Baseball back in season

I never know how much I miss baseball season until it comes back around.

This year it came in the way of a Wednesday matinee game. I flicked on the TV to find a Royals-Tigers game in progress and figured I would turn it on for some background while I cleaned up around the house.

I should say I’m not a huge baseball fan. I’m a fan, for sure, but not a die-hard seamhead that counts VORP and WHIP and slaves over a fantasy lineup all summer. For me, it’s more of a pastime. Something that I enjoy watching but don’t sweat over if things go wrong.

So when the sport goes into hibernation for the winter I don’t mourn it. It feels right that it goes away for awhile.

After it goes away, and winter drags on, high school sports are in full swing. Football championships, volleyball championships, basketball games and wrestling matches galore. The bulk of the big games happen while baseball is gone.

Then there’s the national stuff. The Rose Bowl. The Super Bowl. College basketball happens. My alma mater loses in the NCAA Tournament. By the time it’s all over, I barely realize baseball was gone in the first place.

So when the Tigers game came on TV Wednesday it was nice.

Baseball being back means there’s warm weather on the way. It means the outdoor high school sports are back in play. It means the end to endless days of snow and cold weather. It means days that don’t get dark before 6 p.m.

So it was nice to see baseball on the screen. It was nice to see green grass and fans in the stands and hear the calls of hot dog vendors begging for their attention.

I convinced myself I would turn it off and get my day started after the seventh inning. There was no need to watch all of an early-season division game when the teams would play 17 more times this season.

That plan changed after the first home run. It was the only run for awhile, but that jolt of excitement and subsequent fist pump reminded me why I watch baseball to begin with. Sure the sport can be slow and scoreless, but the tension in a one-run game is enough to fill the long gaps of time with no runs.

I questioned balls and strikes. I applauded sacrifice bunts. Pleaded with pitchers to stop throwing to first base. My mind was back in the ballpark, thinking of hanging out with friends and family in the big city, planning out trips to the bars and eateries pre- and post-game.

As the game crept into the ninth inning, with one run still separating the teams, I pushed my plans for the day aside. They could be done later. When the game went to extras, my plans were out the window.

Just like that, baseball season was back. I won’t be following every pitch or even watching every game, but spring is here and there’s nothing that can stop the long days and warm weather ahead.

After four long months indoors, I forgot how nice it is to have baseball around. It will be gone again before we know it, but it’s nice to have while it lasts.