by Brian Williams

Created on: September 23, 2008

For a sport that has lost it's "America's Favortite Pastime" label, baseball has a beauty that other sports simply don't provide, the ability to interact with their fans at the stadium and even during the game. Think about it, as slow as baseball can be, the fact that you can seek autographs during batting practice, or even have a major league player toss you a foul ball, even some cases hand it to you, it can make up to be a very special experience. The only time you can get a football during the game is by virtue of a field goal, but rarely will a player just hand it to you. In the NBA, it's almost 100 to 1 to get to keep a game ball that if you're lucky gets tossed into the stands. Only in Major League Baseball can a fan get a souvenoir DIRECTLY from a player, coach, or an official.

Baseball can be an intimate sport. This game has alot of ceremonial moments worthy of attention. The seventh inning strecth for example, where "Take me out to the ballgame", even at 100 years of age, is one of the most enjoyable moments in sports. When a major record has been broken, Major League Baseball takes time out to really appreciate the moment. The previous record holders are there, whether in the flesh or via satellite, the new record holder takes time to reflect on those who were there before him, and to not forget where he comes from.

The one thing that is beautiful about the game is it's object, and styles of play. Most people look a baseball as boring sport, but truthfully, it's a sport of patience. When playing baseball, there is alot of techniques. The best technicians, always took time out to finish a project correctly. Whether you are a pitcher or a batsmen, you have to know the strike zone. The beauty of this stratedgy is that if you can see the "breaking action" of the pitch, as a hitter, you can go with the pitch and hit to the opposite fields. This can be frustrating for a pitcher who is either trying to come inside or outside the zone. As a pitcher you can frustrate hitters with off-speed movement. Once a pitch is thrown, a change-up or a fastball has indentical trajectory, a hitter can be out in front of the pitch or even late, your timing has to be sharp! If a pitcher has a good slider to compliment his curve, a hitter will have a tough time determining if the pitch will end up in the strike zone. Since part of the stratedgy in pitching is to pitch "outside" the strike zone, or in other words "pitch around the hitter", a batter must show patience and not

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>