Why are you a baseball fan?

[ChurchBoy]

I just want to hear from others why they are passionate about baseball. For me baseball is like a nine act theatrical play. There is drama, comedy, tragedy in almost any game. The ebbs and flows of a game are unique to every game...

 

[PastorSBC1303]

The love of the game....that started as a young boy playing little league, it carried through playing varsity baseball in High School, and not it carries through by enjoying the MLB

 

[KenH]

After basketball season, I enjoy the slower pace.

 

[padredurand]

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America is ruled by it like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.

Terence Mann (James Earl Jones) Field of Dreams

Makes you want to drive to Cooperstown, don't it?

 

[JackRUS]

I enjoy professional baseball because only the five or six teams with all the money ever have a chance to win the World Series.

I also enjoy sticking pins in my eyes and while watching Donny & Marie re-runs. (sigh)

And yes, I do enjoy that more than baseball. And you would too if you were from Pittsburgh.

Let's just say that if they were playing a Big League game in my back yard I would pull down the kitchen shade. (not to be critical)

 

[ChurchBoy]

Originally posted by JackRUS:
I enjoy professional baseball because only the five or six teams with all the money ever have a chance to win the World Series.

I also enjoy sticking pins in my eyes and while watching Donny & Marie re-runs. (sigh)

And yes, I do enjoy that more than baseball. And you would too if you were from Pittsburgh.

Let's just say that if they were playing a Big League game in my back yard I would pull down the kitchen shade. (not to be critical)

This has ALWAYS been true in baseball history. Teams like the old St. Louis Browns and Philadelphia A's would lose 100-110 games season after season. There has never an era in baseball where every team team was on a level playing field.

I don't want to pick on the Pirates but didn't they promise their fans that if the team got a new ballpark they could generate more revenue and compete. Well, they've had the new ballpark for a few years now. I don't see the Pirates pursuing any big-time free agents like Calos Beltran or Pedro Martinez. In 2004 the Pirates had a payroll of $32,227,929 which was the 3rd lowest. The Pirates receive millions of dollars in revenue sharing every year but instead of spending it on player development or signing free agants they just pocket the money. Othere teams do this too. Teams like Tampa Bay and Milwaukee. The Brewers conned the good people of Milwaukee in building a new ball park for them. Yet the team still stinks. They don't want to spend the money.

Please read this article:

News Article link

Here is abit of the article:

None of the major recipients of revenue sharing is preparing a significant increase in payroll. Teams such as the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brewers, Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins are seeking to hold the line on salaries or to cut back, just like their bigger-spending brethren. That leaves the usual wide gap between the haves and have-nots.
This last fact enrages agents, who argue the revenue-sharing money should come with requirements to spend on major-league level talent. According to MLB rules, the money must be spent to improve on-field performance. But the full definition of that is murky at best.
Several teams already have admitted to using the funds for other purposes, such as paying down debt or improving a farm system. Selig insists all revenue-sharing funds have been accounted for, but many remain skeptical.
"The redistribution of wealth is definitely happening. That much we can all agree on," said Rodney Fort, a Washington State University economist who writes extensively about pro sports. "What really isn't happening to date is the teams on the receiving end of the [revenue] sharing money beefing up on their talent. There is certainly a bit of dampening effect on salaries happening.
"There's plenty of things in the CBA to get a bit closer to that Bob Costas world where every team has a chance every year. But it's physically impossible to get there in the truest sense."

 

[Salty]

When an NFL team is ahead by 30 points and there are less then two minutes left the game is for all intenstive purporses over. (Yes, I know about the "Heide game", that is the execption, not the rule)
A MLB team could be behind by 10 runs, 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth, and there is ALWAYS a chance of winnig.
Thats why I like baseball.

Salty

 

[padredurand]

Salty,

Any Skychiefs action in the summer? I miss the old park. P&C Stadium was designed for fans 5' tall or less with narrow backsides.

why they are passionate about baseball

...the graceful flight of a homerun, the crack of the bat, the smell of popcorn and peanuts, the dream of the next foul ball coming your way, rally caps...

JackRUS, you had Roberto Clemete and Willie Stargell. Where's your sense of history, man? If a game does happen to break out in your backyard, leave some IronCity's in the fridge. Me and Salty will bring some friends down and sit on your porch roof and watch.

 

[WallyGator]

OK, now I'm ready for baseball. I guess I enjoy baseball more than any sport. Just to smell that fresh-cut grass and oiled gloves and maybe have a dog or two at Wrigley. Anxious to see new guy on block, Washington and Roger Clements. Can spring be far behind?

 

[Bible Believing Bill]

Baseball is the only professional sport worth watching. I don't watch football, basketball, hockey, or even rollerderby.

Baseball players seems to love the game as much as I do. I don't see that in other professional sports. There are exceptions to that such as Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa last season.

Baseball is the smell of the grass, the sun on your face, the crack of the bat, catching a fly ball, seeing Ozzie do a back flip on opening day, and respecting the traditions of the Game.

GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!

Bill

 

[PastorSBC1303]

Bill, I think if you would have watched the Superbowl tonight you would have seen players that loved the game. I agree with you about that aspect of baseball, but I dont think it is limited to baseball. I see it in the NFL. Now I dont see it in NBA.

 

[Bible Believing Bill]

Since I don't watch anything but baseball, I could be completly off base.

Bill

 

[Debby in Philly]

Even though some of the modern players and issues have tarnished baseball's image, it is still the most dignified and intellectual of team sports. And accessable to all, from kid to professional. You never hear people speak of doing something "for football" or wondering what an event will do to "the game of basketball." But "the game of baseball" still sounds almost sacred.

Bring it on! GO PHILLIES!

 

[Pennsylvania Jim]

Agreed on all points.

 

[Pennsylvania Jim]

The only sport with a better crowd of professional participants, IMO, is stock car racing. But Baseball and its players are both great.

 

[PastorSBC1303]

I have never forgiven Philly fan for booing one of the greatest 3rd basemen of all time in Mike Schmidt. Thus I cannot cheer for any Philly team in any sport.

 

[AF Guy N Paradise]

I use to be stationed in upstate NY a few years back and was able to go to Cooperstown a lot. For anyone who has been to the HOF, that little video they show you in the movie theater sums it up. It is hard to put into words, but baseball has an atmosphere that no other sports have, The field, the batting practice, the rally in the bottom of the 9th when a team is down by 3 runs and a grand slam wins it. It is hard to put into words. Also, it exists even at a minor league park where th eother sports can not come close to competing to.

Aloha...

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

This is the place to be if you LOVE baseball (and fastpitch softball for that matter), as the temperature is already in the 70's here.

** Little league baseball and softball have been going on for the past three weeks.

** High school baseball and softball have already started as well.

** University of Miami (ranked #2 in the nation) has already started playing and is now 4-0.

** Pretty soon, Spring training will be starting up.

 

[JackRUS]

Originally posted by SALTCITYBAPTIST:
When an NFL team is ahead by 30 points and there are less then two minutes left the game is for all intenstive purporses over. (Yes, I know about the "Heide game", that is the execption, not the rule)

True, but at least they admit they're on steroids.

A MLB team could be behind by 10 runs, 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth, and there is ALWAYS a chance of winnig.
Thats why I like baseball.

Salty

That's especially true if they are playing the Pirates. That's why I don't watch baseball.

 

[JackRUS]

Churchboy.
Revenue sharing in MLB is a joke. It is nothing like what they have in the NFL.

Here is an earlier artilcle on the same subject:

http://www-tech.mit.edu/V122/N33/col33vivek.33c.html