That Roger Angell quote is wonderful. I really need to seek out more of his stuff.

Words to live by.

Remember, it’s easy to be a Yankee fan. It takes character and intestinal fortitude to be a Mets fan.

I’ll certainly give scoring a game a go. I’ll pick a random game from last season I can access on mlb.tv, so I don’t know the result. Any suggestions on a good game to score are most welcome everybody – just don’t give away the score! I’ve been a little intimidated by scoring a game, and particularly by the stats nuts, but I’m going to give it a try. And of course, let you all know how I get on.

I grew up in a very baseball orientated family in the states and my first few years here in the UK, before I discovered mlb.tv were dry indeed. I can remember a few moments though. Things like watching the ’01 word series in a bedsit in London and, though I was trying to be quiet, becoming so excited and pumping my arm so hard it woke my then girlfriend, now wife. How do you explain that one? Then, once I had my internet subscription there were all those games available and, particularly in the post season I’d find myself sleeping for just a few hours and then getting up to watch some west coast evening game that went on to the early hours and made it pointless for me to try to get back to sleep before it was time to work. After four or five consecutive days of that I looked pretty awful, but I didn’t care.

One thing I’d suggest, if you haven’t tried it, is printing scorecard off the internet and, following one of the simpler systems, scoring a game while you watch. My family always kept a book where we scored the games we saw live and we’d pass it back and forth as the mood suited. I find, especially if I’m watching a game alone it’s a nice way get into the rhythms of a game without having to concentrate too intensely or ignore everything else. You just make a few marks every so often and can keep dipping in and out as the game progresses. Thing is, once you’ve had a few innings you have a visual record of any trends that are already starting to develop and you can get an idea of the strategies some of the managers might be trying to use. All that without having to concentrate like some sort of chess master or the guys I knew always won the fantasy baseball leagues and who could tell you insane statistical facts about every player on the field (a batter’s average with men of first and second, 2 outs in the top of the sixth against a left handed pitcher throwing a low slider over the outside of the plate). The game stays relaxed but you can engage at a slightly deeper level.

Finally, although I can condone your support of the Mets (or any other team from New York) your choice of a National League team reveals you to be an individual of truly discerning taste. . .

The Red Sox winning in 04, and the comeback against the Yankees before that, must have been incredible to experience. I think that season has to be one of the great sporting stories of the decade.

I really regret not visiting Fenway when I spent a few days in Boston in 2005. I guess I’ll just have to go back to Boston one day, which I would love to. It’s a great city.