There are several ways to appreciate how good major league players are. One great way, which I guess I do fairly often, is to watch players who aren't in the major leagues. Go watch a minor league lifer or even a player in his mid twenties who has yet to get his cup of coffee.
This guys can rake during BP, pop catchers' mitts like popcorn, and yet, I can make more money than them serving cups of coffee. I am someone who really enjoys watching a minor league game, no matter the level, I'd watch a D-3 game if it was on.
So that's one way. Appreciate how good players who can't make it are. It really puts things in perspective if you are trying to compare yourself to professionals. Also, it makes you feel like none of your work has paid off so be careful.
The other way is obviously to watch major leaguers. But even in this method, I offer my own style. Sure, most like to watch the video of ML hitters bang balls of bleachers in a pace so often that it kind of sounds like that homeless guy who is banging pots together in the subway. But I like to watch the more subtle skill. Last night, with two outs in the ninth and his team down by a run, Johnny Damon had a 9 pitch at bat against closer Brad Lidge, and would eventually line a single and become the tying run. He takes a ball inside and fouls off three straight naaaaasty sliders (count 1-2) and then took two fastballs for balls to run the count full. He fouled off two hard fastballs away, and lined the ninth pitch into LF.
The art of fouling off pitches is something often overlooked by the average fan. Lidge hasn't been himself, but his stuff was pretty good (forgetting his "slow" 91mph fastball). He made two tight pitches on the outside corner, and as most well located pitches are, they are tough to make contact with, let alone put in play.
Writing this, I can't describe how tough it is. You need to experience it to understand. I'm pretty sure most of you readers have played baseball, so you do understand, but when you watch Game 5 tonight, watch out for the little things, especially when Cliff Lee is on the mound.
"But I like to watch the more subtle skill."
ReplyDeleteThis is what fans of other sports can't understand when it comes to baseball, and it's because every other sport is obsessed with the RESULT. True baseball fans are more interested in the PROCESS than the result, and that's why a 1-0 game can be way more exciting than a 10-9 one - the process will likely have been much more entertaining. It's all about the game within the game.
I agree, but there are still tons of baseball fans who are clueless about that kind of stuff. You ever watch a game in Morg lounge? I mean those comments...brutal.
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