How to Appear Knowledgeable at a Baseball Game

For most people, attending a baseball game is a fun and exciting way to spend a few hours. But for some, it can be a little intimidating depending on the company. If you're attending the game with a client or coworker, you may want to leave that person with the impression of you as confident and knowledgeable. If you're attending with a friend who knows the game well, you may feel the need to keep up with them.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Research some statistics before the game.
   Baseball is a game filled with statistics, moreso than any other sport it is said. This might intimidate a less knowledgeable person, but it shouldn't. On the contrary, it can work toward their advantage. The game is so full of stats that no one can know everything. Looking up a few key pieces of information about players of both teams may go a long way.
   
   Use the statistics section of any sports website like ESPN or Yahoo Sports. Open up the webpages of the two teams who will be playing in the game you're attending. Check out the starting lineups for a recent game, paying attention to a few pertinent pieces of info. With these in mind, you should get a broad feel for which players are currently playing well and which are not:
   - the list of starting players
   - their positions
   - the numbers on their uniform
   - their batting averages
   - how many homeruns they have hit this season
   - how many RBIs (runs batted in) they have

2. Research odd facts before the game.
   Also do some searching on the Internet to find out some odd facts about your home team. This may go a long way toward showing your colleagues or friends that you know a little more about your team than the average fan. Find out:
   - who are the team's TV and radio announcers. Often times, they may be beloved former players.
   - who is on the disabled list for your team. If he is a famous player, chances are the team can't wait to get him back.
   - who the team's coaching staff is (especially it's manager and first and third base coaches)

3. Wear some baseball gear to the game.
   Wearing a t-shirt of your home team with a chosen player's number and name on the back will make you look more like a than the average Joe. A hat will go a long way as well, but prefer a shirt to a hat, since hats are more common at the ballpark.

4. Cheer every once in awhile.
   Don't just sit there and observe the game. Get into it. Every once in awhile, cheer for your team. Belting out the occasional "let's go!" is great, but for a step up, understand one thing. Baseball players and true fans have a distinct way of cheering.
   
   For instance, when cheering for a player, try saying his number instead of his name, and say it one digit at a time. If you were cheering for David Ortiz, you might say "Come on three four!"
   
   You might also try using nicknames for players. If Derek Jeter was batting, you could say "Let's go, Jeet!"

5. Keep odd baseball situations in mind.
   The action happening on the field is obvious to everyone. But what about the game's strategy? What is going to happen next. Keep a few pieces of baseball strategy in mind and mention them to your colleague or friend throughout the game. These include:
   - bunting
   - stealing a base
   - substituting a pinch hitter
   - changing pitchers
   
   Ask your friend what they would do in the given situation on the field. "Grady is fast. Do you think he'll be stealing here?"

6. Admit when you don't know something.
   If you feel like you're in over your head, don't try to lie or fake your way out of it. A good fan will detect it. By admitting you don't know something, your friend may respect you even more.

Resources

• ESPN
• Yahoo! Sports

[nelas]

on 8/1/2009 Good tips. Reminds me, I need to get to Dodger Stadium!