I'm Pete du Pont with the National Center for Policy Analysis. Someone once said that the most beautiful words in the English language were "Summer afternoon." I beg to differ. I think the most beautiful words in the English language are "Pitchers and catchers report to Florida in two weeks."
And now they're there. Far greater writers than I have extolled baseball's virtues, but I'll just list two: it's relative unchangeability and – in our increasingly MTV-ized, jump cut world — its comparative slowness.
Yes, we have the DH, and — I choke saying this — inter-league play. But your grandfather would recognize this game. Try saying that about basketball or football. So we can still compare performances over time and genuinely say "He's best."
Next, you just can't speed baseball up. There's no clock. It happens as it happens, as you sit in the stands and keep score and talk with your friends and manage along with the real manager. So enjoy. It's Spring training for fans, too. Study up, and get ready for the season.
Those are my ideas, and at the NCPA we know ideas — and a good slider — can change the world. I'm Pete du Pont and I'll see you next time.