Noticing the subtleties

You think you know someone.

After almost two days in New York meeting with several prospective clients, one of them, Steve Hobson, happened to mention something about baseball, but only just before we parted.

Listening to him, it was clear that he enjoys the game at least as much as I do.

“The season starts soon,” said Hobson, “and all will be right with the world.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

But, as you know, talk is cheap. So a few minutes ago, I secured four tickets to the Angels home opener, which just happens to be against the Yankees.

The Yankees are a hot ticket almost anywhere they play, but based on last season’s battles, there may be a good rivalry developing. It will never match that of the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, or the Dodgers and the Giants, but it’s still pretty good.

As I recall, the Angels were the only team last year to have a winning record against the Yankees, or a winning record against them at home or on the road, or something like that. There are so many ways to slice the statistics.

Maybe it was that they were the only team to beat them on days that end with a Y.

Then the Angels beat them in the playoffs. My wife and I were fortunate enough to be at Yankee Stadium in October to watch a rain-soaked slugfest in which the Angels prevailed. That was an experience.

Baseball is so enjoyable at so many levels, but I have found that it takes a trained eye to enjoy a few of them.

The case in point is the fellow from Europe I knew many years ago who couldn’t understand the game.

“It’s so slow,” he’d say.

I would then point out the game’s subtleties, likening it to a chess match, but it didn’t do much good.

When you are raised on soccer, a horse race seems slow.

These days, my enjoyment of youth baseball is growing. It may be because I am no longer managing a team and have the time to observe instead of fret. Or it may be because the boys I am watching are developing skills that are impressive.

My son, Roy, is a utility player on the Piper Jaffray team in the Pony League in the Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. In their last game, in which they beat Carl’s Jr., 9-1, there were two exceptional plays, one of which was easily spotted, the other only a trained eye could see.

The really outstanding play was made by Piper Jaffray first baseman Colby Gilly, who caught a line drive over his head after leaping, twisting and turning to grab the ball. It was a major league play.

The other play was quiet.

Roy hit a routine ground ball to the Carl’s Jr. shortstop who knocked it down but could not find the handle (that’s baseball talk for bobbling the ball).

Meanwhile, Roy, who will admit that he is not the speediest guy on the team, was hoofing it down the line to first. What should have been an easy out turned into an ugly single because of what Roy learned many years ago: Don’t watch the ball.

Instead of turning his head to determine what was going on at shortstop, which slows you down and serves no purpose whatsoever, Roy focused instead on a spot six feet past first base and ran as fast as he could. He beat the throw by a moment.

The play did not get by Piper Jaffray manager Alex Deyan, who yelled, “Good hustle!” across the field from his coaching position at third base.

By this time, you may be wondering about these team names, Piper Jaffray and Carl’s Jr. There are more. Outback Steakhouse has a team in the league, as does Banta, although I’m not sure what Banta is or does.

I knew a Gail Banta in junior high school ? maybe it’s her.

Even the Daily Pilot has a team. Piper Jaffray beat them, which may not be a good thing to point out to an employer. Kind of like beating your boss at golf.

The teams are named for their sponsors because the sponsors paid for the privilege. My disappointment over not being associated with a major league team (“Cubs” has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?) was over as soon as I saw my first Pony League game last Wednesday.

At the game, I didn’t really care what they were called. I was just grateful that companies such as Outback Steakhouse, Carl’s Jr., the Daily Pilot and Piper Jaffray had made the contributions to allow the boys to play.

Even Banta, whatever they do.