A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Major League Baseball is in the second half of its season. That's when the heat and the fun get turned up. NPR pop culture correspondent Linda Holmes is usually known for recommending TV and movies. But this morning, she's here to tell us about why baseball is such a joy to watch.
Linda, all right, let's get this out of the way. You're a Phillies fan, so of course, if you look at the standings, I understand why you are loving this baseball season.
LINDA HOLMES, BYLINE: That's true, the Philadelphia Phillies have the best record in baseball right now. I promise that is not the only reason why I love them. I do have other reasons, mostly that they are so much fun to watch. The other night, I watched them win. And during a postgame interview with Brandon Marsh, who's an outfielder, a couple of his teammates, you know, they throw their drinks on his head. No big deal - happens all the time. But then they handed him an Uncrustable, you know, one of those...
MARTÍNEZ: (Laughter).
HOLMES: ...Round pre-made PB&J sandwiches.
MARTÍNEZ: I eat like five a day, Linda.
HOLMES: And he tore into it while just chatting with the announcers. Anybody can get Gatorade over his head. The Phillies give their guys an Uncrustable. And there's another clip of him - this is my favorite clip of him - being asked, who would be in the rock band if the Phillies started a rock band and what it would be called. He named some guys, and then I'll just play the clip of what he said.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
BRANDON MARSH: What's the name?
KARL RAVECH: Yeah, give me a name.
MARSH: Stay Loose and Sexy, baby.
RAVECH: There you go.
HOLMES: Stay Loose and Sexy, baby. This makes no sense.
MARTÍNEZ: (Laughter).
HOLMES: They're fun. That's what it's about.
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah. Now, Linda, you don't have to make the case to me to watch baseball. I mean, I'll watch the Marlins and the White Sox, you know, a doubleheader for those extra innings. That's how much I love watching baseball. But why should everyone else watch baseball this summer?
HOLMES: Well, the great thing about baseball as kind of a comfort watch is that no one baseball game is all that important. And to continue to talk about the Phillies, as I always do, they lost to Oakland, 18-3, at home. But nevertheless, I did not have to despair. We play 162 regular season games. No one of them can ruin your season. That's what makes it comforting to watch.
MARTÍNEZ: Now, sometimes people say that watching baseball feels a little too comfortable, maybe even slow. I disagree. I love all the action. What would you tell them?
HOLMES: Well, first of all, the recent changes in the rules have encouraged things to get a little faster - right? - the new pitch clock. Pitchers can't wait too long between throws. It is getting faster, and games are getting shorter. If you do want some excitement, I got two words for you - Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is obviously not on the Phillies, more's the pity. He plays for the Dodgers. But he's a big deal, in part because there was for decades a genuine, widespread suspicion that we would never again see an elite hitter who was an elite pitcher. And then Shohei Ohtani showed up, and he is both. Now, unfortunately, due to an elbow injury, he's not pitching this year. He's the designated hitter, he probably will pitch again and he's fun to watch. They're paying him $700 million over 10 years, so expectations are high.
MARTÍNEZ: If folks are listening at home and they have no idea who to root for, what would be your answer, Linda. I got a feeling it rhymes with Schmillies.
HOLMES: It does, it does. But generally, listen, things are exciting right now. Any sport needs a variety of teams to do well, in order to stay interesting. This season, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cleveland Guardians, who are not like your traditional glamor teams, necessarily, they're both good. The Yankees had a hot start, but they're in a little bit of a slump lately. That makes any season feel a little more open. But of course, if you're looking for a team, borrow mine.
MARTÍNEZ: (Laughter).
HOLMES: They are goofy. They are friendly. They are really, really good. That's all you need.
MARTÍNEZ: Goofy and friendly. I've been described that way a few times, Linda (laughter).
HOLMES: Likewise.
MARTÍNEZ: That's Phillies fan and Pop Culture Happy Hour host Linda Holmes. Linda, thanks.
HOLMES: Thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF MEDESKI, MARTIN AND WOOD'S "SHINE IT")
MARTÍNEZ: All right, so Michel, when you want to feel comfort, what do you watch?
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Well, it wouldn't be my Mets, who break my heart every year.
MARTÍNEZ: (Laughter).
MARTIN: So, you know, they come close. And then they just, like, you know - so it wouldn't be the Mets.
MARTÍNEZ: The Mets are tough to love.
MARTIN: They are.
MARTÍNEZ: Very, very tough to love. I'm surprised you're not a Yankee fan. You're a New Yorker.
MARTIN: Excuse me, I'm from Brooklyn. Get it straight.
MARTÍNEZ: Oh, sorry.
MARTIN: I'm from Brooklyn, not New York.
MARTÍNEZ: I apologize.
MARTIN: Thank you. Get it together.
MARTÍNEZ: Wrong borough, right? Wrong borough.
MARTIN: Also, soccer.
MARTÍNEZ: Oh, nice. Good.
MARTIN: Yeah.
MARTÍNEZ: We agree.
(SOUNDBITE OF MEDESKI, MARTIN AND WOOD'S "SHINE IT") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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