Baseball is a game of avoidance
The main idea behind baseball is that you hit the ball where the opponent isn’t, so you have time to run around in a large circle. All other sports have the goal to get the ball into a specific area to score.
— Football: carry the ball into a large rectangular field of grass
— Hockey/Soccer/Water Polo/Lacrosse: shoot the ball into the net
— Basketball: place the ball through a small metal rim
— Croquet: hit your ball through metal hoops
In baseball, you don’t really hit the ball to any specific area to score. You just kinda try to not hit the other guy.
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View other posts from this series:
— What is baseball, really? (part 1 of 4)
— What is baseball, really? (part 2 of 4: thoughts on homeruns)
— What is baseball, really? (part 3 of 4: Baseball is most like NASCAR)
— What is baseball, really? (part 4 of 4: Baseball is also like croquet)
I know you’re much more of a baseball head than I am, but what about the idea that baseball is about the pitcher’s goal to play catch with the catcher without the ball being interfered with? The balls’ primary target is the catcher’s glove and the hitter’s job is secondary in that he is trying to prevent a successful came of catch.
Oooo, Tom I like how you take the inverse concept even further! I’m talking about how baseball is an inverted game (trying to hit the ball where the players are not at), but you take another inverse! Playing catch where the batter can’t hit the ball. All that other stuff about running around bases really doesn’t mean anything, it’s just about not getting the batter to hit the ball.
Yeah, I’ve always viewed the game more as defense than offense. Those games where both teams scored double digits always reek of bad pitching to me. In any event, I am looking forward to parts 2, 3 and 4
Good news Tom! Part two is now posted! https://www.spudart.org/blogs/randomthoughts_comments/5190_0_3_0_C/