Banana Ball

The Savannah Bananas of the summer-collegiate Coastal Plain League announced a couple of weeks ago that they would be departing the world of organized league baseball altogether and will instead play their own brand of "Banana Ball" year round, traveling the country playing exhibitions of their wacky invented take on baseball.  The Bananas have essentially operated under two "modes" for the last few years while in beta testing for Banana Ball, playing under "normal' baseball rules in the Coastal Plan League while also playing a scattering of Banana Ball exhibitions.  With the popularity of this new sport rising locally, and even gaining prominence nationally as it was recently featured on ESPN+, the Bananas are now going all-in on their creation.  This also means that the Bananas can conduct themselves like an old barnstorming team, signing whoever they want and not being restricted to college players.

For those unaware of what Banana Ball is, you kind of have to just see it to fully grasp it.  But the crux of it is trying to keep the great parts of baseball and the base rules, but add more action.  So for instance, to combat what can be a very long game, there is a set 2-hour time limit and batters are not allowed to step out of the box.  Instead of walks, batters can try to "steal" first base after a 4th pitched ball.  There are certainly some quirky novelty type things like a fan catching a foul ball in the stands counts as an out, but most of the rules are an attempt to reduce the amount of times during a ballgame where nothing is happening.  The best rule is that teams try to "win" individual innings - so if Team A scores 3 runs in the top of the 1st, and Team B scores 4 runs, then Team B gets 1 point for the inning.  This creates a situation where every inning has the potential for a walk-off and lots more drama.  I for one think this is a great concept.  It creates something new rather than attempting to change the original game itself on the fly, and if it is wildly successful, likely it will foster some toned down version of these rules to be implemented in baseball itself.

Erik and I visited Savannah back on the O.G. Tour, back when they hosted the minor league affiliated Sand Gnats, and I'll always remember that game as being one of the hottest days on our trip as it topped out at 107°.  So understandably, I had little interest in going back to Savannah (at least to see ball), but now that Banana Ball will be a permanent fixture at Historic Grayson Stadium, we might just have to make another trip.

And speaking of Erik and I making a trip - Tour 2022 commences on Thursday, and we're finally making it to Texas!  Check back next week for our weekend in review.

STANDINGS AND UPCOMING SERIES AS OF 9/6/22:

Brewers 71-63, -7.5, -2.0 WC; 3 @ Rockies, 2 v. Giants, 3 v. Reds

Twins 68-65, -1.0, -6.5 WC; 4 @ Yankees, 3 v. Guardians

2022 GAMES ATTENDED:

Erik - 1

Peter - 15