Next Gen Journal

By Nate Balmert

Baseball is life. But, you may be thinking, isn’t it only a game? It is far more than just a game. It is the national pastime. Although it is not governed by American anti-trust laws, it is very much a part of American culture and life in general. It offers a deep connection to many, much like deep-rooted soccer rivalries in England and other European countries. In the world of baseball, some rivalries are from within a town (Angels-Dodgers, for example); others make natives of New York City mortal enemies with inhabitants of Boston.

Baseball is much more similar to life than football or basketball or any other popular sport. There are only 16 games in the NFL season. You only have to truly worry about it one day a week. In baseball, like life, there is almost always a game tomorrow. Football players, for the most part, do not exhibit a wide variety of skills. The famous players are either strong and fast or strong and big. But most average people simply don’t possess those attributes. We can’t really sympathize with football players. Okay, so what about basketball? They are all extraordinarily tall. You want to be a pro player? Grow. Lebron James is literally a giant among men. You can sit around and shoot three pointers until your arms fall off; without size, it probably won’t make a difference. Football players and basketball players are so young, so strong, so amazingly fit and athletic.

In baseball, this is certainly a rule as well. But there are many more exceptions.  David Eckstein is 5’6”. I know a lot of people who are taller than 5’6”; are my friends World Series MVP’s? No; but David Eckstein was. He helped deliver a championship ring to St. Louis with his over-sized bat and relatively small hands. Baseball’s heroes come in all shapes and sizes, all nationalities. Baseball has people from Canada, the Caribbean, South America, and Asia who all excel in the sport.

You don’t even have to be young to be great at baseball. Greg Maddux worked effectively into his mid-forties. How many other athletes are successful at that age in other sports? I suppose it could happen in golf. But even then, the nimble Tiger Woods dominates that sport almost exclusively. Then, consider the many varied players that a winning team must possess. From starters to middle relievers; from backup catchers to utility men; a baseball team is almost like a well-oiled machine, each man doing his part to help the team win.

Consider the comeback stories. Did you have a bad year in school? Jake Peavy was injured for much of 2009. But he may bounce back to give the White Sox support down the stretch. Or he could dominate next year. Perhaps you could as well.

What about on the team level? Maybe your dad’s business struggled and had to lay off a bunch of workers? Baseball shows that the future holds promise, and that much good can emerge out of tough times. Maybe the “rookie call-ups” will prove to be studs, as Matt Latos has for the San Diego Padres.

How about the feel-good stories of life? The Tampa Bay Devil Rays went from worst to first. They knocked off the famous Red Sox and their enormous fan base. They showed up and willed their team to a World Series birth after finishing near the bottom the previous year.

Want excitement? Track fans can witness displays of amazing human speed in the running down of a fly ball or the stealing of a base. What about those interested in violence? Baseball provides it, and it is not only in its brawls. Pete Rose bowled over the catcher during the All-Star game. A play at the plate is often a source of injury.

What about the importance of having a plan in life? Let’s face it; basketball is not that intellectual. Football requires copious strategy (or spying, I suppose), but much of the planning goes out the window during the game. And besides, the casual fan does not know what decisions are being made in football and basketball. But the strategy of baseball is interesting for both the sophisticated watcher and the newbie. Who do we send to the plate against the lefty reliever? Should they pull the pitcher this inning or wait? Should they pinch-hit here for the pitcher or leave him in for another inning?. These are just some of the relevant questions. Much planning is required of pitchers, and the decisions a manager must make are like those of a chess player. They are easy to question and intriguing to consider.

Want risk and reward? Baseball has its versions of the fingernail-biting moments: there’s the hit-and-run or the double steal. Even better are squeeze plays or the stealing of home. The risk is always great; the reward is outshone only be the excitement of the moment.

What about the humor of life? Baseball players have had a lot to say over the years. Rickey Henderson forgot he had played with John Olerud on two teams previously when they played together for the Mets, for example. Or consider Yogi Berra: ”Baseball is 90% mental — the other half is physical.” Which leads me to a final possible objection:

But it’s just a game; there is no intellectual stimulation. Not so. In my opinion, the single greatest aspect of baseball is the primal struggle between batter and pitcher. Like any struggle inherent to mankind, this fight is ultimately mental. Pitchers struggle coming back out after having a bad outing, especially relievers. Batters get in prolonged slumps. Entire books have been written on the mental side of baseball. It is perhaps the most intellectual of all physical activities.

So is baseball just a game? Nope. It’s far more than a game. To put it quite simply, baseball is…life.

Nate Balmert is the NGJ Sports Editor. He is a student at the University of Notre Dame.