The Dawg is headed to Florida with son, son-in-law and grandson (No Grils Allowed!!) to see the WORLD SERIES CHAMPION HOUSTON ASTROS prepare for the upcoming season. So no Daily Dawg next week. I figure most of you are on spring break anyway.
For today, just my annual reminder of why baseball, of all the sports, is the most like LIFE.
- They play every day. You don’t get to practice all week to perform once. No. You have to bring it every single day.
- It’s the only game where the defense is in control of the ball. You go through your days desperately trying to control the kids, their parents, your boss, your co-workers, the traffic, your spouse….and in moments of clarity come to realize that you do not have the ball.
- It’s a team game. You can’t win without the support of others.
- But on the other hand, when it’s your turn at bat, there is no one who can help you. Sometimes it’s all up to you.
- Unlike many sports where people have specialized roles, in baseball everyone has to be able to do all the basic things—hit the ball; catch the ball; throw the ball; run. I realize that the designated hitter represents an exception to this rule, but that’s why the DH is an abomination in the eyes of God and man.
- You start out at home, and the basic idea is to get back home safe.
For the religiously inclined I would also point out that God favors baseball. We know this from the very opening words of Genesis: “In the big inning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
At least I think it says something like that.
DAWG BONE: DID WE MENTION THAT THE HOUSTON ASTROS WON THE WORLD SERIES LAST YEAR?