Jump to content

The question of ballhawking

SilentJames

By SilentJames
in Orioles Talk

Recommended Posts

MrOrange82 Hangout Grand Counsel

MrOrange82

Posted
Posted

I think there's a strange sense of entitlement at play on both sides of that equation. The fans shouldn't expect (or necessarily receive) a happy, smiling, photo-posing Jones as part of a negotiated exchange ("swag" for the HR ball). But AJ doesn't exactly have any claim of ownership to the HR ball, either. It was hit into the stands, good as gone. 150th HR or not, AJ's property interest in the ball wasn't any greater than it'd be for a random foul ball.

If there's anything that's really, truly "obnoxious" about the whole thing, IMO, it's that one of the fans wrote a blog post trying to make AJ look bad in front of a larger audience. Everything leading up to that is mostly a wash, though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 82
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Oriolesfan4life Major Leaguer Cup of Coffee

Oriolesfan4life

Posted
Posted

It's pretty pathetic if you ask me. Guy should get ripped for that blog entry. Grow up.

My thing is that if you are over 15, bringing a glove to a game is bush-league.

Unless you're taking your son with you and he wants you to bring your glove with you too. That is the ONLY exception.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Oriolesfan4life Major Leaguer Cup of Coffee

Oriolesfan4life

Posted
Posted
I think there's a strange sense of entitlement at play on both sides of that equation. The fans shouldn't expect (or necessarily receive) a happy, smiling, photo-posing Jones as part of a negotiated exchange ("swag" for the HR ball). But AJ doesn't exactly have any claim of ownership to the HR ball, either. It was hit into the stands, good as gone. 150th HR or not, AJ's property interest in the ball wasn't any greater than it'd be for a random foul ball.

If there's anything that's really, truly "obnoxious" about the whole thing, IMO, it's that one of the fans wrote a blog post trying to make AJ look bad in front of a larger audience. Everything leading up to that is mostly a wash, though.

But it wasn't hit into the stands. The ball in the "gap" landed between the right center field wall and the start of the bleachers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MrOrange82 Hangout Grand Counsel

MrOrange82

Posted
Posted
But it wasn't hit into the stands. The ball in the "gap" landed between the right center field wall and the start of the bleachers.

Huh...so, putting together the pieces (that evidently I skipped over), the fans used some kind of device to grab the ball before stadium personnel could get to it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Oriolesfan4life Major Leaguer Cup of Coffee

Oriolesfan4life

Posted
Posted
Huh...so, putting together the pieces (that evidently I skipped over), the fans used some kind of device to grab the ball before stadium personnel could get to it?

Yes. He wasn't even sitting in the section though, which is even worse. He pretty much ran over there to use the "device" and get the ball.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MrOrange82 Hangout Grand Counsel

MrOrange82

Posted
Posted
Yes, and evidently they will escort you out if they catch you using one during the game.

I'd like to begin my three part apology by saying that AJ is a wonderful human with great potential...

...in all seriousness, that pretty much eviscerates everything I said above. Please disregard. The fans should have counted themselves fortunate to get anything in that situation, let alone a face-to-face.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jabba72 Veteran All-Star

jabba72

Posted
Posted
I'd like to begin my three part apology by saying that AJ is a wonderful human with great potential...

...in all seriousness, that pretty much eviscerates everything I said above. Please disregard. The fans should have counted themselves fortunate to get anything in that situation, let alone a face-to-face.

Im surprised he didnt ask for dinner too, but in truth Jones wanted the ball back enough to negotiate to all these silly demands.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tx Oriole Hangout Grand Counsel

Tx Oriole

Posted
Posted
Ballhawkers, annoying child-people; or the worst? Discuss.

Personally I think the second you bring a homemade device to a game for the specific purpose to extort swag from the team - you are pretty much an awful annoying person.

If I had been lucky enough to get a ball that had some meaning to the player I

would have given the ball back to the player or to those representing the player.

No way in hell am I going to ask the player for anything. I don't do that. If they

wanted to give me something fine. Only thing AJ did wrong is agreeing to meet

the jerks in the first place. I come down on the side of AJ.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
russ snyder Major Leaguer Cup of Coffee

russ snyder

Posted
Posted
They try to make Adam look bad. I don't blame Adam, these guys are little boys. I can't believe they act this way, my how times have changed.

I'm glad I grew up when I did. To get an autograph, you would just send a letter to the player, no address needed, just in C/O the "team name". More often than not, you'd get an autographed postcard back. Meeting players was no huge deal, they didn't make a lot of money. I used to talk to Curt Motton a lot, I always did like him. I think F Robinson made 66k, which was not much then (considering what they make today). The minimum was less than what my dad made.

One of the Os pitchers (Phoebus) had a son in my class and one of the Colts O-lineman (Fred Miller) went to my church.

If this story is true, Adam Jones comes across as a class A jerk. IMO, he was upset because the guys turned down his initial offer and he had to meet the guy in person to consummate the deal. While I find the "device" thing a bit over the top, "ball hawking" is obviously a part of every day life at OPACY. In the end, these guys made a business deal with Jones, IMO we would have never heard about it if he had treated these guys with a bit of respect.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Can_of_corn Hangout Grand Counsel

Can_of_corn

Posted
Posted
If this story is true, Adam Jones comes across as a class A jerk. IMO, he was upset because the guys turned down his initial offer and he had to meet the guy in person to consummate the deal. While I find the "device" thing a bit over the top, "ball hawking" is obviously a part of every day life at OPACY. In the end, these guys made a business deal with Jones, IMO we would have never heard about it if he had treated these guys with a bit of respect.

If they had followed the actual rules then Jones would have ended up with the ball anyway. They didn't. They deserved to get escorted from the premises.

The second they wanted more then the bat Jones just should have just let them keep the ball. Big whoop #150.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
russ snyder Major Leaguer Cup of Coffee

russ snyder

Posted
Posted
If they had followed the actual rules then Jones would have ended up with the ball anyway. They didn't. They deserved to get escorted from the premises.

The second they wanted more then the bat Jones just should have just let them keep the ball. Big whoop #150.

I'm not going to argue your first point. I'm shocked that they showed a picture of the "device",

I agree also that Jones had every right to turn down their deal. However, he chose to accept their deal. The least he could have done from a PR standpoint is to treat them with a bit of respect. It's not their faultAdam cut a bad deal for # 150. I hope that he does not curse or pout at the people who retrieve # 200.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
FlipTheBird All-Star

FlipTheBird

Posted
Posted
I'm not going to argue your first point. I'm shocked that they showed a picture of the "device",

I agree also that Jones had every right to turn down their deal. However, he chose to accept their deal. The least he could have done from a PR standpoint is to treat them with a bit of respect. It's not their faultAdam cut a bad deal for # 150. I hope that he does not curse or pout at the people who retrieve # 200.

Keep in mind we're only getting their side of the story, too. For all we know, they were complete tools to Jones when he came out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • Just Regular
      Offense is down in MLB this year — but not in Baltimore

      By Just Regular · Posted

      Its worth mentioning those 2023 Braves also have the seasonal wRC+ record since integration, beating the peak Astros, Big Red Machine, Harvey's Wallbangers, whatever Jeter/Manny Yankees/Red Sox unit is your favorite, etc. The 2024 Orioles and Braves are on top of them all right now if you split seasons, but that's just like Luis Arraez hitting .450 25 games into the season.    I believe Sigbot expects Holliday, Mayo and Basallo to all be more than Westburg, so either Elias is going to get his biggest bust sometime in the next few years or there's a chance the run production will be pretty special. https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&month=0&ind=1&team=0%2Cts&startdate=&enddate=&season1=1947&season=2024&sortcol=18&sortdir=default&pagenum=1
    • DirtyBird
      Who is "selling" this year?

      By DirtyBird · Posted

      This is probably correct, but I could see things getting ugly for them if they are complacent. They need to win at a 60% rate from here out to reach 90 wins this season. That could be tough.
    • Bemorewins
      Who Should Be Extension Priority #1?

      By Bemorewins · Posted

      I agree completely. It is a risk. But IMO the potential reward is worth the risk. You can’t make the shots that you are unwilling to take.
    • Orioles West
      I have to admit. I'm an addict.

      By Orioles West · Posted

      I mostly agree about players generally being able to deal better than us with the ups and downs, but I recall Hyde saying how hard those losing seasons were and he wasn’t sure how much more he could take. That aside, I am as addicted as Roy and a lot of us hear who love the game and the Birds in particular.
    • Frobby
      Craig Kimbrel 2024

      By Frobby · Posted

      Not a ton of relievers in the Hall of Fame.   KRod at 437 saves has gotten 10.8% and 7.8% of the votes in his first two tries; Lee Smith at 478 saves got into the HOF only through selection by the Today’s Game Era Committee.   I’d say the odds are against Kimbrel being elected by the writers unless he ends up somewhere north of 500 saves, and even then he’d be no sure thing.    Pretty good shot that Kimbrel passes KRod this year and finishes the season 4th or 5th on the all time saves list, depending what Kenley Jensen (one ahead of him) does the rest of the year.      
    • AdamK
      I have to admit. I'm an addict.

      By AdamK · Posted

      No doubt. As I was about to settle into bed last night to wait for the Os game to start (west coast start time, after all) my wife came in and casually said "Os won, that's good" as she was putzing around the room. Not knowing it was a day game and it had been played hours ago my first reaction was "damnit, what?!" instead of "oh cool".   Addict.  
    • Too Tall
      Off-season Qualifying Offer Question

      By Too Tall · Posted

      This is spot on. You make the offer if there is need and he projects as worth that amount within the context of what else you play to do financially. Does he fit into your total budget plan if he accepts? If he's still here in September, we will have a better feel for the situation.

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...