25. 30. 67.
These are the days we have until Pitchers and Catcher report, the full start of spring training, and Opening Day, respectively. Now, I know the NFL season isn't technically over yet and the NBA and NHL are in full swing, but football is king. And baseball: it's sweet prince.
I'm beginning to settle into my annual 2 month depression. It's caused by the gap between football and baseball. It's not quite here yet but, by this time next week, it should fully hit me. Even before the Super Bowl is played, I realize that it will be the last game of the NFL season. I have two weeks to wait for 60 minutes of football, then it will all just be a memory. No "next week's game". No analysis of the team's chances at making the playoffs. No horrible skits by the great people at CBS Sports. Nothing. Just Tom Brady winning another ring and Eli having another dumb look on his face.
I'm longing for the crack of ash hitting leather and twine. For the triumphant signal of an umpire calling a strike out. For the last out caught on a fly ball just shy of the warning track. I've got chills thinking about it. I'm excited for the analysis and the stats. I'm excited for the teams that haven't been contenders in years stepping up to take the place of the dynasties that have aged and begun to fall by the wayside. I'm not just excited for another sport to fill the void football has left me with. I'm excited for baseball.
I'm probably going to do a poll on it, but I hope this is a sentiment shared by many other Americans. In an age where pitchers are becoming stars of the game and homeruns are becoming fewer and fewer, its easy for casual fans to become bored and lose interest. It can be easy at time for avid fans to lose interest when you contrast baseball with its hard hitting, brutal neighbor of fall that we leave behind. In the Philadelphia area, it's hard to see a lack of support for baseball with our amazing fans backed up by our amazing team, but I can't help but sense a feeling of apathy toward baseball. I stated it early, Football is king. But when the pig skin's away, do we really care if the bats come out to play?
As I said, I truly hope so. Baseball is a steadfast tradition in this country. The game does not really change much from year to year. It's very similar to the bat and ball games that were played early on in our nation. These games gave birth to baseball. And as a tribute to those games and the men who played it and built our nation, we step out each spring and begin the game that our fore fathers gave us. Maybe not as hard hitting as football, but an exciting competition none the less with so much history. I consider it an honor to watch baseball and to follow a season from beginning to end.
And I cannot state endlessly enough: Football is king! Given the prospect of an extended football season, I could certainly delay my love for baseball for a month or two. And I know that when football OTA's come along, some interest will shift. I know that when the NFL kickoff weekend is on, even my focus won't be on the diamond. And I know that Game 7 of the World Series will get beat in ratings by an Arizona Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks game. And I'm okay with that. But for a few months, I hope we as Americans, can get behind the game we created from scratch and support our team, whatever our colors may be. Let's support baseball. Just because I'm settling into my depression, doesn't mean I can't come out better than I went in. I'm excited, and I hope you are too.
Think about it, we could have cricket to watch for 8 months. Consider yourself lucky, America.
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