Entertaining shows with a baseball game included

Friday, July 18, 2008

What I wound up watching was quite a bit of entertainment with some baseball included. Between every inning or during each team switchover from offense to defense, there was a contest between selected fans that those of us in the stands unfortunately had to sit through. In my opinion, the amount of entertainment offered diminishes the meaning of the game and makes the game run too long.

I thought going to a baseball game was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy America’s favorite pastime.

Based on what I saw, it seems to be little more than a lot of entertainment with some baseball mixed in.

I remember when baseball games were less than three hours and the focus was on the game regardless of the players’ skill level. I enjoy watching baseball as much as anyone and am trying to teach my 6-year-old son how to play the game.

However, when the game starts at 6:35 p.m. and does not finish the ninth inning until 10:35 p.m. that is too long for my young child to stay awake much less stay focused on the game.

The game I attended wound up lasting until 11:45 p.m. as it went into extra innings. It was supposed to have fireworks, but fireworks cannot take place after 11 p.m. The fireworks are a big draw, and if you cut out a lot of the mindless entertainment then an hour could have been saved and thus the fireworks could have taken place.

I am not against having some entertainment aspect at the game but it seemed to be there every inning and it just got old. Between comparisons of who can play the best air guitar, musical chairs, three-legged race, mascots running around the bases, hoagie throwing at a target, throwing and shooting prizes in to the stands, rolling prizes off of the roof and tossing objects in the air to catch it seemed to be a never-ending show of everything but watching and learning about baseball.

I heard others comment in the stands that the entertainment was silly and not that great. I guess going to the circus and watching a Blue Crabs game are similar. Bring back a baseball game that does not take four hours to play nine innings and less entertainment shock value.

Lewis Twine, White Plains