After a pandemic-shortened season in 2020, it’s a relief to those who love the American National Pastime to see that baseball is back.
Opening Day is always a celebration of a new season and the arrival of this event took place on April 1 with 26 of the 30 teams in action, bringing back the crack of the bat, the sting of the ball hitting the glove, and a game that brings with it just as much romance as it does tragedy.
Baseball has Been a Dichotomy of Events Since its Beginning
Every time in the history of baseball has been up for discussion and scrutiny. Even the beginning of the sport brought us a tale that wasn’t true but we love to think was real. Abner Doubleday had nothing to do with baseball, but for many, he is credited with its creation. The game as we know it has been played in much the same way for nearly 200 years and it offers so many opportunities for success and failure that we love to watch this amazing game.
What Makes Baseball so Special?
There are several ways that baseball is special and is a game that we love to enjoy. The basic 90-foot per base, nine players in the field, three strikes and you’re out, and nine innings per game, are all parts o the game that came from the very beginning. This is a game that you can play as a young person and admire those who play professionally.
We Could Have Been Something; If Only…
Baseball allows us to imagine being on the field where we see the best players in the game. Most of us have played this game at some time in our youth and remember how it feels to catch a fly ball, hit the ball deep, turn a double play, or strike a batter out. We’ve done these things and think we could be on that field with the best players in the game if only circumstances had been just a little different.
A Game Without a Clock
From the very beginning, baseball was different from other sports. Older than American football or basketball, baseball is unique in that it has no clock to manage its outcome. Players don’t have to perform against time, only against themselves. If they can continue to successfully get on base and bring up the next batter, the game continues until the final out of the ninth inning when a winner is determined. There are no ties in baseball, no clock to say the game is over, only innings, outs, and the other team.
Baseball is Back with a Few Rule Changes for 2021
Even though the basic set of rules for this game haven’t changed much over the years, the baseball rulebook is one of the thickest in professional sports. There a couple of rules that were tried during the pandemic-shortened season last year that is being carried over to 2021. We will see double-headers shortened to seven innings for each game and a runner will be placed on second base at the start of the 10th inning.
Roster sizes for each team will have 26 players on them with an expansion to 28 in September. Each team can have a “Taxi Squad” of five players on all road trips to have players ready in case of injuries or a COVID-19 outbreak in the team. We will not see the universal DH brought back and the postseason is back to its pre-2020 layout. As you can see, these rules will not fundamentally change the game in any way.
Attendance Plans Differ from Team to Team
Each team will have to create its own attendance plan, but so far, every team has allowed fans back in the stands. While teams in Texas are not placing a limit on fans and have gone to full capacity, other areas of the country see baseball stadiums at 30 percent capacity at the most. So far, the players have been extremely thankful to have their fans back in the seats supporting them.
Take in a Game this Year
One of the most traditional ways to spend an afternoon or evening in America was to take the family to the ballpark and take in a baseball game. Baseball is back and you can go to games again this year. Whether you chose to sit in the stands and see an MLB team or one of the minor league affiliates, the game that is truly American is back and ready to give you a full season of entertainment.
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