Ten Things I'll Teach My Daughter About Baseball

Danielle and I are expecting a daughter this March. Beyond the general excitement/fear/we did what? of becoming parents there are some immediate questions that comes up. First, Daughter baseball fan allegiance - we have

• Mets fan -Danielle's side of the family
• Red Sox fan - my side of the family, or
• Disowned if she becomes a Yankee fan.*

Second, whether I'll teach my daughter about baseball and how to play. Absolutely. My reply has surprised some people - probably fans of Rob Dibble - it didn't even OCCUR to me not to teach her to play or be a fan.

My initial baseball fandom-and all sports- came from my mother. From her I learned how to do math using batting averages, the importance of going from first to third on a hit, and why bleacher seats are so much fun. I keep hearing about baseball being about fathers & sons - definitely true, just not in my house.

Let me cover playing baseball for exactly one paragraph.

Danielle has better fundamentals than I do. Ask anyone who has ever seen her play softball (or myself play softball). During Mets Family Day people were shocked at how good a player she is as my pregnant wife and I played long toss in the outfield.

So leaving the teaching of fundamentals to Danielle here are ten things I'll teach my daughter (in no order) about baseball

1. Your team will give you the biggest joys and disappointments of your life
2. If an opposing player reaches into the stands for a foul ball it is your DUTY as a fan to get in his way
3. The importance of going from first to third on a hit
4. A free baseball ticket is a good baseball ticket (and a thank you note a must)
5. Become a Party Patrol person - because you get to fire the shirt gun
6. Wins & ERA are useless - now FIP & K/9 are worth knowing
7. Nothing wrong with Daddy having a shake shack, frites & a second burger
8. Never wear a pink hat. Ever.
9. When keeping score in the book and you miss a play look up the information on a mobile device (credit to Ben Kabak for that little trick)
10. Every statistic, knowledge, or reality goes out the window when you're cheering your team and you just want them to win

I really hope she doesn't become a Yankee fan though. I don't know that Danielle or I could handle it.

Wayne

*If the Yankee situation comes up I'm brining in a child training expert in the form Danielle's old friend Jason - his son Joshua is a rabid Mets fan so obviously whatever Jason did paid off.

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