2011 MLB Season Thread

[cameroncrazie07]

The guy certainly is a dumbass for leaning over the railing to catch a ball. If he doesn't lean over the railing, he'd still be alive. And he died because he wanted a $5 baseball.

Dude, really? I agree that he shouldn't have leaned over the railing, but there's no need to be so insensitive about it.

If I really wanted to be insensitive about it, I'd have posted what I said to my girlfriend and our roommate last night: "Just God's way of taking out the trash.".

He lost his life trying to catch a $5 baseball. Doesn't matter what his intentions were after he caught the ball, but he did something foolish to get the ball. Perfect word for the situation is "dumbass".....

Wow. That's not the image I had of you.

Agreed just wow man. Very very heartless.

[The Six]

I don't get the pronunciation of Peter Bourjos. The way they say it, his last name rhymes with "gorgeous." But it looks like a Spanish-rooted name that should be more like "boor-hos."

[infrared41]

The guy certainly is a dumbass for leaning over the railing to catch a ball. If he doesn't lean over the railing, he'd still be alive. And he died because he wanted a $5 baseball.

Dude, really? I agree that he shouldn't have leaned over the railing, but there's no need to be so insensitive about it.

If I really wanted to be insensitive about it, I'd have posted what I said to my girlfriend and our roommate last night: "Just God's way of taking out the trash.".

He lost his life trying to catch a $5 baseball. Doesn't matter what his intentions were after he caught the ball, but he did something foolish to get the ball. Perfect word for the situation is "dumbass".....

MLB game balls are a 12 dollar baseball.

EDIT: Wait a minute. Did I really just see someone going by the name of "Dr. AwesomeBerry?"

[mania]

A few really good articles on the subject.

Richard Durrett - Co-workers mourn Shannon Stone

Joey Matschulat - The Morning After the Fall

Jeff Passan - Fan?s pursuit of gift for son ends in tragedy

[FiddySicks]

I don't get why everyone always gets so offended when someone doesn't feel completely awful for someone when they die. Death is as much a part of life as living in the first place. We're all going to get there eventually, some of us are just going to get there quicker and in suckier/ funnier ways than others. It's part of the whole scheme of things. If you don't find a way to make light of it and put it in perspective a bit it just makes the inevitable all that much worse. Sure it sucks for that kid, but he's not the only young kid to lose a parent, and most people wont get the settlement his family will probably get when they lose someone. And going along with what Headley said, if his last thoughts weren't somewhere along the lines of ", I'm a dumbass", I'd be pretty surprised. So give the guy a Darwin award, and hope his family doesn't suffer too much emotionally or financially.

But I say this as someone who's so awfully afraid of heights that I wouldn't even sit in those seats in the first place. Call it self preservation.

[Lights Out]

Nobody's expecting anyone to grieve like they're a part of the man's family or anything, but I'm guessing the first thought that comes to a normal person's mind when they hear that story isn't "Wow, he's a dumbass, he had it coming".

[FiddySicks]

I guess in just not "normal" then. My first thought was that Rangers fans need balance practice.

[infrared41]

Nobody's expecting anyone to grieve like they're a part of the man's family or anything, but I'm guessing the first thought that comes to a normal person's mind when they hear that story isn't "Wow, he's a dumbass, he had it coming".

Fair points, but I also think that the reaction to Hedley's comment sort of proves what Bucfan is saying. Whenever something like this happens, it usually turns into a race to see who can show the most empathy around here.

If it turns out that the guy that fell was drinking at the game, well, all of a sudden Hedley won't seem to "awful." And let's be honest here, there is a bit of "dumbass" in going after a ball when you're sitting in a place where you could easily fall. Do I think the guy "had it coming?" No. Do I think he was a bit of a dumbass for leaning over a rail to catch a baseball? Yeah, a little. Do I feel bad for his family? Yes. Well, as much as I can feel bad for people I don't know anyway.

[mania]

I don't think it would matter if he was an alcoholic with a deathwish, as opposed to everything else I've seen about this. His 4 year old son still watched him plummet to his death while his dad was trying to do something nice to him. Even if you're a sociopath mother:censored:er, you should still understand why people would be upset by that.

[Still MIGHTY]

I don't get the pronunciation of Peter Bourjos. The way they say it, his last name rhymes with "gorgeous." But it looks like a Spanish-rooted name that should be more like "boor-hos."

Apparently, it's a Greek last name. I thought the same way you did, until I heard the announcers say his name. Even then, I thought they were mispronouncing it. Even still when I read the name I want to say "boor-hos," but it's almost easier to just say it aloud and not think of it. Also easier when I just call him gorgeous Bourjos

In other news, the #1 prospect in the bigs is making his debut tonight in Anaheim. Peter Bourjos left last night's game with a leg injury, so the Angels have brought up Mike Trout from AA. He'll be the youngest player in the MLB at 19.

And I am excited beyond belief, but still cautious.

We've heard so many things about this kid for a long time. He's been pumped up real huge around here. He truly could be the next great thing, and I want to see that from him (even if he'd probably go back once Bourjos is better, since there would be nowhere to put him with Wells/Bourjos/Hunter/Abreu). But as Angel fans, we've also had to sit through the Dallas McPhersons and Brandon Woods of the world.

Good luck to ya, Mike Trout. Hopefully you can join Tim Salmon in the Angels hall of fishy greats

[Seadragon76]

Oh, goodie... Looks like the M's are going.... *puts on some cheaply made sunglasses* ... Trout Hunting.

*YEAHHH!!*

(As for the fallen Rangers fan: I know getting a baseball is worth something, but to risk your own life over it... Well, that's not exactly something worth doing. Not to mention the fact that he landed on concrete head first. Ugh... I'm shocked the scene wasn't any more gruesome)

[LMU]

I don't get the pronunciation of Peter Bourjos. The way they say it, his last name rhymes with "gorgeous." But it looks like a Spanish-rooted name that should be more like "boor-hos."

Apparently, it's a Greek last name. I thought the same way you did, until I heard the announcers say his name. Even then, I thought they were mispronouncing it. Even still when I read the name I want to say "boor-hos," but it's almost easier to just say it aloud and not think of it. Also easier when I just call him gorgeous Bourjos

And here I thought it was French, and I kept pronouncing it "burr-joe" Learn something new every day

[Shumway]

I don't get the pronunciation of Peter Bourjos. The way they say it, his last name rhymes with "gorgeous." But it looks like a Spanish-rooted name that should be more like "boor-hos."

Apparently, it's a Greek last name. I thought the same way you did, until I heard the announcers say his name. Even then, I thought they were mispronouncing it. Even still when I read the name I want to say "boor-hos," but it's almost easier to just say it aloud and not think of it. Also easier when I just call him gorgeous Bourjos

And here I thought it was French, and I kept pronouncing it "burr-joe" Learn something new every day

Just as long as it's never pronounced 'Reggie Willits', I don't care what they call him.

[DDR]

Nobody's expecting anyone to grieve like they're a part of the man's family or anything, but I'm guessing the first thought that comes to a normal person's mind when they hear that story isn't "Wow, he's a dumbass, he had it coming".

Fair points, but I also think that the reaction to Hedley's comment sort of proves what Bucfan is saying. Whenever something like this happens, it usually turns into a race to see who can show the most empathy around here.

If it turns out that the guy that fell was drinking at the game, well, all of a sudden Hedley won't seem to "awful." And let's be honest here, there is a bit of "dumbass" in going after a ball when you're sitting in a place where you could easily fall. Do I think the guy "had it coming?" No. Do I think he was a bit of a dumbass for leaning over a rail to catch a baseball? Yeah, a little. Do I feel bad for his family? Yes. Well, as much as I can feel bad for people I don't know anyway.

I think the whole "just God taking out the trash" comment was more objectionable than the "dumbass" label.

[cameroncrazie07]

Nobody's expecting anyone to grieve like they're a part of the man's family or anything, but I'm guessing the first thought that comes to a normal person's mind when they hear that story isn't "Wow, he's a dumbass, he had it coming".

Fair points, but I also think that the reaction to Hedley's comment sort of proves what Bucfan is saying. Whenever something like this happens, it usually turns into a race to see who can show the most empathy around here.

If it turns out that the guy that fell was drinking at the game, well, all of a sudden Hedley won't seem to "awful." And let's be honest here, there is a bit of "dumbass" in going after a ball when you're sitting in a place where you could easily fall. Do I think the guy "had it coming?" No. Do I think he was a bit of a dumbass for leaning over a rail to catch a baseball? Yeah, a little. Do I feel bad for his family? Yes. Well, as much as I can feel bad for people I don't know anyway.

I think the whole "just God taking out the trash" comment was more objectionable than the "dumbass" label.

Agreed, that was almost worse than some of the trolls comments on the ESPN.com article on this. Some of them were just ridiculous. And I'm not saying that we all need to feel so much sorrow for this guy like he was our relative, but in no way should we be saying "just God taking out the trash". If he was a jobless drunk with no family and was doing something ridiculously stupid, then maybe that comment is correct. Still probably not. But this guy was a firefighter trying to get a ball for his 4 year old son. In no way was God "taking out the trash" here.

[Top Shelf]

Yankees/Rays rained out, so Jeter's pursuit of 3,000 hits will have to wait another day.

[infrared41]

I don't think it would matter if he was an alcoholic with a deathwish, as opposed to everything else I've seen about this. His 4 year old son still watched him plummet to his death while his dad was trying to do something nice to him. Even if you're a sociopath mother:censored:er, you should still understand why people would be upset by that.

True, but we also shouldn't be upset with people who aren't upset about it. Don't get me wrong, I think what happened was awful, but let's not brand Hedley as some sort of monster just because he's not as upset about it as everyone thinks he should be. That's the only point I'm trying to make.

[Lee.]

What Red said. My heart goes completely out the guy's son, as I'm sure any parent's would.

Some of you guys tend to go way overboard when someone you don't know dies or gets injured or anything else. It's an outpouring of faux-emotion, and there's no real need for it other than to try to outdo each other with platitudes and metaphors. Guy died. Life goes on for the rest of us. There's ONE known Rangers fan on the boards, let him be sad for the rest of us if he wants to be.

[mania]

There's ONE known Rangers fan on the boards, let him be sad for the rest of us if he wants to be.

I don't have an issue with people not caring, but I did think that Hedley was being a about it.

That being said, how's there one Rangers fan on the boards? Rainmaker, Perfect Zero, AwesomeBerry, vicfurth, myself, and that's just off the top of my head.

[Lights Out]

I don't have an issue with people not caring, but I did think that Hedley was being a about it.

Agreed. I wasn't trying to ignite a platitude contest - I hate those. But there's no need to be a dick about a man's death.