The Major League Baseball (MLB) season is back, and Spring Training has come to a close. It’s an exciting time of the year for players trying to make the roster and for the players already on contract ready to compete once again for a pennant. I think it’s more of an exciting time for the fans who love the sport of baseball and know about the free agent signings and trades this past off season.. Baseball is, or once was, known as “America’s pastime” and it’s one of the oldest sports in  American history. The sport of baseball is an American tradition whether you like it or not, and when you hear the crack of the bat as the ball hits the wood you know what time it is!

The Boys of Summer (baseball) is a sport like no other, and many do not like it simply because they don’t get it. A lot of people say it’s too slow or boring.  They may know the rules, but the mental and physical aspect t you have to put into the game, while knowing every situation there is between the chalk, is so fun and challenging. The margin for error is so small that playing a flawless game takes years of practice and preparation. There really isn’t a sport like baseball on this planet that can compete with both the physical output as well as the mental toughness to play error free. Baseball differs from other major sports like basketball, football, hockey, or even soccer because in order to finish the game the team with more runs scored must still give the opposing team a chance to comeback. There is no clock or timer to run out the game clock in baseball, instead the pitcher has to throw the ball and give the opposing team an opportunity to play while the defense has to finish it out. Not to mention that hitting a baseball with a round bat is one of the most difficult things to do in sport. OK, back to spring!

Spring time is such a beautiful time of the year it is what makes baseball great and because this is when winter ends. Opening Day starts in the middle of spring and that’s right around the corner now. It’s an exciting time to be alive; your favorite baseball team’s working around the clock to make themselves better for that long stretch of summer baseball. Emotions are high with players who have to keep their composure to excel on the field and for the fans watching at the ballpark.. I know when I get back home to Los Angeles and the summer heat,I’ll be ready to get to Chavez Ravine to go watch a Dodger game with a big fat Dodger dog hot dog in my hand. It really doesn’t get much better than warm weather and baseball,surrounded by other people who feel the same.

Being a Southern California kid I feel like I have taken advantage of having baseball and nice weather all year around. Now, living in the north east, I have grown to have a much bigger appreciation of the sport as well as spring and summer. When that sun is shining and it hits your face with a cool breeze, there is more love and gratitude knowing that winter is over. Personally, the SVC baseball team and I haven’t felt that yet since it is still cold here in Southern Vermont, but I can’t wait until then. That will be when baseball and summer is in full effect and where life feels like there are no worries.