Tonight — in about three and a half hours, in fact — the Norfolk Tides will begin their final homestand of the 2010 season. It’s hard to believe that the entire season will already be over; it seems as though it just began. Of course, minor-league baseball runs a month less than major-league baseball, so there are still games to be followed; but I won’t likely be attending any more games in person after Friday.

Before I started datacasting and scoring, I didn’t attend nearly as many games — typically 5 a year or so. When I saw that few, it was pretty easy to remember at least the highlights of each game. Now that I’m seeing more games, it’s becoming harder to remember more than just a few events. While going to the ballpark is enjoyable, and certainly not just a job, it’s stopped becoming a special event.

Now, I enjoy the games more for the people I watch with rather than to watch the game. The inhabitants of the press box and my fellow scorers in the seats know and have opinions on baseball and what we’re seeing. Before, I would go alone to the games, observing the contest and hoping not to be near loud drunks. Now, when I’m there alone, I miss the chance to share my opinions and learn from others.

I think that’s what I may be trying to get at. Not everyone has to be, or is, a dedicated fan. Not everyone attending the game needs to track every pitch. But I have found others like me who are dedicated fans and enjoy tracking every pitch. And I thank them for making my life better.