A Major League Difference
The regular season was, for a long time schismed until the commissioner resurrected interleague play. While his motives were mostly monetary ones, one cannot help but appreciate the opportunity it gives fans.
It is more than hey the seasons been going for a few months about time we played interesting teams.
It is more than watching your favorite AL pitcher take an at-bat (Wakefield against the Cubs anyone?).
It is more than the entertainment of Big Papi playing first base.
Sure all of that makes it interesting, and when we think of interleague play that’s what comes up. It’s more than that though. It’s a time for unity, revenge, and a time for guys like Jeter to go to a new city to find new women.
It’s exposure to a “different style” of baseball. Why do I say this now? Well for one, debates still continue and for two, we’ll see the ultimate interleague series in a few days.
Many AL fans dislike the NL style of play, and many NL fans feel the same about the AL.
An AL fan? What is that? Someone who likes an AL team as their favorite? I would argue not necessarily. What about someone who likes big flashy ball? I cannot argue that either because many AL teams like the Angels do not fall into that camp. So what is an AL fan then?
An AL fan supports the DH. That’s as far as I can really go. That’s the defining feature, if you will. Correlation features (not necessary to be a member of the AL club) include big game attitude or a support of big power. The fireworks display fans if you will. AL fans often favor high scoring games and blow-outs. When examining the AL, one notes that even the worst teams have power, and that its defense and pitching that makes a difference in who is the powerhouse.
The NL, on the other hand, supports the pitcher hitting. Correlationally they like stealing, sac flies, bunting, defense. NL fans like that small-ball grind. What makes a NL team stand out then? The answer is simple – power.
Ironic, in the league stressing power it’s the teams with defense and pitching that succeed (Angels and White Sox anyone?) and in the league where small-ball philosophy is the way to go, it’s the teams with power that are the most successful (Cards with Pujols, Edmonds…Astros with Berkrman, Biggio, Ensberg).
It’s funny because there is this push towards middle ground. Almost as if the DH/P issue was resolved the leagues wouldn’t matter. I myself, though a AL-Red Sox fan, have grown a deep appreciation and love for NL baseball and would consider myself a NL fan. Most likely this is due to my purist attitude about the game. While I do love David Ortiz Smash ball, I don’t see how that comes close to the fact that Marquis has practically a better average than Kevin Millar given he played 1/5th of the time.
In general I appreciate small ball even within the AL. Just ask those who watched the ALDS with me. I fell in love with the ChiSox’s squeeze bunt in the 9th (which I’d like to point out I suggested…and called). The timing. The turn. The run. The patience. The intelligence. That’s what I dig. Its that patience and intelligence that blows me away.
The beauty of baseball lies not in homers and strikeouts, but in perfectly placed bunts and a sinker put in just the right spot to get that much needed double-play.
It lies in the dirt on Eckstein’s uniform, the range of Cabby and his glove, and in the assists of Manny.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good long-ball from time to time as much as the next person. There is something magical as say oh games 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS and what Ortiz did. What he did was more magical than Harry Potter, more precious than Will is to his mother, more beautiful than a sunset in Washington, more tear-jerking than Titanic, more electric than a toaster, more special than a birth of a child. Seriously, it was special. But then again a particular ground ball was special too…
Swing and a ground ball, stabbed by Foulke. He has it. He underhands to first. And the Boston Red Sox are the World Champions. For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won baseball's World Championship. Can you believe it? – Joe Castiglione
AL ball? NL ball? Does it matter? You can’t really have a World Series without both. Baseball without the NL and the AL is like a child without a sperm and egg. It just doesn’t work. The DH/P controversy should not separate us, but unite us. For we really are united in baseball.
The beauty of baseball is the uniting, the love. Baseball’s beauty is in the fact that man’s struggle is overcome together on the diamond, in the stands, and with each other. Baseball is unity. Baseball is love.
So AL ball? NL ball? Does it matter? Appreciate both. Love both. We need both. We are united in the game. We are here because of both.
It is more than hey the seasons been going for a few months about time we played interesting teams.It is more than watching your favorite AL pitcher take an at-bat (Wakefield against the Cubs anyone?).
It is more than the entertainment of Big Papi playing first base.
Sure all of that makes it interesting, and when we think of interleague play that’s what comes up. It’s more than that though. It’s a time for unity, revenge, and a time for guys like Jeter to go to a new city to find new women.
It’s exposure to a “different style” of baseball. Why do I say this now? Well for one, debates still continue and for two, we’ll see the ultimate interleague series in a few days.
Many AL fans dislike the NL style of play, and many NL fans feel the same about the AL.
An AL fan? What is that? Someone who likes an AL team as their favorite? I would argue not necessarily. What about someone who likes big flashy ball? I cannot argue that either because many AL teams like the Angels do not fall into that camp. So what is an AL fan then?
An AL fan supports the DH. That’s as far as I can really go. That’s the defining feature, if you will. Correlation features (not necessary to be a member of the AL club) include big game attitude or a support of big power. The fireworks display fans if you will. AL fans often favor high scoring games and blow-outs. When examining the AL, one notes that even the worst teams have power, and that its defense and pitching that makes a difference in who is the powerhouse.
The NL, on the other hand, supports the pitcher hitting. Correlationally they like stealing, sac flies, bunting, defense. NL fans like that small-ball grind. What makes a NL team stand out then? The answer is simple – power.
Ironic, in the league stressing power it’s the teams with defense and pitching that succeed (Angels and White Sox anyone?) and in the league where small-ball philosophy is the way to go, it’s the teams with power that are the most successful (Cards with Pujols, Edmonds…Astros with Berkrman, Biggio, Ensberg).
It’s funny because there is this push towards middle ground. Almost as if the DH/P issue was resolved the leagues wouldn’t matter. I myself, though a AL-Red Sox fan, have grown a deep appreciation and love for NL baseball and would consider myself a NL fan. Most likely this is due to my purist attitude about the game. While I do love David Ortiz Smash ball, I don’t see how that comes close to the fact that Marquis has practically a better average than Kevin Millar given he played 1/5th of the time.
In general I appreciate small ball even within the AL. Just ask those who watched the ALDS with me. I fell in love with the ChiSox’s squeeze bunt in the 9th (which I’d like to point out I suggested…and called). The timing. The turn. The run. The patience. The intelligence. That’s what I dig. Its that patience and intelligence that blows me away.
The beauty of baseball lies not in homers and strikeouts, but in perfectly placed bunts and a sinker put in just the right spot to get that much needed double-play.
It lies in the dirt on Eckstein’s uniform, the range of Cabby and his glove, and in the assists of Manny.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good long-ball from time to time as much as the next person. There is something magical as say oh games 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS and what Ortiz did. What he did was more magical than Harry Potter, more precious than Will is to his mother, more beautiful than a sunset in Washington, more tear-jerking than Titanic, more electric than a toaster, more special than a birth of a child. Seriously, it was special. But then again a particular ground ball was special too…
Swing and a ground ball, stabbed by Foulke. He has it. He underhands to first. And the Boston Red Sox are the World Champions. For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won baseball's World Championship. Can you believe it? – Joe Castiglione
AL ball? NL ball? Does it matter? You can’t really have a World Series without both. Baseball without the NL and the AL is like a child without a sperm and egg. It just doesn’t work. The DH/P controversy should not separate us, but unite us. For we really are united in baseball.
The beauty of baseball is the uniting, the love. Baseball’s beauty is in the fact that man’s struggle is overcome together on the diamond, in the stands, and with each other. Baseball is unity. Baseball is love.
So AL ball? NL ball? Does it matter? Appreciate both. Love both. We need both. We are united in the game. We are here because of both.
We are united in this game.
posted by Lowie @ 8:10 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
yes, was hoping you wouldn't take offense to it. Hopefully you enjoyed it enough to come back. I'm a purist when it comes to the game what can I say?!
Hey sanchy - thanks for dropping by... I had to take a real long shower after that picture... the things I do for shock value!!!
I don't think it is easier per say to pitch in the NL or AL, rather, its a different strategy for pitchers depending on the league as you hit on. Some guys do do better in one league vs the other, for some it just doesn't matter. Switching leagues is good for the reason that batters haven't seen that pitcher as much. Truth is eventually no matter how much you analyze it, it usually comes down to the intangibles, the things you cant measure and analyze. And thats okay because its what keeps people like me in business so to speak as I attempt to identify and tool with those things... if it was straight forward we would all be the same, all the teams would be the same, and all fans would be the same... and where would the fun in that be!!!
I don't know if all of that makes sense... but go with it!!!
I would rather argue that you find that in CERTAIN teams in both leagues. The ChiSox, the Astros, the Cardinals... yet again... ironically the dominating forces in the game this year... hmm I wonder...
will - what sign?
kaer - its not really a wonder they are the teams that have made it... the teams that have balance... think white sox ... small ball ... yet power with guys like konerko... and the astros... bunt steal, oh and a homer... its alllllllll about balance
we all will always be irrational, for rationality is really relative...
yes i did just throw philosophy in a theology blog
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