The Game of base-ball, materialistically speaking.

A series, of questions...

Game, On ?! Comma, other punctuation called for, "intended for all audiences". That is, whether you consider yourself a past-time purist, concerned with how this past-time has become punctuated itself with greed, to such avaricious levels that could find itself...past its time. And for those who have not yet found themselves among the dis-contended...dis-connected (literally!) consumers, cynical about how the continued rule changes, resulting from off season meetings of league officials, owners..."Money ballers!" (if you haven't seen the movie you won't appreciate the reference or the appreciation of the role of athletic analytics...which collectively create new, improved algo-rhythms, designed to first capture our attention, then reinforce us to, as they say in base-ball, "keep us in the game!"). A game that is increasingly elusive for the everyday consumer to afford, even at a distance...as in trying to locate a channel for so-called "Live!" coverage...Given the constant realignment of cable channels, streaming apps, let alone the continued dizzying array of realigned divisions, etc. (which, in the game of collegiate football, in this geo region has seen a steady rise from what used to be referred to as the "Big Ten" to 18, at least as of last count...which was apparently behind the new mid-field logo "BIG!") It's as if it's (our national past-time) has become a bit commercialized...

Naturally, or contrived? The so-called "greed factor' that is. That can be seen in part in the size of the salaries, some of which have come to eclipse those of some smaller nations, that cause one to pause, wonder if this is still "anyone's game" but gradually, over the years since Mr. Doubleday (whose name became synonymous as the one who initially created, a legend, contrivance, that was in part a result of a special commission in 1907...see what I mean?!). Which has become the focus of big business...no wonder so few "ball parks" are named after the team or city, any longer...This, well before the math majors, computer wizards, and professional actuarial types met in the off season and created "FanDuel" the signs of which can be found (literally!) on about half the billboards residing by high-ways, the ones not advertising all the ways to get high...And, if "by chance" (good luck if you try to beat the odds, took the sucker bet offered via constant close captioning these daze)... are not a consumer player but an actual base-ball player...just how long can you hold out, resist coming to the ball park, when your player association has decided to strike for even higher salaries, after the bottom line of the owners has been revealed...(the latter group of which has occasionally, instead of walking out, simply locked the doors...) And even among those who are just starting up, teeing it up ("T-ball!")...just how low will we allow player agents go (chronologically speaking)...knocking on doors, due to the rise of NIL (if you don't know what this stands for then you're not quite ready for the so-called "big leagues")...

Crossing the threshold? As in gaining access to our prized possessions. How long can we keep the youngsters who still find themselves in what we have long longed for..."the age of innocence" under such conditions...from transitioning from "athletic students" to "student athletes" -- adjectively speaking, that modifies that main subject. That, up until now, despite all the corruption, still like to play, "just for the fun of it" ???

No easy answers: Such as when the post-game reporters decide to play "hard ball" which will be experienced vicariously by you, my post supporters, in the form of "Just what (literally!) are YOU made of ?!" Next, batter up.