Three hours to go.

Yesterday, I watched the Boston Red Sox throttle the Toronto Blue Jays, 15-1. It was a great day for Red Sox players and fans. With a 41-43 record, seven games behind the Yankees, and fourth out of five in the current AL East standings, things aren’t looking so good for our beloved Red Sox, which is why a win like yesterday’s is much needed.

Boring.

I hear all the time about how boring baseball is to watch – it’s a slow game that takes too long to play – it can’t hold a kid’s attention. Let’s face it, even adults have lost interest in what was once revered as “America’s pastime.” Are the sausage subs and frothy beers the only reason to go to the park anymore? And why watch at home if the team is just going to lose, time after time?

Exlosion!

I have to admit, I get frustrated with the players at times, and yes that does mean I will yell at the television, knowing it will not yell back. But, having been a former softball player who has always loved baseball, I still want to watch whether my team is winning or losing. Why? Because baseball is an explosive sport. Think about it; you truly never know when the calm will be replaced by the ear-splitting roar of the crowd when a player’s bat connects with that small white ball sending it careening into the unsuspecting stands, or better yet, over the green monster. An unexpected steal, a collision in the outfield for a sky-high fly ball, a pickle situation, a leap for a line drive, a tried-and-true double play – all explosions in their own right – all things I didn’t see coming. That’s why I love baseball – I love the explosions.

Love it.

Look at the stands. When the camera pans over the crowd, do you see that little boy or girl in the crowd proudly wearing their Red Sox cap, clutching their pint-sized baseball glove, and looking hopefully as the next Red Sox player steps into the batter’s box. Tell me they’re not loving it. Tell me they’re not waiting, expecting an explosion of athleticism. Even they know baseball isn’t boring. Baseball is explosive and exciting. Baseball should not have to keep up with the short attention spans of those who would rather get a quick fix.

Park it.

So, grab a beer, get a snack, settle in, whether at the park or parked on your couch. Get ready for the explosion baseball offers. Baseball is still “America’s pastime,” if you’ll just give it a chance. If a kid can do it, why can’t an adult find their love for the sport again. Think about how you feel when Jarren Duran place that furry Wally head on the guy who just hit the homerun; you’re grinning along with all the players, aren’t you? That’s what feeling like a kid again looks like. No one on the Red Sox side of that homer can deny…it’s a great feeling.

The journey.

So, if you’re watching today, I hope you enjoy today’s game – win or lose. I’m hoping for explosion after explosion today, and hopefully we will come out on the winning side again. It’s so satisfying when our Red Sox win, but you have to participate, you have to take the journey with them in order to truly relish the win. So, take the journey today. And whether you find yourself yelling angrily at a ridiculous strikeout or clapping happily as the ball bends magically around the infamous “Pesky Pole” into the stands, just remember to enjoy the ride. It’s a ride worth taking.