It’s spring. A time when a young man’s fancy turns to baseball, a passion that bewilders many. And in times as troubling as these, it seems baseball’s lure grows stronger.

For those who may not fully appreciate the attraction this game holds, but are willing to at least seek first to understand, I offer the following three items:

1. The James Earl Jones Speech. It occurs in the pivotal moments of the best movie of all time, “Field of Dreams.” It’s two minutes, and it’s available here.

2. Randy Newman’s “The Natural” Soundtrack. Just listening to this gives you magical powers to hit a tiny orb out of the park.

3. Jeff Westover’s Two Recent Baseball Posts. Baseball has a way of dissolving the years between the generations, a dissolve that was sorely tested by the Barry Bonds/Mark McGwire steroid scandal years. In Rethinking Roger Maris, Jeffrey takes us back to the original home run leader. And in Head Games, Jeff reminds us of that pitcher-hitter duel that takes place at least six times each inning.

Jeff writes from time to time on baseball, and I confess I’m always a sucker for a good baseball post. The only flaw in his analysis, as far as I can see, is an inexplicable fondness for the Giants. But for the sake of baseball, let’s set aside those differences and just enjoy.

With everything that’s going on in the world, sometimes you just need a good baseball post. (Especially since come this fall, it may be the only major sport left to follow for those of us in the U.S.)

Thanks to Jeff Westover for supplying this sweet diversion courtesy of America’s favorite pastime.

When he’s not blogging about baseball, Jeff is “a new media journalist” based in Salt Lake City, Utah. He’s a career counselor, human resource manager, business executive and entrepeneur who freelances on topics ranging from business to parenting (something he’s well qualified for, as the dad of seven children).

Read his latest post here.