Sitting on the fence

There are sometimes days when I wish I were a fan of a particular team, so that I could feel that sense of anticipation before reading the box scores every morning, but the more I think about it, the more there is to be said for being just a fan of the game. It's a priviliged position to be in, because it allows me to follow the game in whatever manner I see fit. I can hope that the Red Sox win the World Series, but, unlike Beth, it doesn't feel as if my enjoyment of life depends on it.

Being a fan of the game allows me to enjoy the fact that the Devil Rays have now won seven straight games without being overly preoccupied by the thought that they could just as easily now lose seven straight. It allows me to like Roger Clemens and Mike Piazza, without worrying about the history between them. It allows me to admire the way the all-powerful Yankees go about the business of baseball whilst rooting for a team that lost 119 games last year. Best of all, it allows me to look forward to a Thursday evening on MLB.TV during which, with a bit of luck, I'll get to see Soriano and Griffey and Thome and Pudge and Nomar and Helton without moving from my armchair. All I have to worry about is making sure the beer is cold enough...