports, but I'm still just a girl at heart.
Where I am: Lebanon, KY
What I'm reading: By the Light of the Moon by Dean Koontz, and The Faith Club
Next thing I knew, it was 1:30 in the morning...and I was still watching. In fact, I couldn't turn the TV off. Now I could have cared less who won, because I definitely don't follow the teams or the season closely enough to have any favorites. It was simply that, after watching this craziness for fifteen innings, I had to know how it would end. And really? Wow. Even with my limited knowledge of baseball, I understood what a wild game this was.
However, watching the game last night, there were a few things that struck me as odd or curious...
...if it's league against league, why do the players wear their team uniforms? Why not league uniforms?
...if looking out for the players' abilities for upcoming games is so important, why do they bother having this game in the middle of the season?
...in games during the regular season, is there a limit to how many innings a game can last?
...if a base man has his foot on the base when he catches the ball, why does he still have to tag the runner for it to be an out?
At some point, I'll get around to figuring all that out. But let's be honest...no matter how much I know (or don't) about the sport of baseball, what really makes it so much fun to watch are the good-looking guys in tight pants. (I mean, a baseball outfit is really just a different type of uniform!) It's part of why I agreed to be a scorekeeper in the dugout for my friend's club baseball team in college, and it definitely made staying up so late to watch last night's game worthwhile. Because even if they're not having a good night play-wise, they make it look good, regardless.
Sigh. What can I say? I may like watching sports, but I'm still just a girl at heart.
Where I am: Lebanon, KY
What I'm reading: By the Light of the Moon by Dean Koontz, and The Faith Club
Comments
Any of the Sox, really.
But Pedroia and Jacoby?
*Drool*
Why not league uniforms?
Because people want to see their favorite players and a lot of them cannot recognize them if they don't have their names on the back. It also is kind of a way to show what is the BEST team by the number of players on the field.
Why do they bother having this game in the middle of the season?
It used to be an exhibition game that didn't really matter. The guys would get together and goof off and not take the game seriously. Now since it matters (sort of) they play better. Also, only 80 guys out of the league are taken to play (40 per team). That leaves A LOT of guys who get a few days off. Baseball is one of the only sports that is played most every day. After 120 games, I'd want a day off too.
...in games during the regular season, is there a limit to how many innings a game can last?
Nope. They play till there's a winner. The longest game went 25 innings and took 8hours! That's almost THREE full games.
...if a base man has his foot on the base when he catches the ball, why does he still have to tag the runner for it to be an out?
Chances are it wasn't a force out. Force outs are when there is nowhere for the batter to go except the next base. The fielder can get the ball tag the base to which the runner is heading and the runner is out.
However, if there is a guy on second and no one on first, the guy on second doesn't HAVE to run. He can stay there. So if a ball is hit and guy on second runs to third, it's not a force out because he could always run back to second. The fielder has to tag the guy not the base to get the out. He will step on the bag as a way to block the guy if he slides. A last line of defense if you will.
Baseball's complicated. Although cute pictures! I love Ian Kinsler. Did you see Josh Hamilton from the Home Run Derby? He's a cutie too. Maybe it's just the Rangers. Who knows...