As usual, July and August are turning into a hitter’s paradise in Major League Baseball and for many fans.
Balls are flying, pitchers are tiring, and fans are seeing baseball fireworks.
Look at what’s happening:
- Nick Kurtz, the Athletics rookie just called up from the minors, in one game went 6-for-6 with 4 home runs, 8 RBIs, and 6 runs scored — the first rookie in MLB history to do it.
- The Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber is on a tear with 36 homers and a .960 OPS, plus he crushed three homers in three swings during the All-Star swing-off.
Why the surge? Two big reasons:
- Heat makes baseballs fly farther — warm air is less dense, so hitters get a boost.
- Pitchers are worn down — by midseason, they’ve thrown 100+ innings, and fatigue leads to mistakes.
Stats show that slugging percentages and home run rates spike in summer, especially in hot-weather cities like Atlanta and Baltimore.
So, how do Jetsetters take advantage of it?
We have some suggestions here.
First, if you want to fly to a distant ballpark – like Sacramento to see rising stars like Nick Kurtz – you can check out One Travel for flights and hotel rooms anywhere.
Hitting a Major League game during the summer is great for new baseball fans – especially kids who are just joining the new baseball popularity – thanks to the pitch clock rules that have sped up games. A 9-inning game is a little over 2 hours today compared to a few years ago when they could go 3 or 4 hours on a regular basis. Today there is more action, and it takes less time.
This has many new fans enjoying the games because there is so much action: homeruns, doubles in the outfield gaps or down the lines, and great diving and leaping catches into the stands.
But for the baseball aficionado who has played the game and continues to study it for years, there is another alternative.
Let me bring in The Scruffer.
Ken “The Scruffer” Hyne, a longtime mustachioed baseball aficionado — and contributor to Undercover Jetsetter, has been my close friend and baseball expert for more than a half century. He was my third baseman when I pitched in amateur baseball for more many of our younger years. And, we’re still close despite his favorite team, The New York Yankees, who are huge rivals of my favorite team, The Boston Red Sox (who have more World Series Championships in the 21st Century than the Yanks.)
Despite that dig, Scruffer spent years remaining a life-long buddy while coaching baseball and softball and also attending many major league games and keeping up with the game’s changes throughout the decades. And he offers a deeper look at baseball today in the summer.
He isn’t sold on the big-league experience:
“Yes, power is up,” he told me, “but batting averages are down. A .230 batting average is considered okay now.”
Back when we were kids watching MLB, a batting average under .250 was considered mediocre and that player better be a great defensive player to stay in the big leagues.
Not today.
As Ken says, “the game feels less attractive.”
For longtime watchers it seems that power – from homerun hitters and pitchers throwing 100 mile per hour fastballs – are more prominent today compared to many finesse hitters decades ago who could hit line drives to open defensive spots and move runners to the next base with a drive or ground ball to one side of the infield or a sacrifice bunt. Those nuances are not gone but certainly not as prevalent.
And Ken, a Dad and Grandad now, also considers a family’s lifestyle.
“The games are ridiculously expensive to attend.”
He’s right.
- Dynamic Pricing Models: Teams now use algorithms that adjust ticket prices based on demand, opponent, day of the week, weather, and even team performance—just like airline tickets.
- Premium Stadium Experiences: Ballparks have evolved into entertainment hubs with luxury suites, gourmet food, and interactive zones. These upgrades raise operating costs, which get passed on to fans.
- Star Power & Team Performance: Teams with high-profile players and championship aspirations (like the Dodgers or Yankees. Umm, Red Sox too) see surging demand, which drives up prices.
- Inflation & Economic Pressures: Rising costs for labor, food, and stadium maintenance—plus lingering effects from tariffs on steel and aluminum—have made everything more expensive.
- Limited Inventory for Popular Games: Marquee matchups, Opening Day, and playoff games have fewer seats and higher demand, leading to prices that can exceed $600—or even $1,000 on resale platforms.
- Secondary Market Influence: Resellers often markup tickets for high-demand games. Some teams even partner with these platforms, blurring the line between primary and secondary sales.
Scruffer Alternative
Instead, “The Scruffer” has an alternative — that will give you just as much enjoyment for less cost, and maybe closer to home.
“Find a good minor league park,” he says. “You’ll see hungry players, fun between-inning entertainment, and prices that let you bring the whole family.”
He’s right. That photo to the right is of Fluor Field in Greenville, SC — the home of the Red Sox Single-A team — that we have attended.
And, we suggested here in another blog for Carolina Buzz — that echoes Ken — and makes you realize baseball’s renewed popularity including the participation of more amateur players who are providing many game watching opportunities around the nation for our summer fun. And those minor leagues and local summer leagues are entertaining fans by creating their own Savannah Banana magic.
Here’s how you do both MLB, Minor Leagues, and Amateur Baseball
If you like the travel part of baseball then go here to One Travel for flights and hotels.
To find a minor league park near you, check out this link for all minor league teams and this link for the mobile app.
MLB now offers select Minor League games for free on MLB.com and the MLB app — no subscription needed. It’s a great way to preview talent or catch a game on the go.
If you’re a baseball nut and you have a hard time staying up with all Major League Baseball games, we suggest watching Quick Pitch, the daily show on MLB Network that gives you highlights from every game played the day before.
So yes, the heat and pitcher arm fatigue do give hitters an edge. But whether that makes the game more appealing is up for debate. For some, the thrill of a 450-foot bomb is worth the ticket price. For others, the charm of minor league and amateur ball — with its intimacy, affordability, and raw talent — is the real home run.
Tell us what you prefer and how you embrace Our National Pastime.
John Daly and Susan Anzalone are the Co-Creators and Co-Hosts of Undercover Jetsetter, a show on travel, food, and booze. They show you how to jet set the world and at home. They also co-authored the book, The TV Studio In Your Hand: How to Shoot, Edit & Deliver the Easy Way on Your iPhone. Join them for tips and hacks on the road, at home, or in the kitchen, and all over the world. And yes, as you will see, all on the iPhone. Susan is an expert in food and wine since her childhood days in Australia and then the United States, being the daughter of two lifelong employees of Pan Am Airlines. John is also a world traveler starting when he studied in Italy through his alma mater Providence College. John is also a Nevada Hall of Fame Broadcaster during his years as a Las Vegas news anchor at KTNV. He gained international fame as the host of the first all-video news magazine show, Real TV while also securing his bartending and mixology credentials from the Harvard Bartending School. He also played amateur baseball as a pitcher and center fielder for 15 years, then was an Assistant Coach for the West Hartford Legion baseball team. You can follow them here on the free Wingding app on the Food and Travel Channels, on YouTube, Facebook, X, and Instagram.