Five Trends That Need To Stop At Ball Parks

Perhaps it was because the temperature was over ninety degrees that day, and maybe it was the fact that the home town team has the worst record in the league. Whatever the reason for my displeasure, I sat in the bleachers at the Reds game on July 19 and noticed certain trends that bug me as a spectator.

The walk up songs used to perturb me, since I recognized few of them. They were bearable because they only lasted a few seconds, and they were made even shorter when MLB began using a clock between innings.

I grumbled a little when ball parks lengthened the seventh inning stretch by adding “America the Beautiful” to the traditional “Take Me Out To the Ball Game” singalong. As an honor to my country, however, I have learned to accept the song.

Less forgivable are the following intrusions at baseball games, acts that are bound to annoy most of the fans. Here are five phenomena that I have grown tired of regarding baseball games.

Retro uniforms

Players don old versions of the team attire almost as frequently now as they wear the club’s current uniform. Those rainbow like Astros jerseys and the loud yellow gold of the Pirates are understandably symbolic of the seventies, and that s why they should stay in that decade.

Kiss Cams

Most people do not like to see others kissing in public, which is why holding hands in the mall is admired as romantic. Fans who pay dearly for tickets to attend a game should not have to see two people smooch, nor should the couple be booed when they ignore the camera’s request to lock lips with each other.

Announcers Who Sugar Coat Errors

While listening to broadcasters, it is annoying to hear their reaction when a home town, highly-paid player boots a routine ground ball. Inevitably the announcer says, “You will not see that very often” or “He will make that play nine times out of ten.” There is no doubt in what they say because the player would not even be in the big leagues if he booted the ball more than he fielded it cleanly. Plus, making the play ninety percent of the time would rank him at or very near the bottom at his position in the defensive category of fielding percentage.

The Wave

Believe it or not, people at ball games still participate in this inane attempt at choreography. Simultaneously standing up, like the Pittsburgh and Houston jerseys and the eight track player and pet rocks, should have stayed in the seventies.

Throwing home run balls back onto the field

The idea was kind of cool when fans at Wrigley Field started it decades ago, but its cuteness soon dissipated when folks at every park joined in. They often wrestle over a foul ball that lands in the stands, so it is beyond ridiculous that they would discard a ball that actually counted.

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