MLB Hits Grand Slam With July 4 Schedule
We've been treated to an absolute bacchanal of baseball on America's birthday, and it's no less than we deserve...
The Baseball Gods have truly delivered this July 4.
We’re currently in the middle of a full slate of games, which will span the entire day of celebrations in America.
In other words, we have wall-to-wall baseball to carry us through the duration of America’s birthday. It’s glorious.
And I must commend Major League Baseball for that.
Rewinding back to Memorial Day, I wasn’t alone in being perplexed by the league’s decision not to have every single team in action on a national holiday. It just seemed like a huge missed opportunity. After all, baseball should be taking center stage not only on Memorial Day, but on July 4 and Labor Day too.
My good friend Jake Asman, who hosts the incredible Jake Asman Show on YouTube - check it out and subscribe, Jets fans - expressed his frustrations perfectly about how MLB screwed the pooch by not having every single team in action on Memorial Day.
With families at home together looking for things to do, every single team should be playing with discounts on tickets and food and drink items. That’s the best way to grow and market the game.
It is even more important to have all 30 teams in action on July 4, America’s birthday. Baseball is America’s National Pastime, after all. And the sport was born to be enjoyed on a sweltering hot day while dads grill, kids throw down a hot dog or two and families can enjoy a day out at the ballpark together.
So much of what is great about July 4 is having a delicious buffet of baseball to sink our teeth into all day long.
However, in looking back over the past couple of years, MLB has got that wrong too. For instance, two teams were off on July 4 2022, including the Yankees. I mean, it is almost criminal for one of the most storied franchises in all of sports not to play on America’s day. That should never happen.
Thankfully, Major League Baseball didn’t make that mistake this year.
We’re currently being treated to a spectacular slate of 15 games with the action starting at 11:05 AM EDT with the Mets at the Nationals, before the D-Backs and the Dodgers bring the day’s festivities to an end at 9:10 PM EDT.
Sandwiched in-between all of that has been some exhilarating baseball. Whether you were at a ballpark throwing down as many hotdogs as possible, grilling at home, at a party with friends or just comfortably stationed on the couch in front of the TV with an ice cold beer, there has been something for everyone on this July 4.
The Nationals earned a split with the Mets thanks to Jake Irvin’s eight scoreless frames and Jesse Winker’s pinch-hit home run. The Reds swept the Yankees in the Bronx, although Ben Rice hit his first major league home run and Juan Soto blasted his 21st long ball of the year. Jose Miranda went 5-for-5 with four runs, three doubles and three RBI as the Twins beat the Tigers 12-3. Texas rookie Wyatt Langford made a pair of insane defensive plays. Ian Happ had a day with not one but TWO three-run homers and Trea Turner pulled off the smoothest slide you’ll ever see in a classic July 4 matchup between the Phillies and Cubs at Wrigley. Cincinnati’s Will Benson absolutely robbed Soto with a catch of the year candidate, and MVP contender Gunnar Henderson has just slugged his 27th home run of the year for the Orioles in Seattle.
So, yeah, there have been a bunch of things to marvel at already, and we still have plenty more baseball to come. It is like going for your fifth hot dog of the day.
And this is why it is imperative to have all 30 teams in action on July 4, and on national holidays in general. All eyes will be on Major League Baseball throughout the course of today, and there could well be new eyeballs on the sport too.
This is baseball’s golden opportunity to take center stage and become the focal point of the entire country for a whole day. There isn’t anything else going on sports wise today. Apart from the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, although that didn’t have the same feel to it without the goat Joey Chestnuts participating.
Baseball is woven into the very fabric of America, and it is an essential part of the July 4 tradition. Baseball is Americana.
Baseball. Hot dogs. Apple Pie. That’s what today is all about.
As such, Major League Baseball won the day by ensuring all 30 teams were in action and, consequently, the spotlight was on the sport for the entirety of July 4.
That’s how you hit a grand slam on America’s birthday.