For unmentioned reasons, I think the country needs Baseball to start playing REAL games soon. We need a daily distraction from the upheaval hitting the world. New Movies don’t help, (unless you’re still catching up before Oscar night this Sunday) because they’re almost unwatchable until December. Football does not start until the Fall, Basketball peaks in March, and Hockey only breaks your heart if you live in DC. Golf…well you have to really appreciate it like I do (so I wasn’t going to even mention it).
OK, Twin Peaks is coming to Showtime in May and “Billions” is decent, but that isn’t fiction is it? Rectify”, “The Night Of”, “Westworld” and “The Young Pope” just ended. “Timeless” is good (Reminds me of “The Time Tunnel” in 1966), “24: The Legacy” Will get a chance with me, because Jack Bauer saved the world. Speaking of Jack (Kiefer Sutherland), “Designated Survivor” is decent, but more probable than I’m comfortable with in the real world.
Are “The Sopranos” coming back? “The Wire” set in Chicago? No and No, would be my guess. David Chase is still recovering from the “Vinyl” series disaster on HBO last year in which Olivia Wilde was completely nude. What was she thinking?
Yes, there are great things on Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Video. I have them all and have checked out everything watchable. My wife is already down to watching Japanese dramas with sub-titles on Netflix, because every else is either too violent or reminds her of work. Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead… please! If I wanted to watch the end of the world, I would turn on Reality TV shows on Cable or read the News more than I do (which is impossible).
It helps that winter hasn’t shown up yet, and being outside has been great. I bought new clubs that I need to break in, but the evenings still need a constant like baseball, coming on at 7pm every night. Even If I don’t watch, I can check the score or listen on the radio. It makes life feel normal to know that 162 games will be played over the next 6 months.
But until April 3rd, Spring Training games will have to do. Baseball starts Saturday, February 25th when the Nats play the Mets. Those two teams will likely fight it out for the NL East Crown this summer. The Nats have a loaded line-up of hitters, a great bench, decent to outstanding starting pitching (depending on health) and some questions in the bullpen. In other words, they should be fun to watch or follow.
Spring Training Baseball is usually unwatchable unless you see it, live in Florida. This year the Nats are in a new facility with the Houston Astros in West Palm Beach. I am heading down in three weeks for some games especially to see the young talent, and the new stadium in West Palm. And yes, I am taking my clubs, hence the need to break them in soon.
So starting tomorrow, I will check the box scores and start watching some highlights. Maybe a game or two, when they broadcast the Nats on the MLB channel or on MASN. The time change is two weeks away and the real season five weeks away. How bad can the real world be? Please don’t remind me!