We get so caught up in what constitutes as a hit or an error or when the runner can go home or who's responsible for which out that often we forget that the real reason to get together is so that a bunch of "good dudes" can toss a ball around and have fun without worrying about the serious matters in our lives. It's a chance to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life so we can just relax for a few hours. I hate the false importance placed on our games. As I've said long ago, nobody has a contract riding on their performance from game to game. It's just that, a game. I wish we could just get back to that part of it and focus on having a good time and not on who's right, wrong, or responsible.Blancito21 wrote:I was under the impression it was to play baseball for free with a bunch of good dudes who love the game, but all I see is a bunch of good dudes playing "softball with baseballs" who love to talk about the game and it's never-ending rulebook.
And yeah, maybe it is just "softball with baseballs" but that's what drew everyone together, and I thought we were all having fun. It's when the topic of competition came into play that the league started to change. No longer was it about having fun, but about being the best and winning the game. Peoples' feelings have been trampled on in "the interest of the game," encouraging more intense competition, and thusly more intense outbursts. I've witnessed skirmishes between friends and thought nothing of it, but I've also seen non-friendly fights. I know it's been a while since either have happened, but I don't want us to lose sight of what this league is supposed to be: a game where there are no losers and we hold hands and pick flowers after the game.
Edit: Excuse me for being sentimental. There are parts of the original setup that I hate. I'm glad we don't play with little kids anymore. (Not Nick C. That guy's money.)
