A group of 15 college students from countries where baseball is not king join me for a lesson in how to play. Really though, it is a lesson in how to WATCH so that they can enjoy the trip tonight to the second Phillies vs. Giants game. We lug some plastic bats, a few balls, a glove and lots of water to Drexel Park where we set up a small diamond and get ready to learn the basic rules and vocabulary of baseball.
They really do know nothing about baseball. Nothing.
Lesson one is learning the lingo:
the diamond, the positions, what is a strike, a ball, a walk, an out, an inning. All new and quite strange. This year I can regale them with stories of 19 inning games, taking my niece to the 6th playoff game when the Giants won the National League Championship, and fill them in on the current excitement about the Phillies vs the Giants.
Lesson two is giving them a chance to feel the joy of swinging a bat and connecting with the ball:
One student hits the ball, then walks away.
Another student hits the ball, and runs jubilantly to the first base -with the bat still in hand!One by one, each student steps up to our makeshift home plate to simulate singles, steals, triples, and RBIs. One student wants to learn how to steal.We even have a pitcher and 2nd baseman's confab to talk about how to do a double play.
When someone comes home, I make sure we greet them with some high fives and cheers.
It's a pitcher's game, I tell them.
It may look like nothing is happening, so watch and relish every pitch and learn to understand what the count means. Look to see if the umpire's hand points right when Cole Hamels pitches. That is a strike! Check the board to see what kind of pitch, the speed, the count.
Lean forward on the 3-2 count.
Stand up and clap to honor the pitcher walking off the field, replaced by a relief pitcher..
Follow the directions on the HD screen to 'make noise.
Hope that Cain, the Giants' pitcher throws outside the strike zone for 4 balls. That's a walk.
It's a batter's game, I tell them.
Cheer as the Phillies batter runs to first base and hope the umpire spreads his arms wide to show that the batter is 'safe'. Hold your breath as you follow the long fly ball that you hope will go out of the park. Groan in disappointment as it is caught by the center fielder.
Scream for the the runner as he crosses home plate.
I share with them the chant Raooooooool that we croon when Raul Ibanez comes to the plate.
And when something happens that you don't understand, turn around and ask someone, "What just happened?" It is something I have done many times!
I tell them: Take a walk around the park to get a good look from all angles. Buy some overpriced water or overcooked hotdogs. Sway to the sounds of 'Take me out to the ballgame'. (we learn the words and practice it) Take lots of pictures.
Enjoy the ride to the park, the vendors hawking pretzels and peanuts. Enjoy the ballpark. Enjoy the not so oppressively hot evening, the view of the city, being in the stands with 45, 808 people for a lovely night of "America's game".
Enjoy the game. Play ball!
