Baseball Preview Issue

I haven't really gotten excited about Opening Day since the 1981 strike -- not because of the strike per se, but because of a number of things that happened to me and to baseball at that stage of my life. I actually like baseball now more than I've liked it at any time since 1981, and I will watch literally dozens of games before the season is over. But I still don't really like Opening Day. It's at least a week too soon for baseball here on the East Coast; it seems silly to start baseball season on a cold, rainy day. And I can't really focus on baseball until the Masters is over. Besides, I know there have been a lot of personnel changes since last year, but I don't know what they are, because I've been watching basketball and football. All I can really say is that here in the East, we believe the three best teams are the Phillies, the Red Sox, and the Yankees. And we will continue to believe that even if they are beaten by some team from the provinces in the playoffs, because everyone knows the playoffs are odd, flukey things. (Last year, for example, neither the Phillies nor the Yankees won the pennant!). Also, I can tell you that the Nats, the Royals, and the Pirates will be dreadful.

But to be honest, I won't really have any strong opinions about baseball until the middle of May. So instead of predictions, here are some suggestions as to how you can enjoy this baseball season:

1. On a Saturday in April, go through the house and make sure you have at least two working baseball gloves and a real baseball. If you don't, go to the nearest sporting goods store and by them.

2. The next time you're at the mall, treat yourself to a new baseball cap. Get a good one that's really comfortable. And then make a point of wearing the same cap for most of the summer.

3. At some point in May, there will be a beautiful sunny day. Get your two baseball gloves and your ball, and go outside and play catch with someone you love. Once you get warmed up, throw some grounders to each other. If you really want to be challenged, throw pop-ups to each other.

4. Figure out which radio station in your town carries baseball games. Find an old portable radio somewhere in your house and tune it to that station. From time to time, sit out in the yard and spend an hour or so listening to a good game. On the Fourth of July, bring the radio outside and listen to the game while you're cooking on your grill.

5. At some point in the summer, you will have to make a long drive mostly at night. While you're driving, fiddle around on the radio and pick up an out-of-town game with announcers and commercials who are strange to you. Listen for an hour or so and think about how odd it would be if you had turned out to live in Cleveland, or Detroit, or Chicago.

6. Try to learn a little bit about whatever team was your favorite when you were a kid. If you didn't have a favorite, learn about whatever team is most popular in your town. At least once a week, check the standings to see how the team is doing.

7. Don't read any article about baseball if the headline includes the words "labor," "Commissioner," "networks," or "ratings." Who cares how much money any of them are making?

8. One night, while your team is out on the West Coast, sit up late after everyone else in your house has gone to bed and watch a game. Be serious about it; keep score and everything. (Unless your team is really good, you should do try to do this in late May or early June, before your team is eliminated from playoff consideration.) If you live on the West Coast, look to do this on a Saturday morning when your team is back East.

9. Get an All-Star ballot and vote only for the players from your favorite team.

10. If you have a child between the ages of 6 and 16, take them to a game -- high school, college, or minor league games count. By them as many concessions as you can afford. Point out what the different fielders are trying to do, and explain the basic strategy behind the game. Offer to teach them how to keep score. Leave whenever they want to leave.

11. Also, if you have a child between the ages of 6 and 16, get them a bat -- Wiffle or real, depending on where you live -- and a ball (Wiffle or real, depending on where you live) -- and teach them to hit. Let them hit at least one home run. Also, let them pitch to you. Hit the ball as hard as you can, and run all the bases. Then do it again, but this time let them tag you out between third and home.

12. If you live in a major league city, pick a late summer evening and go to a game after work with some of your friends. Be sure to get a group that will all want to stay to the end -- or will all want to leave at the same time.

13. Some late August night when there's nothing else to watch, sit up and watch "Field of Dreams" or "Bull Durham" with your spouse or significant other.

14. Try to find that one person in the office or at church who really cares about baseball, and make sure to talk them about how their favorite team is doing from time to time. Agree with any opinions they put forward regarding the team's management or prospects.

15. If you find yourself at a game where they play "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," join in the singing with everyone else -- not in an ironic way, but out of thankfulness that baseball makes so many people happy.

If you do these things, I promise you will have a very pleasant baseball season.