Americas favorite pass time

Baseball is America’s favorite pass time. This statement has held true since it all began in the early 1800s. There are many aspects to this game that make it so intense and interesting for us to watch and be a part of.  The history ranges from the great bambino of Babe Ruth to the current hot shot Mike Trout.  This game requires immense mental toughness and focus while on and off the field. The hand eye coordination that it takes to hit a moving ball with a skinny bat is a skill that doesn’t come easily to most. From the sandlot to Yankee Stadium, baseball brings people together that become a family who loves the sport and won’t miss a game.

Every level of baseball starting from t-ball to the professionals has a differentiating amount of innings that they play in each game. The lower levels tend to have around 7, reasoning from the fact that at younger ages it usually takes them a lot longer to get an inning done with in a timely manner. When you get to the college and professional stage they are very comfortable with the rules of the game and know the ins and outs of baseball allowing them to play 9 innings.  

The home team always takes the field first, suiting 9 players to play defense against the upcoming hitters. There are 6 infield positions and 3 outfield positions that are divided up so each teammate is responsible for fielding a ball that is hit in their direction. It all starts with the pitcher and how well they are throwing that day, in baseball having an off day for pitching may mean one of two things: either that they are having a hard time throwing a strike and are walking a lot of people or that they are getting rocked by the hitters since their pitching may be too easy. The main point of the game is to have the hitters get to each base before a fielder can get the ball to that base. The runners want to keep proceeding to the next base until they get to home plate where they require a point for each person that crosses it.

Hitting a baseball is one of the most difficult talents to conquer, especially when you get to the higher leagues where the pitchers have the ability to move the ball around like a puppet show. In baseball the ball in being thrown at a downward angle and may have different spins. The hitter has to master when to hit each type of pitch to get it on the sweat spot, which is the middle 5-6 inches on the bat. If you hit it too early the ball will be pulled to your left and if hit too late it will be hit in foul territory to the right; vice versa if you are a left handed hitter. To have a solid hit, you have to watch the ball come out of the hitters hand and swing level when it gets to the appropriate length away from you.

Baseball is the true American sport that originated here and will be forever ours. The passion that some people have for this sport comes through on the field.  Athletes will train for days, hours, months to show they have what it takes to make it to the big leagues. The pros are some of our greatest role models that we hope to be just like someday. Baseball is here to stay and keeps us together. (591)