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You gotta love those 51 outs

Yeah ... there's a little bit of meaningless out there on the field during an All-Star Game. But the payoff and joy baseball brings is a good tradeoff.

I love baseball.

It’s our National pastime, y’know.

That first pitch. The crack of the bat. The roar of the crowd. Peanuts. Hot dogs. A cold beer. Sharing a frozen lemonade with the kids. Messing with “The Wave” by standing up after the crowd has passed.

I love baseball. Others do, too, in their own ways:

“Think watching regular season MLB on TV is fun?
Try watching an essentially meaningless exhibition game!”

– Matt

Matt has an excellent point, but, as I said, it is our National pastime. And there’s nothing like pulling up a chair and catching a ballgame to help relax the mind and body after a busy workday. Baseball’s a relaxation spot of choice for the Everyday Joe as well as celebrities:

“Beer goes with everything. It’s the perfect food.”
– Justin Timberlake, holding up a beer while being interviewed poolside
 

Yes, the All-Star Game can be a meaningless exhibition of the sport, but it exudes summer … a summer night … the fact that you’re smack dab in the middle of summer. Doesn’t it? Baseball just feels right.

And there’s nothing like attending a real, live ballgame. Fan or otherwise, there’s something for everyone at the ball field. Those who say it’s boring don’t know the game. And that’s okay because — fan or otherwise — there’s something going on during a game each and every moment the players are on the field, or switching things up, or coming to the plate. Bored? Check out the JumboTron and catch a blooper reel or stat. Whoops! You just kicked over your Coke. Crank up that radio a little louder and listen to the blatherings of the local announcers …

“How about we mic Brian Wilson and give Buck and McCarver the night off?”
– Clark
 

… or the soothing, everything’s-gonna-be-all-right sound of Vin Scully’s pipes at a Dodger game, whether you’re planted in a chair at Chavez Ravine or tooling on down the highway, speakers blaring.

And truth be told, the All-Star contest isn’t that meaningless; the winner does garner home field advantage for the World Series show come October. There’s that.

I’m a diehard baseball fan. I bleed Dodger blue (a difficult thing to admit these days with the boys in the dumps and their management in chaos, but the polishing of the pitchforks, and the lighting of the torches, and the angry mobs is always good for the spirit); I don’t believe the American League is a real league (you send nine men onto the field, by golly those same nine men better go up to the plate); and the feel and smell and experience of being at a professional ball field has few equals:

“Baseball still does emotional pre-game ceremonies better than any other sport. No contest.”
– Clark
 

It’s a good night when the National League takes the game as convincingly as they did last evening. Kind of puts things in perspective, if only for a few moments.

The thing about baseball is, it can change in the midst of a game in the mere blink of an eye:

“Kendrick could tie it with one swing of the bat. Instead, he grounds out.”
– Tim McCarver
 

Granted, it didn’t for the American League last eve, but you know … it could have. *snicker*

Look, do yourself a favor before you find summer suddenly a memory for another year: Get yourself to a ballgame. The convincing 5-1 win of the National League over the American League this year should at least give you an inkling of things still to come in the latter half of the season. There’s fun and excitement between the foul lines and in the stands at your local venue.

And the Cracker Jack is calling you. I promise.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Categories: | Clack | Features | General | Open Letters |

8 Responses to “You gotta love those 51 outs”

July 13, 2011 at 2:24 PM

I’m sure you mean you bleed Yankee navy blue … we follow, Michael! :)

July 13, 2011 at 2:55 PM

. . . . .

*glares*

July 13, 2011 at 2:25 PM

The Wave is one of the few things that might keep me away from a baseball game… can’t stand it (get it… can’t STAND it!!! ;) ).

However, there really is nothing quite like it. I went to college about 10 minutes from the A’s home park and watched 81 games live by last year in California (between the A’s and the Giants). All but one from the bleachers (the best seats in the house if you ask me).

Despite not being a Dodger guy… you are right… there is something about Vin’s voice that says baseball.

Go team!

July 13, 2011 at 2:45 PM

The worst thing about the midseason classic is the announcers. Chris Berman is a complete caricature relying on nothing but schtick and calls the HR Derby like he’s playing himself once again in another video game or movie. Joe Buck with his blase detachment gives off a “I have to be here because this is my job; why are you bothering to watch this?” vibe. And Tim McCarver, well, nobody reads right out of a media guide like he does.
How to improve it? I’d bring the teams local announcers out and let them have a half inning each plus let them handle the derby. It is an exhibition after all, and that would put at least 18 of 30 clubs announcers on display in a national spotlight. A nice reward for them and a chance for the nation to sample some local flavor.

July 13, 2011 at 2:53 PM

. . . . .

Brilliant, Clark!

*clinks Guinness bottle*

July 13, 2011 at 2:51 PM

I just loved seeing those kids on the field, diving to catch those balls. Pure Joy. What a great night!

July 13, 2011 at 3:08 PM

I should clarify, the boys I was referring to, were catching balls during the home run derby my boys went to.

July 13, 2011 at 2:56 PM

I do love me some baseball, but it just loses something on TV, especially in a no-stakes game that’s over-produced & commercialized like the All-Star game. It has to be a playoff or pennant race game for me to put up with all the needless folderol.

I prefer my baseball like I prefer my sex-acts, live and in person.

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