Every Spring It s no coincidence that baseball season starts around April Fool s Day every year. That s because most red-blooded American males, and even some slimy politicians, are endlessly fascinated by baseball statistics. Statistics become ingrained in our psyches from the moment we open our first pack of baseball cards and stay there through adulthood and well into senility. There is no lingerie section. But even if there were, I'd wager that most men would still opt for the sports page because things like batting averages, box scores and league leaders are infinitely more interesting than a bunch of scantily-clad women with no discernable statistics.
Statistics are an integral part of baseball.
They make the game more interesting because they highlight the nuances of each player's ability and performance. For example, a .250 hitter will hit safely one out of four times he bats. Alou is hitting .317 with runners at the corners on Wednesdays. Today is Saturday, Bob. And on Saturdays with runners at the corners, Alou is only hitting .223.