Baseball is back! (At least in the United States)

Move forward: Who cares that the average Joe can’t afford the personal seat license fees in some of your new stadiums, never mind season tickets?. I can always TIVO those playoff games that start at 8:45 pm on the East Coast and watch the last few innings while I have my morning coffee at 6:30 the next morning.

Yes, Bud-any commish that lost a whole postseason (you REALLY handled that ’94 strike the way your good friend- the late, great Bart Giamatti would have) and runs a league where you can count more teams that have no chance of winning over those that do-should have no fear about what people say about him 100 years from now. My opinion of you will never change-like that tie in the 2002 All Star Game in your beloved hometown of Milwaukee. Words cannot express the emotions that come to mind when I consider your contributions to my favorite sport. After all, you didn’t blow off an entire season like Gary Bettman and the NHL a few years back.

But, good buddy, I have to speak up. Starting the season in Japan with the A’s and Red Sox-it just rubs me the wrong way. 28 other teams are still playing exhibition games. Shouldn’t Terry Francona get the chance to check out his NCAA pool like all the other managers, instead of suffering jet lag? That’s the only reason I can see for pulling Dice K after five solid innings, retiring the last 7 in a row.

Don’t get me wrong-use all your car selling persuasion to spread the Gospel of Baseball to the 4 corners of the earth. But do it between November and January, when guys can rest after one season and prepare for the next. Instead, the BoSox have to play the Dodgers this weekend at the L. A Coliseum. My choice would have been the Giants, who followed the Dodgers to the West Coast 50 years ago. Don’t worry, I understand. You’ve got a lot on your plate and may not know as much about the history of the game as an owner turned commissioner might.

I mean, fans in Boston and Oakland get all worked up-can you see that 10 year old Bay Area fan up at 3 am local time to watch Rich Harden toss a gem at the Sawx? Sure you can. Let’s grow the game, right? The kid can skip school-or sleep through class for the sake of America’s past time. After a couple of days in Japan, his team gets a week off-and so does the passion he has for the start of the season.

I’m sure you can see my point Bud-right up there with the DH, 12 man pitching staffs and letting Cuba into the World Baseball Classic because Castro is a great baseball fan. But friends can and should always agree to disagree.

Anyway, take care. Have a great season. I’ll try to write often.

Bob