Why So serious?
SPRING TRAINING VS. MLB GAMES
Shelby Jones
Immersing yourself in a Spring Training baseball game is a whole other ball game when compared to an actual MLB game. The relaxed atmosphere at spring training is infused in everything from players to the fans.
I spent a day watching the Marlins take on the Nationals, and I got to sit and casually talk to some of the Nationals players and coaches while they sat in the bullpen.
I was sitting in the stands, in right field, right behind the Nationals bullpen, I was getting my equipment ready to start my stories for the day, which were not going to involve players at all. But to my surprise, they just turned around and started talking to me. Of course, as a journalist, I ate that up.
The batting coach, interpreter and the bullpen coach were all there, even though some weren’t even supposed to be there. Our conversation was very casual. They began asking about my trip and talking about how they were excited for spring training, but also ready to get back to their normal lives and what their plans were for their day off tomorrow.
The batting coach, Kevin Long, seemed to be genuinely interested in what I was saying and why I was there. He asked a lot of questions about me and Ball State and was an incredibly nice guy. He was making jokes about the Marlins and his own team, while he and the rest of the players and coaches slouched down in their seats and ate sunflower seeds.
In an MLB game, you usually can’t even get that close to the players. Not only can you do this at spring training, but you can have a casual conversation with them about what your plans are for the next day or the team might help you fill out your own roster for both teams.
This is the second spring training season I have been to and I have been to quite a few MLB games. I always notice a difference in how the players interact with the fans and how the fans absorb the game.
The players always seem more open to talking with fans and signing autographs at spring training. As fans line up to get their hats and balls autographed, players will go one by one to sign merchandise, some players anyway. The players get that chance to let loose and let the fans interact more closely with them.
At MLB games it would be hard to get close enough to the players to ask them questions about the game or their lives. Foul balls just come as they are hit and autographs are usually given at certain times before or after the game. Fans will call out for them and maybe get ignored because the players have to focus on the game.
While I was sitting and talking to the Nationals players in the bullpen, a fan came up and was talking to one of the players and was asking questions. The fan was talking about their trip down and how he was so happy to finally get to see his favorite team play. The player sat there, with a smile on his face, and talked to the fan for about 20 minutes and genuinely listened to everything he had to say.
As far as fans, you can tell that they are following and enjoying the game, but at least today, they were relaxed and having casual conversation amongst themselves. No one was yelling and screaming that the other team sucks or that their team needs to do better. They are just happy to be there, in the sun, watching America’s greatest game with a beer or a hot dog in their hands. (nachos would be messy)
I even noticed, that when the fans favorite team was losing, they still had smiles on their faces, because they were having a good time and knew that no matter what this would not ruin their chances of winning a World Series.
I spent a day watching the Marlins take on the Nationals, and I got to sit and casually talk to some of the Nationals players and coaches while they sat in the bullpen.
I was sitting in the stands, in right field, right behind the Nationals bullpen, I was getting my equipment ready to start my stories for the day, which were not going to involve players at all. But to my surprise, they just turned around and started talking to me. Of course, as a journalist, I ate that up.
The batting coach, interpreter and the bullpen coach were all there, even though some weren’t even supposed to be there. Our conversation was very casual. They began asking about my trip and talking about how they were excited for spring training, but also ready to get back to their normal lives and what their plans were for their day off tomorrow.
The batting coach, Kevin Long, seemed to be genuinely interested in what I was saying and why I was there. He asked a lot of questions about me and Ball State and was an incredibly nice guy. He was making jokes about the Marlins and his own team, while he and the rest of the players and coaches slouched down in their seats and ate sunflower seeds.
In an MLB game, you usually can’t even get that close to the players. Not only can you do this at spring training, but you can have a casual conversation with them about what your plans are for the next day or the team might help you fill out your own roster for both teams.
This is the second spring training season I have been to and I have been to quite a few MLB games. I always notice a difference in how the players interact with the fans and how the fans absorb the game.
The players always seem more open to talking with fans and signing autographs at spring training. As fans line up to get their hats and balls autographed, players will go one by one to sign merchandise, some players anyway. The players get that chance to let loose and let the fans interact more closely with them.
At MLB games it would be hard to get close enough to the players to ask them questions about the game or their lives. Foul balls just come as they are hit and autographs are usually given at certain times before or after the game. Fans will call out for them and maybe get ignored because the players have to focus on the game.
While I was sitting and talking to the Nationals players in the bullpen, a fan came up and was talking to one of the players and was asking questions. The fan was talking about their trip down and how he was so happy to finally get to see his favorite team play. The player sat there, with a smile on his face, and talked to the fan for about 20 minutes and genuinely listened to everything he had to say.
As far as fans, you can tell that they are following and enjoying the game, but at least today, they were relaxed and having casual conversation amongst themselves. No one was yelling and screaming that the other team sucks or that their team needs to do better. They are just happy to be there, in the sun, watching America’s greatest game with a beer or a hot dog in their hands. (nachos would be messy)
I even noticed, that when the fans favorite team was losing, they still had smiles on their faces, because they were having a good time and knew that no matter what this would not ruin their chances of winning a World Series.
