A Sportsish Guide to the MLB
If you haven’t bought it already, the New York Yankees hat has definitely been in your Urban Outfitters cart for the last year and a half… but if you’re like me, you can’t quite hit the checkout button because deep down, you barely know what the MLB stands for. Well, you are in luck! Here is the Sportsish guide to the MLB.
The Basics
MLB stands for Major League Baseball. There are nine innings in each game (a numbered period of play where both teams get a chance to bat and field), but if there’s a tie, there are extra innings. There is a designated hitter, which the American League used at first. Now, both leagues use the play, and it is a player who bats in place of the pitcher but does not play defense, which allows teams to focus on offensive strength without sacrificing fielding. And the stats: ERA = earned run average, BA = batting average, and OPS = On-base + slugging.
Luis Severin in a stunning emerald uni pitching the first inning| Source: Getty
The league has 30 teams (a large pool of handsome men), which have been split into the American League and National League, with three divisions: East, Central, and West. The regular season has 162 games from April until October. Post-season is October, known as “October Baseball” or “The Show.” Spring training, otherwise known as preseason, is from February to March.
Catch me tuning into the Yankees games | Source @yankees on instagram.com
How the Playoffs Work
The playoffs go from Wild Card round to Divisional Series to League Championship Series to World Series. Twelve teams make it, six from each league. The six come from three division winners and three wild cards.
How I feel after finally learning what MLB stands for | Source: @mlb on instagram.com
Teams and Players to Know
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a star-studded roster. They recently added Shohei Ohtani, who hits bombs and pitches fire. The Atlanta Braves carry another powerhouse lineup and have MVP-level talent, including Ronald Acuña Jr., the 40/70 king known for his power, speed, and flash. Next, the Houston Astros, with their perennial contenders, you either love or hate them. Lastly, the New York Yankees are always in the headlines and heads (after reading this, you can hit checkout!). They hold Aaron Judge, the 6'7" slugger and former MVP, and Juan Soto, known for being patient at the plate and lethal with the bat.
Bomb = Hit | Source: @shoheiohtani on instagram.com
The Atmosphere
So why exactly are people singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game? The atmosphere is the answer. The long season is jam-packed with daily drama and shocking stats. Obviously, the nostalgia, with the snacks of our childhoods being served at each game, is a fun flashback. Of course the chaos– no clock on the game meaning it can last for hours.
Ed Sheeran went to a baseball game, so I’m going to a baseball game | Source: Getty
Random Smart Things to Say
“The shift ban really opened up the offense.” “Ohtani’s two-way impact is like nothing we’ve seen.” “The new schedule’s balanced, thank heavens there will be less division overload.”
So here’s to your new hat and the new season of MLB– which doesn’t just stand for Major League Boyfriends (although I wouldn’t mind).