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Wow, this is a horrible story.

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/ne ... id=6747510

Agreed, that is a horrible story.

I can understand being excited to have a major leaguer throw you a ball when you yell for it (I caught one from Dante Bichette at Coors Field in 1995)...but what I don't get is why the mind thinks the body has to lean out to make the catch. One of those deals where the mind got a little too comfortable and just lost body control. Sad news.

Man, I really feel sorry for the young son that watched all of this happen.

Replay shown at the 0:55 mark:

[youtube][/youtube]

What is that about a 9 foot fall? Had to be something down there sharp he landed on to die.

Gotta feel for the guy who threw the ball. He's going to be second-guessing himself for a long time to come, whether it be for the trajectory or for throwing it at all. Looking at it from the outside, it's hard to see how one can be blamed for trying to make a fan's dream come true, but being in the situation oneself is much different.

1. Hamilton threw the ball... my guess is - he'll be spending some time talking to his sponsor about this... (not that i'd blame him one bit... the unjustified guilt would be horrible)

2. Normally - I'd make a crack about a fan being stupid - but as it is - he paid the ultimate price - bad enough - but to have his little boy watch it all... that's just fucking awful... how does a little kid live with that? I can't even imagine...

The A's broadcasters are going to have some apologizing to do for laughing at that...

What's strange is - in watching he video - it looks almost comical... certainly not fatal...

eagleskins wrote:What is that about a 9 foot fall? Had to be something down there sharp he landed on to die.

about 20 feet - apparently that void is a few feet below field level... or at least that's how the Star-Telegram described it...

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:The A's broadcasters are going to have some apologizing to do for laughing at that...

What's strange is - in watching he video - it looks almost comical... certainly not fatal...

Your second comment kinda contradicts your first one.

89Hen wrote:

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:The A's broadcasters are going to have some apologizing to do for laughing at that...

What's strange is - in watching he video - it looks almost comical... certainly not fatal...

Your second comment kinda contradicts your first one.

Yeah, I can't hold anything against the broadcasters. With not knowing the outcome, it is a comical-looking fall. It's only after you realize he probably went down head first like a lawn dart for 20 feet (about quadruple what can be seen) that you swallow and stop laughing.

You know what they say about hindsight.

This appears to be a serious design oversight in the stadium. Should be an interesting lawsuit.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:1. Hamilton threw the ball... my guess is - he'll be spending some time talking to his sponsor about this... (not that i'd blame him one bit... the unjustified guilt would be horrible)

2. Normally - I'd make a crack about a fan being stupid - but as it is - he paid the ultimate price - bad enough - but to have his little boy watch it all... that's just **** awful... how does a little kid live with that? I can't even imagine...

Yeah, Hamilton I'm sure is feeling sooooo sick about this...gosh I can't imagine what is going through his head.

But that kid...having to be all alone after the incident too and watching what happened...yuck.

As a Dad with three boys, just thinking about the Dad dying and the little kid there watching it happen (although the Dad was amazing conscious and talking as he was being stretchered away - he died later) that just breaks my heart.

89Hen wrote:

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:The A's broadcasters are going to have some apologizing to do for laughing at that...

What's strange is - in watching he video - it looks almost comical... certainly not fatal...

Your second comment kinda contradicts your first one.

I'm not saying it's right or it's fair... I'm saying that they will have to... that's how these things go. They had no way of knowing... and so they'll be apologizing...

GannonFan wrote:As a Dad with three boys, just thinking about the Dad dying and the little kid there watching it happen (although the Dad was amazing conscious and talking as he was being stretchered away - he died later) that just breaks my heart.

apparently - as he was being wheeled out - all he kept saying is "my son is up there all alone - make sure he's safe"...

GannonFan wrote:As a Dad with three boys, just thinking about the Dad dying and the little kid there watching it happen (although the Dad was amazing conscious and talking as he was being stretchered away - he died later) that just breaks my heart.

I'm with you 100%. I can't get this story out of my mind today.

JoltinJoe wrote:

GannonFan wrote:As a Dad with three boys, just thinking about the Dad dying and the little kid there watching it happen (although the Dad was amazing conscious and talking as he was being stretchered away - he died later) that just breaks my heart.

I'm with you 100%. I can't get this story out of my mind today.

Bad shit happens every day. Grow up.

93henfan wrote: This appears to be a serious design oversight in the stadium. Should be an interesting lawsuit.

this occurance is certainly a tragedy.

but I see no cause for a lawsuit.
there was a sufficient railing in place. 'tis not the stadium designer's fault that someone leaned out over the railing too far.

JayJ79 wrote:

93henfan wrote: This appears to be a serious design oversight in the stadium. Should be an interesting lawsuit.

this occurance is certainly a tragedy.

but I see no cause for a lawsuit.
there was a sufficient railing in place. 'tis not the stadium designer's fault that someone leaned out over the railing too far.

I hear you. Every code was exceeded in the stadium. The Rangers are probably technically clear.

However, I think they need to completely rethink safety in their stadium. It seems to have become a very fall-happy location. At the very least, I'd consider either closing all potential gaps and/or possibly adding catch nets, if that is an engineering possibility.

The good thing is I've read the Dallas newspaper online quite a bit the past couple of days and it seems like the Rangers are trying their best to do right by the family. They are addressing everything head-on (no pun intended) and have already set up a trust for the kid with a "substantial financial contribution" as a seed.

Good on 'em. That would make me far less apt to aggressively pursue litigation.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar11 ... id=6759862

PHOENIX -- Keith Carmickle and his friends had already caught three balls during Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby Monday night and wanted more.

He nearly got a lot more: a headfirst fall to a pool deck about 20 feet below.

Keith Carmickle nearly fell 20 feet headfirst Monday before being caught by his friend and his brother.
Chasing a home run hit by Milwaukee's Prince Fielder, Carmickle was saved from a long fall when his brother and a friend grabbed him around the legs and arms, then pulled him back as he dangled above the deck area behind the pool in right field at Chase Field.

personally, I just don't consider a baseball (especially one hit in glorified batting practice) worth risking one's life over.

dbackjon wrote:

wow, what a moron

JayJ79 wrote:

dbackjon wrote:

wow, what a moron

Yup. Unlike the unfortunate guy at the Rangers game, this guy was just asking for it.

BTW, jon, who gets to swim in the pool? Seemed funny that people were swimming during the contest last night.