I hear ya Bill. There's something satisfying about hearing the crack of the bat in summer, not the "tink" of aluminum. The old wool uniforms have been replaced by polyester, kids wear batting gloves - some even wear sliding pants! Helmets, hitting sticks, and coaches who make Lombardi look like a nun. Gatorade is the drink of choice, not water. Oh how the times have changed.
Like Tom said, the rules are are like the government tax code. Overbearing parents who want their kid playing in MLB spend thousands on equipment and travel leagues. They yell at their kids like a Marine D.I. Sadly, it's not the gentle summer pastime it once was.
But take all that away and it's just kids playing a game. And it's fun to watch that part of it.
