The basics of baseball are pretty simple, but watching it on TV you will be bombarded with various numbers of every sort imaginable. But ultimately, the only numbers that matter are "runs"....each team gets 9 chances to score those runs, the team with the most wins.
I recently spent a week in AU and, because I couldn't sleep during what should have been my daytime, I spent most late nights watching cricket. I never could figure out which of the thousands of numbers they would flash on the screen was actually the score of the game.
Yeah, the tv seemed to throw a lot of numbers and stats at me, heh. Far as I could tell, the only ones that mattered were the runs, strikes, balls, and outs.
Hahahaha, yeah, cricket's a bit number crazy, and a bit crazy in general.
The basics of baseball are simple. The strategy and nuances are endless. Pay attention to the announcers and you'll learn a lot. Things like intentional walks, the infield fly rule and sacrifice bunts and flies add a lot of depth.
Watch where the catcher throws in attempting to throw a runner out when stealing second. Watch the second baseman jump into the air to avoid the incoming spikes when a double play is on from second to first. Marvel in the speed of outfielders who cover incredible amounts of ground and make it look easy. Watch when a run is coming into home and the catcher is holding the ball - that's often a football collision. And don't miss it when a truly excellent shortstop grabs a ball on the first hop, jumps and pivots in mid-air and throws a perfect ball to first base. It's a thing of beauty.
Over time, I have learned some things about managerial strategy by listening to the commentators. Their comments about decisions like changing pitchers, pinch-hitting for certain players and issuing intentional walks often help you understand how managers are thinking ahead in games.
Hearing this kind of thing is probably the main reason I wanted to check it out in the first place.
If you can, watch National League instead of American League games. Baseball is really fun to watch if you don't have ADHD.
Why? I've only watched NL.
AL is much better for new comers. More runs scored, and more marketable teams.
Well, hopefully I'll be catching both, from the sounds of it there's stuff that make both interesting in different ways.
Better get tuned in quickly - the season is growing short.
I recommend following one AL and one NL team - then with great luck, you'll have at least one favorite in the World Series.
Yeah, I just found out I'm a bit late this season, still, worst case is that I'll have a better idea of whats happening for the start of next season!
I plan on following both the Red Sox, and the White, they're both AL, right? After that see which other teams interest me.
Looking at the NL team list now, I suppose I'll be interested in the Cubs.
where a new general manger turned on the conventional baseball wisdom of the relative worth of all those statistics and used those stats to make different decisions.
