January 28, 2007
Enjoying the Game
Jon Weisman asks at his blog:
Do you need major leaguers to play in order to enjoy watching a baseball game?
My answer is no, but I certainly notice the difference in quality of play. I go to a number of AA games a year and probably a couple of independent games. The place I notice the biggest difference is in the fielding. AA players make errors you seldom see in the big leagues. Watching AA ball is akin to taking a time machine back to the level of play (at least in fielding) seen at the start of the 20th century.
Posted by David Pinto at
08:00 AM
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I agree in the level of play.
My favorite level of baseball outside of the majors is the Cape Cod Baseball League. http://www.capecodbaseball.org
The first couple of weeks have a steep learning curve because of the wooden bats. For many of the players, it's the first time they've used on in a long time, if not ever.
Bring a pizza, a blanket, and a few dollars to donate and play the 50/50 raffle. You'll be glad you came.
Enjoyment watching lower levels of baseball depends on whether you're a fan or whether you're involved in the sport.
Spend any time coaching or umpiring baseball and you watch the game in a completely different manner. You have an idea of what to expect at different age levels and can be impressed by skills that are many levels below major league, but are still remarkable for the age.
I have as much fun at most Class-A or college games as I do at a big-league game. One advantage to the former is that they tend to be much more unpredictable, and often you'll end up seeing something really weird, like the catcher nailing his pitcher in the back on a throw to second base. Plus the atmosphere in a minor-league park tends to be more relaxed. Bottom line: stick me in a park just about anywhere, and I'm happy.