fullcountpitch.com

By Andrew Armida, 13 year old FCP Staff Writer 

Much like the other times this has been done on FCP, here are some of my random favorite things about the game of baseball.  Post your thoughts if you’d like.  Here it is…

• One of the best baseball video games ever made was Ken Griffey Major League Baseball for the Nintendo 64. I remember playing this game all the time. It may not have had the best graphics or motion capturing like games do today, but it had the best parts of the game and was extremely fun to play back then.
• I always root for those nobody rookies and players who are just getting a peek at the show. It is always fun to see a young no-name player do well in the majors. Like last year I would always be rooting for the Shelly Duncan’s and Jack Cust’s.
• One of my favorite plays to see is a guy robbing someone of a homerun. It is just such an exciting, hold-your-breath kind of thing when you know a guy might have a chance to take away a homer, especially when it’s in a crucial time late in the game.
• My favorite types of jerseys are the ones without the player names on the back such as the Yankee’s home and away and the Red Sox home jerseys. I remember hearing a guy saying something like, “A true fan should know who the player’s are without seeing their last names.” I totally agree with that statement.
• One of my favorite parts of baseball is debate. I love going on forums or just doing it in person. It’s the best to argue about some of the most popular topics in the game, teams, and players.
• Next to playing the game itself, wiffleball is one of the best baseball related activities in my opinion. There’s nothing like playing a game with the family at a picnic or with the neighbors on a hot summer day. That is one tradition that will never die out.
• Fantasy Baseball has to be one of the greatest things baseball has ever had. From draft day to the last game of the season I’m always anxious to see how my team will turn out. Constantly thinking of trades and looking at in-game box scores will drive you crazy, but it’s all worth it for the thrill of the competition.
• My favorite type of player is the one who can do all of the little things, the kind of guy who will steal bases all the time, lay down a bunt, and will hit an occasional homer…in other words, the Ichiro and Jeter type of players.
• The most exciting play I think I’ve ever seen is the play when Jeter made that catch and flew into the stands. I remember watching that marathon game against the Sox in 2004 and seeing Jeter dive in and A-Rod come running over. A close second would have to be that catch Matthew’s Jr. made against Houston in 2006 when he robbed Mike Lamb of a home run with his back facing home plate.
• One player of this generation that I wish I could have seen in his prime is Griffey Jr. Just seeing his stats, the sweet swing he sill has, and what everybody has said about him makes me want to see him. He is a talented, pure player.
• Finally, if I could pick to see one retired player, living or not, it would be Willie Mays. The guy is what people base five-tool players around. I just wish I could have seen a guy play who had it all and used it to perfection.

So what do you guys think?  Let me know your thoughts. Feel free to post them below or, better yet, register for the Clubhouse and discuss this and other baseball stuff.