“Baseball is more than a game.
It’s like life played out on a field.”

— Juliana Hatfield

Baseball has a problem. If you talk to people who love the game, the consensus is that homeruns are slowly ruining it. So much so, that for the 2021-2022 season, Major League Baseball has made the decision to alter the game balls in order to reduce how far they travel. The hope is that this will result in fewer homeruns.

But why would they do that? Homeruns are arguably the most exciting part of watching a baseball game. Washington Post Sports Columnist Barry Svrluga explains it this way…

”Do the math: If more plate appearances are ending in home runs — and, of course, strikeouts, headed for a record for the 12th straight year — then there’s a lower percentage of at-bats that can end in everything else. Viscerally, it feels as if there’s less action in a baseball game. Statistically, it’s undeniable.”

While singles, doubles, and triples aren’t inherently as exciting or sexy as homeruns, they’re still essential parts of the game. By failing to appreciate the value of these more nuanced aspects of baseball in favor of the all or nothing homerun/ strikeout approach, the game is only a shell of what it is truly meant to be.

The same can be said for our sex lives. Too many couples have bought into the all or nothing, homerun approach to their sexual relationship. It’s intercourse or nothing. Some couples seem to be fairing well with this approach, hitting a record number of homeruns. However, more couples are striking out. Whichever side you’re on, you could still benefit from bringing some nuance and variety back into your sex life.

While I could take the time here to define the bases for you, I’d rather have you set aside some time to define and discuss what the bases should look like in your relationship.

Here’s an exercise you can do with your partner:

ROUNDING THE BASES:

FIRST BASE

Define First Base in your sexual relationship:

What percentage of touch is currently at First Base?

What percentage of touch would ideally be at First Base?

SECOND BASE

Define Second Base in your sexual relationship:

What percentage of touch is currently at Second Base?

What percentage of touch would ideally be at Second Base?

THIRD BASE

Define Third Base in your sexual relationship:

What percentage of touch is currently at Third Base?

What percentage of touch would ideally be at Third Base?

HOMERUN

Define a Homerun in your sexual relationship:

What percentage of touch is currently a Homerun?

What percentage of touch would ideally be a Homerun?

After years of hyping the homerun, baseball has learned the hard way that there can be too much of a good thing. While homeruns are an exciting and invaluable aspect of the game, pursuing homeruns at the expense of everything else has ultimately hurt the experience and perception of Major League Baseball. Our sexual relationships will be similarly effected if we overcommit to intercourse at the expense of the rest of the experiences on our sexual menus.

So swing for the fences and hit homeruns, but don’t forget that there’s value in the other parts of your sexual relationship as well.

Come back every Monday for my latest post.

Have a topic you’d like to hear about? Email me at Drjblair@gmail.com