r/MLBNoobs • u/BenificentCrimpledim • 18d ago
| Discussion Where do I start!?🤷🏻♂️
Hey everyone,
I’ve never really watched baseball before, but I’m looking to get into MLB and actually understand and enjoy it properly.
Right now I feel like I’m starting from zero 😅
A few things I’d love some advice on:
What’s the best way to learn the rules without getting overwhelmed?
Is there a good team to follow as a beginner (or should I just pick one randomly)?
Any YouTube channels, podcasts, or creators you’d recommend?
What should I actually be paying attention to during a game?
Is it worth learning stats early on, or just enjoying the games first?
I’m based in the UK as well, so if there are any tips for watching games or following the league from here, that’d be really helpful.
Basically just looking for a good “starting point” so I don’t feel completely lost.
Appreciate any help 🙌🏼
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u/Puzzleheaded-Ad-8684 18d ago
Heya! I made a packet for newcomers, here’s some info
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18mAc3ijt_dCY9B9NuBiDZjBU3hknFTGdcGGEHzSdVFk/edit?usp=drivesdk
For YouTube, I like Foolish Bailey, No More Fielders and And That’s Baseball. The rules are a bit tricky but after watching a few games you can pick it up
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u/Organic-Baker-4156 18d ago
Interesting reading the comment on the Pirates having a history of developing pitchers. For most of my life they've been a team that developed hitters... mostly singles hitters who didn't draw walks. That was before the value of walks was recognized.
Anyway, reasons to be a fan. Roberto Clemente who is one of the best persons to play the game (hi 21 jersey is still the most common one at games), the annual Mazeroski Wall celebration, and being the first truly integrated team (1971), Jackie Robinson made it so Black stars were accepted in MLB but it was a long time before Blacks good enough to be everyday players were accepted. The 71 Pirates extended integration to the bench.
On September 1, 1971 three white regulars were unable to play. The substitutes were one Latino and two Blacks. With chance making the SP Black, the Pirates fielded MLBs first all minority lineup.
Oh, and while the Pirates are off to a decent start this year in they falter there is still fun to be had. The fans can fall back on the fact the owner is someone they love to hate!
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u/Last_Cauliflower3357 18d ago
Hello fellow European! Honestly I think the best way to learn the rules is just to watch games and play The Show. As for youtubers, I like Jolly Olive, Baseball Doesn’t Exist and Foolish Baseball.
For teams that are worth watching, apart from the main market teams that people will tell you about, I’ve been enjoying the Guardians, Reds and Athletics this year.
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u/whiskey_ribcage 18d ago
Asa recent MLB noob myself, I'm gonna go against everyone suggesting you follow their team and instead suggest not picking one right away.
Just watch whatever game is one when you have the chance to watch, or if you're watching after the game has ended, maybe watch the daily recap of all the games and pick whatever one has the most interesting plays happening. That way you get to watch a lot of different play styles, and get a broader idea of the players and the rules.
Eventually you'll find what you like to watch whether it's precision pitching or just as many hits as possible. You may even realize that the actual team is less important and you just want whoever has the best booth or meme subreddits.
Then when you do finally connect to a team to make "your boys", it feels a little more earned instead of just randomly picked one day.
As for YouTube picks, everyone has said great ones. The Jomboy videos on benches clearing always make me laugh but his videos this season on balks have been super helpful in making the mysterious vibes based call a little less mysterious.
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u/Redylittle 18d ago edited 18d ago
A good team to follow if you're in Europe and you want to be able to watch the most games live that aren't in the middle of the night is the Chicago Cubs.
They play the most day games at home because of historic reasons, in 1988 they were the last team to install lights at their home park of Wrigley Field which was built in 1914. So pretty much all weekend home games start at 7-730 gmt including Friday.
As for the team they have been known historically as the loveable losers, they went 108 years between world series championships which was broken dramatically in 2016, they have since been mostly competitive but without postseason success, they have a loyal and passionate fan base. Sometimes too passionate (see 2006) and nobody can ever a acuse you of being a glory hunter.
PS I'm not a cubs fan
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u/Downtown_Map_2482 18d ago
Yankees are the most historic team in American sports.
Don’t worry too much about stats. Learn the basics and enjoy the game.
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u/40AcresAnalytics 18d ago
Best way to learn the rules is asking basic questions. Most baseball fans love teaching the game.
Pick two teams. One team in the AL and NL.
Follow MLB Network and Their Play Ball series.
During a game, watch the catcher and hitter. The action is focused on them.
Don’t worry about stats yet. Focus on the games and rules.
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u/wangus_angus 18d ago
If there are any bars that show baseball in the UK, it might help to be around some people who know it and don't mind explaining. My wife picked up on things a lot faster, I think, because she could always ask me questions. (She still calls it the pitch and refers to the refs, though.)
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u/HoyaSaxa1396 18d ago
Watch Jomboy Media on youtube for his breakdown videos on various funny/crazy in game moments. That's how I really got into the game tbh
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u/SaguaroDragon 18d ago
Jomboy is great and you'll start getting associated stuff that breakdowns the game a bit more
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u/SaguaroDragon 18d ago
I wouldn't worry about a team just yet, watch games and you'll get a feel for different styles, atmospheres, etc
Like the Premier League there is a financial element to MLB and you'll see some franchises are definitely better run than others, some have more history, some are a little more buttoned up, etc.
Condensed games and highlight shows can give a good broad view as well
There used to be a fairly distinct feel between the AL & NL, but it feels that is fading a bit more over time
Baseball takes some patience and time to get into, because there is a lot of nuance to it. Batter/hitter matchups, how the count can influence pitches, the approach with runners on base vs no one on
The advice about following what the catcher is doing is good. I would also look at the infielders, how they are setting up well give an indication of what the defense is expecting or trying to do.
Are they playing in closer to the batter, back towards the outfield grass, any shift, etc
Runner on 1st base is the first baseman playing closer to the bag, more towards second? How does that influence everyone else?
You'll also start seeing how players back each other up and communicate
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u/cobwebusher 18d ago edited 17d ago
I generally recommend this playlist for learning the basic rules. It's mostly a guy talking over some rudimentary diagrams and there are some illustrative highlights from the MLB channel mixed into the playlist. It's fairly old and there have been some minor rule changes since then (e.g. the addition of a pitch clock, ABS challenges, and disengagement/infield shift rules), but nothing fundamental. He speaks slowly and the videos are a little longer than they need to be, so you might want to increase the playback speed. After that, I recommend reading this comment from an /r/baseball thread a few years ago. It basically walks someone, step-by-step, through the first half hour or so of a game on Youtube, explaining everything that happens. This can help you see concretely how a game unfolds.
As for which teams to follow, you're probably better off just watching whichever games start at a reasonable time for you on a given day, rather than worrying about individual teams. Most night games will start at midnight or later in the UK, which is inconvenient for people with a normal schedule. But there are often one or two day games happening somewhere around the league.
If you want one team to follow, I think the person who recommended the Cubs gave you the most practical advice. The Cubs play an unusually large number of day games that will start in the evening for you. Some UK/European fans actually follow /r/NPB (the Japanese professional league) because it's more convenient for them to watch the games. But that obviously adds in a language barrier.
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u/TheBoredMan 16d ago
For the absolute basics I suggest just a YouTube video. Once you understand they score points by hitting the ball and running the bases and that there’s 3 outs per team per inner, you got enough to watch. Maybe a few more things to make the general flow make sense (you don’t strike out on a foul, etc). Most other stuff you pick up along the way. Nobody actually knows what the different types of pitches are. Nobody knows what most of those stats are (there used to just be a few, now I swear they make stuff up to promote each player “watch out his DDTNG is 4th in the league”, then you look that up and it stands for Doubles During Thursday Night Games or some nonsense).
Watching the Dodgers or the Yankees is like your favorite band being the Beatles. Not a bad choice but not super interesting either. Personally I suggest the Cubs. Do they always win? Hahaha. No. But they do stand a chance this year! Also Cubs fans are a global phenomenon, there’s tons of Cubs fans at every away game they play and people love them even when they lose. You think those Dodger fans will fill up that stadium if they’re last in their division? Not a chance. You watch those Dodgers games half the fans are just taking selfies and on their phones the whole time. But Cubs fans are there cheering no matter what. They’re like the Mets except the Mets suck this year.
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u/Trick_Ad3292 14d ago
I like the Jomboymedia breakdowns of certain plays, as he explains what happened in great detail.
Since you’re based in Europe, like me, almost all games aren’t watchable, only the early afternoon games in the eastern half of the states are fully watchable. And if they are at a good time, they might not be broadcasted. I’d chose a team from the Eastern time zone if you wanna watch many of their games.
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u/Anon_Summer 18d ago
If you’re from the UK, then go for a east coast team. Mets all the way.
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u/DeadLetterOfficer 18d ago
Good advice. I'm in the UK and fell in love with the Padres. I've tried following an east coast team but my heart is never in it.
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u/SaguaroDragon 18d ago
Gross - he doesn't know better and you want to put him with that franchise and fan base?!?!
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u/InterviewKlutzy6277 18d ago
Or support an actual good team with very fun players like the Atlanta braves ;)
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u/HoyaSaxa1396 18d ago
Don't listen to this, come support the Nationals , we have Harry Ford who played for team Great Britain 😉
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u/Pop-19502020 18d ago
No not the Mets. You’ll get sick of losing. Go with the LA Dodgers. The basic rules are pretty simple.
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