Summer of Baseball

We've been watching a LOT of baseball around our house this summer. We always do. It's nice that the Rangers are doing so well this late in the season this year. It also helps that we record all the games so we can fast forward through the slower parts. One game the other night lasted almost 5 hours and went to 14 innings. Anyway, sometimes I watch the game and sometimes I do other things (like read) while Casey watches the game. This constant stream of baseball in our house has caused me to notice a few unique things about this sport:

1. Spitting. This is one thing I do not like to see over and over again, but baseball players like to spit a lot. Whether they're chewing tobacco, sunflower seeds, just gum, or nothing at all...they spit repeatedly. Disgusting. And when you watch baseball, it's just a given that you'll see it up close as the camera zooms in on any given player at any given moment.

2. The superstition of baseball players is unparalleled in any other sport...or at least it seems that way to me. They are SO superstitious of everything. Just one look at those disgusting, well-used batting helmets is proof enough.

3. Bats break more often than you think. If you watch more than one baseball game, you might be surprised to find out that bats break all the time. I learned this in person after coming "this close" to being pummeled by a broken bat a few years ago. We were sitting behind the Rangers' dugout in about the 9th row and the bat landed 2 seats away from me on my left. Dangerous stuff, being a baseball fan.

4. The extent to which stats are kept in baseball is ridiculous. They keep stats on everything. Casey and I get a good chuckle out of hearing about the completely random stats the announcers give during the games. I'll bet they keep stats on a pitcher's ERA in games on Monday nights that were played in temperatures over 90 degrees against opponents who have more than 3 left handed batters on their teams. No kidding.

5. So many players this year are wearing these thick, rope-like necklaces in various colors. Several of the Rangers have them and so do players on other teams. Anyone know what the deal is with these necklaces? I have no idea, but I'm curious if they mean something or if they are just a fad.