Plaaaaaay ball

Baseball is about to make a change in the way they play. If it passes, a pitcher will simply signal to the umpire that he intends to walk a batter and he will no longer have to throw the four balls outside the designated area,

A little shortcut that I'm sure has all kinds of connotations attached to it, but among other things, it means there will be no chance of a really good batter making a magnificent hit.

It seems our world is changing values faster than most of us can plan next year's vacation and it makes me ask, why do baseball games exist?

In theory because people like to play in them, or watch them, but I think we're getting closer to the new bottom line - so owners can make money.

Eventually we could find ourselves relating to a baseball game in a radically new way.  It will be more of a paper chase than a ball game. Someone will figure the odds for both teams, there will be a few adjustments here and there, bets will be placed and maybe a token batter or two will step up to the plate. You might even continue to sell tickets and those expensive hot dogs and drinks.

It will be a game for a sports enthusiast who likes betting on the odds, but shorter and sweeter for the owner.