The Boys of Summer

We are almost there. Baseball is back starting Thursday, for a 60-game shortened season. Some of us remember the strike shortened season of 1994 when there was no World Series. That was also the season that the Mariners got on a roll and everyone thought that they had what it takes to get their first shot at a playoff spot. But it was also the season when tiles started falling from the Kingdome ceiling, making it very dangerous to play there.

If the season would have continued after August 11, 1994, the Mariners would have had to play all of their remaining games on the road. As well as they were playing at that time, it might have been beneficial since they had become road warriors. But we can only be left to wonder what might have been. Yes, we were robbed and would need to wait until 1995 for a season which was delayed until the strike would end. And the Mariners finally came through with their ‘Refuse to Lose’ gang.

Here we are with another season delayed by a virus that has people baffled. I was able to watch parts of an exhibition game between the Mets and the Yankees on Saturday. The game was played on the Mets home field, and in the seats were cardboard cutouts of fans. It would have been funny if any of the players would have tossed a ball into the stands for a souvenir for the cardboard cutout fans, but that didn’t happen while I was watching.

On Sunday, the two teams met again at Yankee Stadium. There were no fans, but there was piped-in fan noise which made the home runs seem far more exciting. Not sure about that.

On Friday night I watched a game between two independent league teams from Texas. I believe the Texas team was made up of a lot of former Texas Longhorn players who had pro experience; some at the Major League level. The home team was the Sugar Land Lightning Sloths. What a great nickname for any team. This game actually had some fans in the stands. Some wore masks and some opted for the natural look. Those without masks seemed to be enjoying their beer. I didn’t see any of those with masks on partaking in food or drink. That doesn’t mean they didn’t, I just didn’t see it.

We are very close to the first pitch getting thrown out by the head maintenance person, since they will most likely be the only people still allowed in the stadiums. Maybe they will let a wife of one of the players or coaches sing the National Anthem. I would hope they would let them in long enough to do that before sending home.

I’m looking forward to the Mariners first home game at T-Mobile Park to see if there will be cardboard cutouts in the stands, or if they will invest in a bunch of car crash dummies to fill the seats. If those guys get hit in the head by a foul ball or a bat slipping out of a hitter’s hands it wouldn’t seem to be a very big problem. I would think they would be used to trauma by now. The teams should be able to save a couple of thousand dollars by not having to install the extended netting to protect the fans, right. No fans, no danger.

I did read that the plan for the Mariners is to pipe in the sounds of fan reactions to hits, homers, strikeouts and the like. I didn’t see anywhere if there was going to be booing if a close play goes against the home team, but I think you need to have realism for the players and coaches to get excited.

Face it folks, booing has been a part of Major League baseball 140 years. Why would you make it easy on an umpire? Each of these games count and that’s what matters most. So if it’s up to me, there is booing on all close plays that go against the home team.

Don’t forget the guy in Cleveland who plays the big bass drum. If he can’t be there, at least let the drum beat on. Even though it is very obnoxious, it is still about home field advantage.

So the boys of summer are back even though we are a month into summer. Let’s hope for a good season with a lot of excitement and may the best team win, or hope the Mariners get lucky!