Listening to but not watching baseball.

You can make the game look anyway you want.  You can conjure up Buster Posey's face as he strikes out or feel the breeze in Hunter Pence's huge, long, wide swing as he reaches for the ball. You can imagine those apartment houses around Wrigley Field, the ones with bleachers on the roof, full of fans, passing along beer and whiskey, watching the game so intently and then, not so intently as that beer and whiskey becomes more of a focus. And yet, then, back to the game. Back to the noise, the roar, the smack of the bat. 

Listening to the Giants vs Cubs game tonight is my evening's entertainment. Yes, I could walk over to Steele and Hops, where I went on Wednesday to watch the Giants win that wild card game. But it's Friday night and it will be even more packed than it was two days ago. So Cooper and I are on the red couch, having a glass of red wine, simply listening to the game on the radio. Eight innings so far, no score.  It's a reminder of the simplicity and the linear focus of a baseball game. 

Yes, to be honest, I wish I was watching it on TV, but that's partly because we are all intent on action gratification.  Listening to it makes you slow down, makes you sit and do nothing except listen. You can't switch channels to see what is on CNN or see who killed who on "Law and Order."  You just have to be patient and listen. And imagine, which is the coolest part. 

Go Giants, of course.  But those Cubs, come on!  Haven't won a World Series in more than 100 years! And as far as I can hear, they are playing great baseball tonight.  I look forward to hearing more games in the next couple of days. 

And at this moment, the Cubs get a home run!  One run! The crowd goes nuts, the sound is rocking!  It's great!  One to nothing, Cubs.  Wow.

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