I Know the Cowboys were terrible. They’ll get better. They can’t get worse.

This week its time to switch speeds and dedicate my column to baseball, what with the playoffs in the air and all.

But rather than bore you all by telling you how much I love the Orioles, I’m going to defend baseball.

Simply put, baseball traditionalists suck.

These people would bitch if their ice cream was cold. If the game of baseball tries any possible innovation to try and spice up the game, they groan about how it destroys the purity of the game.

How come no other sport has so many whiny old fans?

I believe that traditionalists are ruining the game of baseball and not the owners and players.

Network television barely even broadcasts baseball games anymore, attendance is down, and World Series ratings are down all due to lack of fan interest.

It is obvious that the game needs to change for the better. However, anytime owners start talking change, traditionalists bemoan the purity of the sport.

The owners then back off scared that they will lose what little fan base they have and say they were never even serious about the changes in the first place.

Other sports are constantly changing so they can increase revenues, and bring more fans and even fairness to their games.

Just to name a few changes — glow puck, instant replay, three point shot, and even rock music during play.

However, traditionalists are still crying over the designated hitter rule. The rule allows for a good hitter rather than a feeble pitcher to come bat and add more excitement to the game.

Traditionalists don’t like this one bit at all. Even though they hate inter-league play, they would only wince at its conception it if it banished the DH.

I bet football traditionalists whined at first when it was suggested that players stop playing ironman football. They did anyway, and any other idea would seem ludicrous now (except in Arena football).

I like a good pitching matchup as much as the next fan, but more offense is just more exciting.

Two years ago, right before the big baseball strike every traditionalist was screaming about the juiced ball they were sure the big leagues were using.

With no offense, sometimes baseball can be just boring, and how are young kids going to enjoy and stick with a sport that is boring?

In other words, who’s going to be watching baseball in 20 years?

I have a solution that will help solve a few of baseball’s problems.

I don’t think baseball should do it, but it just doesn’t have any other choice. We have to do it for the environment. Wood bats are killing trees by the thousands, and kids can’t play with wood bats anymore because they are getting expensive.

Children will also be more in touch with the game because they are used to the bats and will find more connection with a baseball player if they can use his baseball bat.

With labor problems close to being worked out, baseball needs a quick fix-all and a aluminum bats may just do the trick.

Cade Remsburg is a senior in journalism from Ames.