Modern Ball

I love baseball and as a rule am not fond of the new. Anything new, although if it's worthwhile I have been known to warm up to it. I don't live entirely in the Twentieth Century; I think radio is here to stay.

There are those baseball fans who consider themselves purists to a far greater degree than myself. I don't like the designated hitter and I hate the free runner on second to begin extra innings. Yet the folks I'm speaking about like to play the game by very old school rules. It's common to find teams who play according to the rulebook of 1867 and even earlier. They assert that it's a better game. 

Um, no. The modern game with its speed and greater defense and livelier baseballs is a far greater game. The batter (sorry, 'striker') directing the pitcher (I forget his old timey name) what type of throw he'd like? Not really challenging, I would argue.

Of course, the game then was predicated on putting the ball in play, so there is that. If the old rules are what the participants like, all right. It can even be quaint to hear the fielders yell, wrong hander!, when a lefty comes to bat. But after that? Give me modern ball. It is a better game.