A little over a year ago, nearing the end of an eight-month stay in Italy, I had the opportunity to attend Fiorentina Baseball's opening day game (it was a doubleheader, actually) at the Campo di Baseball in Florence. That experience caused me to reflect on the differences between baseball in Italy and baseball in the United States. Here are some of my conclusions:
Top Ten Differences between Italian Baseball and American Baseball
10. In Italy, hit and run play only occurs in the parking lot after the game.
9. In America, lefty relievers are called "southpaws"–-in Italy, "comunisti."
8. Italian outfielders often kick balls rather than attempting long throws back to the infield.
7. Italian rules permit unlimited work stoppages after the fourth inning.
6. Instead of paying $7 for a warm beer, Italian fans fork over 28,000 lire for a cold Chianti.
5. Italian managerial strategies show clear signs of Machiavelli's influence.
4. In Italy, every ground ball is exciting thanks to a nationwide shortage of cups.
3. Play-by-play announcer Vito Sculli often forgets about the game and quotes long passages from Dante. (No, wait. That's just like Dodgers' baseball!)
2. Yellow cards.
1. Prime Minister Berlusconi never traded away Sammy Sosa.
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