this is pretty pathetic. walking the best player to get to the cancer survivor and strike him out.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/rick_reilly/08/07/reilly0814/index.html
2006-08-11 07:25:44 · 17 answers · asked by Aaron 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
The story sums it up pretty well... The coaches let their egos and desire to win the championship overtake common sense by picking on the less fortunate kid. Yeah, it's a game and games are played to be won and lost, but in this type of league, where it's supposed to be more about fun than winning, these coaches got it all wrong... (Of course, their team was the Yankees -- even in youth league baseball the Yankees are the Evil Empire!)
2006-08-11 07:37:14 · answer #1 · answered by rangersfan34 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If he were afraid of striking out then maybe he shouldn't have been playing baseball. If his team was better, his striking out shouldn't have been the deciding factor. Yet every person on a team needs to be able to perform. It almost sounds like he was only on the team to help his own morale, not to help his team win. Wouldn't it been worse for the other team to basically throw the game just so the cancer survivor could be happy? Why should the cancer survivor be treated special anyway. Is he a better than all the other kids on the team?
The article tries to portray it as a "kick a guy when he's down" type of scenario. Yet they did pitch to him, he had a chance to win it all. If he got a hit and won, the other team's kids would have been the ones crying themselves to sleep.
PS. The story sounds like one of those urban legend stories, even though the author says it really happened.
2006-08-11 07:50:33 · answer #2 · answered by dlobryan1 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I played in a league with the same rules. During the regular season, you never intentionally walk someone unless you're desperate. In the championship, it's understandable. I think that the pitcher should've pitched around the good hitter, not intentionally walked him. Besides, think of how great it would be if the cancer survivor got a game-winning hit. At least he had a shot at glory.
By the way, why was the worst hitter after the best one? I assume that even in that league, the lineups are somewhat organized.
2006-08-11 09:59:07 · answer #3 · answered by x 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why is it pathetic isn't the point of playing baseball to win the game?
This was the championship we're talking about, of course the coach wants to win the game. Imagine if the cancer survivor gets the hit, it's all over the news for that reason.
2006-08-11 07:32:41 · answer #4 · answered by JerseyRick 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just finished reading the story. For some reason I think it was a load of bullshit. Does anyone have a link to this story from some other source. It just seems like everyone quoted said exactly what you all wanted to hear, you know, like fiction?
If this IS a true story, then answer me this:
Had the Yankees not walked the best player and let him hit, for the mere point of adhering to the weaker kids ailment, would anyone have even noticed the coaches nice gesture?
2006-08-11 08:45:50 · answer #5 · answered by tribe2437 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats baseball...and it was the championship game...im sure the cancer survivor doesnt want to b labeled that...he wants to b a player...they treated him as a player...and ya he struck out...just a good move. You gotta do what u gotta do to win. IF it would have been a different kid hitting behind the best player they would of walked him to... they didnt walk him to pick on the other hitter
2006-08-11 08:13:58 · answer #6 · answered by matthew 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cancer survivor or not, if the kid wasn't ready to play at that level then he shouldn't have been out there in the first place. I'm a cancer survivor and I wouldn't want special treatment!
2006-08-11 07:52:47 · answer #7 · answered by Slim 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, not pathetic. The objective is to win. It may seem like a harsh thing to do, but this is sports and you have to learn some lessons the hard way. And if the result was the kid hit the game winning home run, everyone would think it is great.
2006-08-11 07:52:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its not nice but its baseball, in the championship game! It wouldn't be as bad if it looked liked the pitcher did an unintentional walk.
Why is the best hitter before the worst anyway? I'm sure its not the first time its happened. The best hitters bat in 3, 4, and 5 spots
2006-08-11 07:33:45 · answer #9 · answered by jake 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The coach put winning the game before remembering why he is a coach at that level. Teach the game as a kids game. Ever notice when kids have a pick me up game among themselves, ther is no fighting, yelling cursing. Just kids having fun and playing the game as it was meant to be. Baseball is suppose to be fun No coach should ever take that away
2006-08-11 08:04:41 · answer #10 · answered by baseballjohn48 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋