Ah, summer love.

And I’m not talking about that shit John Travolta was singing about in Grease.

I’m talking about that relationship we’ve all had at one point in our lives over the summer months, that wasn’t so much about “love” but about having someone to go to late in the game – like a solid closer in baseball – if you know what I’m sayin’?

For the most part, summer relationships are there to kill time and fill the space between the end of the school year and the start of it. For a young man, the fall, especially in your university run, is like the NFL Draft for potential girlfriends. There's talent at every corner and every class.

The summer months, while they’re carefree and lack the daily grind of school, are more like the CFL Draft – you really need to put in some serious scouting if you want to find a gem.

And chances are, at one point, you’ve dropped your summer gal just in time for the school season, and its buffet-style dating options. It’s a cruel reality in the relationship game, one that is mirrored in the world of sports betting each and every fall.

Baseball has been sports bettors’ summer fling since the NBA Finals wrapped in June. She’s been there every day to get you through this slow period in action, but you were never really in love with her and most days, didn’t even feel like having her around.

Sure, you had some good times. Like that five-game parlay you nailed in July or jumping on the Pirates before they became headline news. But, deep down, you have been counting the days until the fall, just knowing something better was around the bend.

And with the start of the NFL preseason this Thursday, plenty of bettors are going to be sending baseball a short and sweet break-up email or they might just do what many of us did, and just stop calling. Baseball will get the idea.

She’ll try to wow us with her flashy playoff races and pennant battles, but even a slutty World Series matchup won’t be enough to win most gamblers back. By that time, sports bettors will have already been nailing college football for a while and will be falling head over heels for the NFL.

So, whether you plan on calling it quits with MLB this week or will ride it out until the college sked begins in September, just remember to let baseball down easy – you’re going to need her again next summer.

It’s not you baseball. It’s me. I just think I should start seeing other sports…