Here is the list of the top 5 reasons I love baseball. Numbers 6-10 are available in the previous post.

Quick Recap:

10:The Mendoza Line and other great names for baseball things.

9. Major League (The Movie, not the league)

8.  Big Crowds

7. Ball Park Craziness

6.  Managers in Uniform

and we continue…

5.  Keeping Score - At no other sporting event will you find someone keeping score with such diligence than at a baseball game.  Take a look around at the next basketball game or football game if you don’t believe me.  Yet at a baseball game, you can’t go 5 rows without finding someone keeping track of every single thing that happens.  Knowing how to keep score at a baseball game is one of the time-honored traditions that has been passed down from generation to generation and hopefully will continue on down the line.  Trust me, there will be a day when knowing that a backwards “k” in the scorebook means that it was a called third strike will come in very handy.

4. No time limit - This one is a big one.  Your team is NEVER out of it.  You can keep going until the other team stops you. No other game provides that.  There is always a clock that prevents you from achieving the greatest comeback of all time, except in baseball.  Games can take 2 hours (see most starts by Mark Buhrle) or they can go upwards of 5 hours (or 8, if you saw all 26 innings of the Cubs/Brewers game in 1984).  There are no ridiculous strategies employed in the last two minutes of the game to try and come back.  It is just “get up to the plate” and get on base.

3.  The Statistics - Full Disclosure here:  Moneyball changed my life.  Never before had a book spoken to me like that.  It was if all of the ideas inside Michael Lewis’ tome had always been inside of me, but never surfaced.  I think VORP, OPS, and PECOTA are revolutionary.  Having said that, the thing that really piques my interest is that there are “old schoolers” out there who REFUSE to use any type of statistic (Joe Morgan).  I know that at the end of the day, you still have to get out there and play the game. A good example of this is that the Texas Rangers have three players in the top 10 in VORP, but are only two games over .500 for the year. The ongoing argument between Sabermetrics guys and old schoolers is one for the ages.  Check out www.firejoemorgan.com to see exactly what I am talking about.

I digress.  Statistics are wonderful way of winning arguments, but also a great way to lose them (or start them, for that matter).  Although you still would have a hard time walking into a bar and arguing that David Wright should have won the MVP last year because he had the highest VORP, it still brings to light the intricacies and brilliance that baseball has inspired over the years.

2.  The All Star Game - I wrestled with putting this one this high on the list, but I think it is close to where it belongs.  The MLB All Star Game is far and away the best all star game on the planet. Most ASGs are no defense, put on a show for the crowd (that they really don’t want to see) pieces of crap that nobody cares about.  The MLB ASG is a thing of beauty.  Pitchers really trying to get hitters out.  Hitters really trying to hit pitchers out.  Full hustle, spectacular plays, and plenty of drama.  It is no wonder the sports world stops down for the All Star weekend in baseball.  No goofy skills competitions (save for the Home Run Derby, which is really much more than a skills competition),  no “this would never happen in a real game” moments, just pure, pure baseball, the way it should be played.

1.  The Rules - No other sport on the planet has its rules figured out better than baseball.  While basketball, hockey and football (and NASCAR) continually modify their rules to increase or decrease scoring, make it more fair, or make the game more interesting (a whole other rant on that subject is coming), baseball keeps plugging along with the same basic rules it has had for 50+ years.

Here is what I mean:  You have a pitcher’s mound that is 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate and bases that are 90 feet from each other.  It doesn’t matter who you put up to the plate or who is in the field, the timing is set up perfectly so that outs should be outs, and hits should be hits.  The faster player holds an advantage, but not such a great advantage that they can’t get him out.  The dimensions of the field are perfect.  Look at the stolen base.  If a guy steals second, he is almost always just barely out or just barely safe.  The slightest hesitation by the pitcher, catcher, or the runner can cause the outcome to swing dramatically the other way.  A single to centerfield can score a runner from second, if he has taken the proper lead and has enough speed.  The distances are perfect.  Most ground outs are by only a step or two.  The fielder is forced to make a clean play and a strong throw, because the distances are right on the money.

There are no penalty boxes, no fouls, no penalties.  You are either out or safe.  If you argue too much, you don’t get to play in that game anymore.  You step up to the plate, one on one, and try to beat the other guy.  It is the only individual team sport out there, and that is why it just might be the perfect sport.

Agree? Disagree?  Leave me a comment to tell me why you love baseball.  I will be putting up a post soon about the 5 reasons I can’t stand baseball, just to give some perspective.

Tags: baseball list top ten quirks