BASEBALL

Major League Baseball Just Doesn't Get It

The Brains of Major League Baseball have shown again that they are more interested in making money than managing a sport. Their latest decision to impose an age limit on bat boys before the 2003 season is another example of men more worried about money than tradition. The change in the rule is an attempt to avoid another situation like what happened in the 2002 World Series. After  a triple by Kenny Lofton three year old Darren Baker rushed to the plate to retrieve the bat and was almost bowled over by J.T.Snow who was crossing the plate. If it wasn't for the fast thinking and soft hands of Snow little Darren, son of then Giant's manager Dusty Baker, certainly would have been plowed by David Bell who was right behind Snow on the base paths. This scene was perceived to be bad by Major League Baseball. But was it?

I say no! For one brief moment baseball was baseball again. No million dollar salaries. No spoiled players. No greedy agents. Not even a concessionaire crook of an owner to be seen. Just people playing a game. Men having fun and little boys trying to join in. It could have been any Sunday softball league in America. Daddy is trying to manage his team and junior wanders out onto the field but no cares because thats what boys do.

J.T. Snow didn't care. He was scoring a run in the World Series but had the presence of mind to snatch little Darren from harms way. What if  he hadn't noticed some may ask. It wouldn't have mattered because the replay showed Bengie Molina, the Angels catcher, was not defending the plate but he also was reaching for the littlest Baker boy. I also find it hard to believe that David Bell ,a third generation major leaguer, would have taken out a three year old to score a run even in the World Series. So lets leave the bats to the boys and trust the men to keep an eye out for them. Who knows if you let a few more little guys get involved the secret might get out that baseball can still be fun.

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