Baseball is boring!
We’ve all heard that said.
Baseball is a game with slower tempo than football, basketball, and hockey. It has less of an adrenaline rush than the X games. Some people tag baseball as “boring” and not fun to watch or play.
In my experience, people who think that way are usually missing out on one VERY important aspect of the game.
I was reading The Matheny Manifesto during Spring Training of this year. Mike Matheny is the very respected Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a big league catcher for 13 years and has tremendous baseball knowledge. A particular section of the book stood out to me as he was explaining some of his methods for being a little league coach.
After every practice he would teach the players their responsibility during a given play.
Teaching strategy. In Little League. Mind blown.
For example, he said that most players didn’t realize that during a ground ball to 3rd base everyone on the field has a responsibility and a place to be. He found that once kids (and even parents) realized this, that the game became less boring.
Playing outfield (which can seem boring, especially in youth leagues) can be more interactive and fun as you are thinking through scenarios of where to be on any ball that is put in play.
The game can slow down at times such as when coach visits the mound, or when the pitcher is having trouble throwing strikes, or maybe even when the pitcher is striking everyone out. But I know that for me, when I am thinking through the game and different situations it makes the game more challenging and fun.
I take this approach even when I am watching games. This helps me to keep learning and makes the game more enjoyable. My hope is that Pro Baseball Insider can be a tool to help some folks to understand the game a little better, a tool to help those of us who love the game of baseball show others who think baseball is boring that there is more to the game than first meets the eye.
So, is baseball boring? How to keep kids interested in baseball? Once kids learn the strategy involved, they will be involved in every play -even if they don’t touch the baseball on that particular play.
So, even at a young age, learning how to think along with the game can turn baseball from a boring to a strategic often exciting game.
Your turn. Now here’s the question for you all. What do you think is the best age to begin teaching baseball strategy? Certainly there is a LOT to learn in baseball. Do you know a creative way to make teaching the finer points of baseball strategy and positioning fun to learn?
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About Author
Doug Bernier, founder of Pro Baseball Insider.com, debuted in the Major Leagues in 2008 with the Colorado Rockies, and has played professional baseball for 5 organizations (CO Rockies, NY Yankees, PIT Pirates, MN Twins, & TX Rangers) over the past 16 years. He has Major League time at every infield position, and has played every position on the field professionally except for catcher. (You should click to watch this great defensive play by Bernier) Where is he now? After 16 years of playing professionally, Doug retired and took a position as a Major League scout with the Colorado Rockies for 2 years. Currently Doug is the Data and Game Planning Coordinator with the Colorado Rockies
2 Comments
To keep kids interested you need to change up everyone except your pitchers and bat catchers. It’s not MLB and face facts most children don’t have the power to hit in the outfield so why not change it up after all without our fielders you have no team so keep them interested change it up. So everyone can enjoy the game instead of daydreaming, chasing bees, being chased by bees or picking at grass. What good is that.
Nice post! This is something I hear all the time from both my peers and kids today. I’m 36 and have a lifelong love of baseball, both playing and watching it. All 4 of my kids love the game, too…two of my daughters and my son all play year round and love watching, talking, and playing baseball/softball.
I think so much of it has to do with today’s hyper-fast paced and short attention-span society. The other three major sports (football, basketball, hockey) are all so fast paced and clock-based, and while I’m an ardent fan of those sports as well, for me nothing beats baseball. It’s the combination of strategy and athleticism, as well as the drama that can hang on every pitch and every ball in play that makes it like no other.
My kids are lucky that they grew up with a dad who loves the game and exposed them to it at a young age, but how do we make sure that their generation and beyond maintain a love for the sport? I think that’s the biggest issue going forward.
Anyway, great thought-provoking post and great site! I check it often and am using many of the tips and drills to keep my own skills up as well as helping me coach my kids. Keep up the great work!