IGT--Phillies @ Mets, 08/13/10

[Centerfield]

I have to say last night was one of the best game experiences I've ever had. The weather was perfect, we had great seats, and the kids were really excited and happy.


Couple of cool things:

*When Hamels got the hit, I had a good feeling RA was going to throw a one-hitter with that being the only hit. The crowd showered him with love after the game. I can't imagine how cool it must have been for him. You really have to feel good for a guy like that.

*Because we listen to games in the car, Ryan thinks the chant goes "Let's Go Mets! F-A-N!"

*Stella gets all excited when the crowd cheers. Her eyes get big, she claps, and looks genuinely shocked that when the Mets score a run. She also likes french fries from Nathan's.





*The kids love the black. Given license to pick out anything in the store my nephew chose the black alternate jersey and the black hat.





*Ryan, given similar license, picked out the giant foam finger. Given the way the season has gone, I was half expecting to see these utilizing a different digit...





*Ryan rounded up a posse of fellow dabidrye fans to go after the asshole who fucked up Hessman's HR. Security won't talk about it because this crew roughed him up something fierce




*The boys got a turn at the Whiffle ball field





*And the batting cage





*Earlier this year, Edgy predicted that the Mets were going to do something special to win over my nephew's fanhood. Last night was it. He says Dickey is his favorite pitcher not named Santana.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

*Ryan rounded up a posse of fellow dabidrye fans to go after the asshole who fucked up Hessman's HR. Security won't talk about it because this crew roughed him up something fierce
[/quote:2ggdcg25]


dying over here

[Guest Edgy DC]

New York at its best here. Who is that guy on the right? How does he get lower-level seats at CitiField?



I feel like I've seen that guy him dozens of times and usually end up describing him to police at the end of the evening.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

You really can't go wrong with Giant Foam Finger. All the fun of MiniHockeyStick or MiniBat without the contusions.

*Earlier this year, Edgy predicted that the Mets were going to do something special to win over my nephew's fanhood. Last night was it. He says Dickey is his favorite pitcher not named Santana.

[Guest themetfairy]

Great photos CF - I'm glad that you and the kids were at such a wonderful game

[Guest Edgy DC]

Funny how Citi's security officers wear Schmidt-era Philies-colored windbreakers and hats.

[Guest Edgy DC]

"Nice look, boys, but not quite!"

[Met Hunter]

I think an amazing aspect of the Mets inability to pitch a no hitter is that four times they pitched a one hitter and the one hit was by the opposing pitcher. Four times. That's amazing. It's never gonna happen.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It'll happen.

[Benjamin Grimm]

And when it does, it will be very anti-climactic.

I no longer care much about this.

[Zvon]

Ump quotes:

�The feeds that we had from the replay, the fan reaches over the fence, hits his hand and knocks the ball down,� [crew chief Tom] Hallion said. �And in our judgment, would not have gotten out of the ballpark.�
[Hallion insisted that] �it�s so hard because the angle is looking from home plate out.� ... �We did our best,� ... �Of course an umpire wants to get a call right.�
Asked why Hessman was awarded third � instead of the more conventional decision to give him a double � Hallion said, �There was fan interference. It�s our judgment of where he would have been if there was no fan interference.�




NY Post: In left field, fan Dave Fisher said security kicked the interfering fan out [although] a security guard in the section said he could not talk about it when asked if the fan was booted.



Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/upon_further_and_further_review_DR27cScxK3KdvC4UtSYB0M#ixzz0wa7xrgZT[/quote:35aszvr5]

Firstly:
The fan was a bonehead, no doubt. But unless they put up an 8 foot railing there above the left field wall, or a moat (the Phils have a lil flower moat) that fans cannot reach over, he did nothing that deserved official punishment. Interference, sure, he happened to be sitting in a spot where he could get a hand on a fair ball.
And half the time, a person that can, will.
I know the rule about a ball in play, but still.
Then again, I even have an issue with fans being ejected for touching balls down the lines. I think that the ruling that the ump can use his discretion as to awarding the batter a base is a good logical thing. That the fan should be punished for, in the heat of the moment, doing what to him comes naturally,....well, I've always had a problem with this rule. If its going to be that way, make it so it's not something that can occur so easily.

Fans, like managers, players, and umps, can make mistakes. If you allow them to be so close (which I prefer) that they can become part of a play, then, that's the way it goes.

Secondly:
I wish I had a screen shot of the side view that was shown on Comcast Sports Net. I would love to post it.
You could easily just draw a line from the original trajectory (before the fan deflected its path) of the baseball to see where it would have hit the wall.
That the umps did not have this view available just bayboggles my mind.
This is MLB.
If they are going to do this home run review thing, they have to have EVERY POSSIBLE VIEW available for review.
I don't care if they come from different sources.
Or they should have cameras installed in strategic spots for just such reviews (as suggested here).
This is MLB, come on already.

[Frayed Knot]

What the umps see when they go to the 'replay room' comes from MLB headquarters in NYC and they DO have access to all available angles whether from home or road team feeds.

As far as what happens when a fan interferes with the ball:

- the part about umpire's discretion as to where to place the batter comes from the idea that the interference can come at various points in the play and therefore they use their judgement as to what would have happened had it not occurred. It's different from a 'ground rule' where a batted or thrown ball goes directly out of play and the remedy is automatic.

- ejecting the fan is an individual stadium decision and not a rule from baseball as a whole. The problem with NOT punishing it is that it would lead to even more occurrences than what you have now. If the ball's in play then leave it alone!!

[Zvon]

What the umps see when they go to the 'replay room' comes from MLB headquarters in NYC and they DO have access to all available angles whether from home or road team feeds.

As far as what happens when a fan interferes with the ball:

- the part about umpire's discretion as to where to place the batter comes from the idea that the interference can come at various points in the play and therefore they use their judgement as to what would have happened had it not occurred. It's different from a 'ground rule' where a batted or thrown ball goes directly out of play and the remedy is automatic.

- ejecting the fan is an individual stadium decision and not a rule from baseball as a whole. The problem with NOT punishing it is that it would lead to even more occurrences than what you have now. If the ball's in play then leave it alone!!