Another simple pleasure: working with the ballgame on in the background

So I am working at home today and wanted some background noise for company. Instead of opting for music, I have been given a great bonus a rare morning baseball game I can have on the television.

In this case, it is Tampa Bay and Boston in the annual Patriot's Day game at Fenway Park.

To say it is a treat is an understatement.

All games at Fenway are fun -- even games like this one with Tampa Bay leading 8-0 in the 6th inning.

What is even more fun is the Red Sox announcers - Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy - are very good at their job. Anybody can make a 3-2 thriller decided by a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth fun. But it takes a real pro to keep a lopsided affair interesting. This pair offers good insights, info on the players involved in the game and excellent back and forth discussion in a calm, reason manner.

Early, Remy noted that home plate umpire Angel Campos was all over the pace with his strike zone and had managed to get both sides upset with him. When TB's Ben Zobrist kicked about strike two, Remy observed the next pitch would likely be a strike, too. The pitch looked a foot outside but Campos sent Zobrist packing anyway. Remy then noted Campos eyed Zobrist carefully all the way to the dugout, perhaps hoping to get an ejection.

Later, Orsillo noted that, although the Red Sox are generally successful at Fenway, they dropped their first two series there this season. He added that playing the Yankees and the Rays - two excellent teams - might have had something to do with this depressing (to Boston fans) stat.

Baseball as background stuff is wonderful. Sure, the game moves slowly at times. But in the hands of good announcers, it doesn't seem that way. The Red Sox are off to a rough start (4-8 at this writing) and this pair made no attempt to hide that fact. But they didn't dwell on it much ... nor did they make excuses for the locals. It sounded like two old friends chatting away while the game unfolded. I didn't need to look up often to know what was going on.

In an era where TV is full of screamers, it is simply wonderful to have a game on in a relaxed but fun background.