SB Nation Atlanta Editor's Pick
The Reception Derrek Lee Could Likely Receive at Wrigley.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 20, 2010 11:13 AM EDT
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PrintI saw a comment in yesterday's trade thread here asking what would happen if Derrek Lee were to hit a home run this weekend. Here's what I believe the reception will be. This is based partly upon my own experience and also upon what I remember about fan favorites changing teams.
-Batting practice: Lee will likely get a very loud reception from the Cubs fans inside Wrigley Field, and if he does indeed launch any home runs during BP, the fans in the outfield bleachers will scramble for them probably more than any other members of the Atlanta roster.
-First at-bat: Lee will likely receive an ovation, maybe even a standing ovation from the Cubs fans, in recognition of his years of playing first for the Cubs. He single-handedly carried the team in 2005, and many Cubs fans still like him despite the trade.
-Close plays at first: My guess is that the fans will applaud close plays, especially athletic ones, because Lee made numerous plays such as digging poorly-thrown relay throws out of the dirt or diving to his left or right to rob opposing batters of base hits.
-Home runs: I get the feeling any home run balls Lee hit will be thrown back. I'm basing this upon my experience sitting in the bleachers for a Sunday Night Cubs-Phillies game, and the fans threw back the Phillies' home run balls that night. This included a young boy who caught what I am guessing was his first home run, and the fans in that area were yelling at him to throw it back.
If you have any further questions about the possible reception Lee will likely receive, ask in the comments and I'll try to answer them as well as I can.
P.S.: There's a fire station across the street from Wrigley Field, just in case the Braves' broadcast booth catches fire.
This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.
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wrigley
they usually throw any opponents home run balls back not just the phillies. I think that if they boo DLee it would be aimed more and the cubs front office not at him.
"You play to win the game" -Herm Edwards
With the way this season has gone,
That is a distinct possibility.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Mount Washington conquered July 5, 2010! State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 20, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Lee will get cheered, the Cubs may get booed though.
Really, how many Braves get boos other then Chipper really? Only thing I can think of is J-Hey getting boos in San Fran to start the year.
Not many.
I definitely would be surprised if DLee heard any boos.
Also, if he hits a home run, I get the feeling most people will be cheering.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Mount Washington conquered July 5, 2010! State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 20, 2010 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Isn’t that more a reflection of how the Cubs’ season has gone?
"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton
Not really.
DLee was a fan favorite, and he has been one for years. Hence why I think he might be applauded if he hits a home run.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Mount Washington conquered July 5, 2010! State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 20, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
This
And Cubs fans are generally pretty loyal. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him get solid applause throughout the series.
If Albert played in the AFL, they’d have to rename it the AZ/NM Fall League, based on where his homers landed.
Me either.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Mount Washington conquered July 5, 2010! State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 20, 2010 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions
The “throw it back” tradition has to be one of the dumbest in sports.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com
Yup. What if you accidently hit a player on the head and give them a serious injury? That would be awful.
"Tony Gwynn made sacrifices. Cal Ripken made sacrifices. I'm not sure Derek Jeter made sacrifices given the ungodly deep pockets the Yankees have." - Chipper Jones
by MBL1 on Aug 20, 2010 12:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
How many fans are going to have the accuracy and arm strength to throw a ball that would injure an MLB player?
Very few.
"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton
Didn’t you see Rookie of the Year?
I fed a fish to a pelican and Frisco bay and he tried to eat my cell phone he ran away
I was just joking. But it is a pretty dumb tradition. Heck, if I catch a baseball, I’m keeping it!
"Tony Gwynn made sacrifices. Cal Ripken made sacrifices. I'm not sure Derek Jeter made sacrifices given the ungodly deep pockets the Yankees have." - Chipper Jones
by MBL1 on Aug 20, 2010 1:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The guys I sat with on July 18 are season ticket holders.
They actually have a “throw back” ball ready just in case someone hits a HR to them.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Mount Washington conquered July 5, 2010! State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 20, 2010 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I saw something like that on ESPN, the guy caught a homer and threw back another ball. Sneaky.
"Tony Gwynn made sacrifices. Cal Ripken made sacrifices. I'm not sure Derek Jeter made sacrifices given the ungodly deep pockets the Yankees have." - Chipper Jones
by MBL1 on Aug 20, 2010 1:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Wouldn't surprise me at all.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Mount Washington conquered July 5, 2010! State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 20, 2010 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions
come on, they don't throw a rocket
they just throw it to the field, if it hits someone in the head it will be like a tennis ball hit you in the head, won’t hurt
The PuertoRican Kid
by Kobe:The Legend on Aug 20, 2010 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions
And in most instances,
The players are so far away that there’s little, if any, chance someone will hit them throwing a home run ball back onto the field.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Mount Washington conquered July 5, 2010! State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 20, 2010 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions
why is it dumb?
i don’t know about you, but if i’m in the outfield and a team hits a home run against my team… i don’t want it. i wouldn’t even think twice about throwing it back. i think it is not only funny, but is an obvious sign of fan solidarity with the team considering how nuts people go for HR balls.
Actually, I believe "The Wave" holds that honor.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Mount Washington conquered July 5, 2010! State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 20, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, the wave is just too old and overused
"Tony Gwynn made sacrifices. Cal Ripken made sacrifices. I'm not sure Derek Jeter made sacrifices given the ungodly deep pockets the Yankees have." - Chipper Jones
by MBL1 on Aug 20, 2010 1:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Actually, I kind of like it for Wrigley (where I think it started). It’s distinctive and interesting. Sort of like the substitution of “Cubbies” for “home team” in “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” at Wrigley and “the home of the Braves” at the end of the Star Spangled Banner in Atlanta (do they even still do that? I haven’t been home to a game in a few years).**
That said, now that everyone throws the ball back everywhere, it’s sort of lost its uniqueness.
**Nothing herein shall be construed in any way to support that idiotic Sweet Caroline nonsense—anything that PHN thinks is “whikcad pissah smaht” is just lame.
If Albert played in the AFL, they’d have to rename it the AZ/NM Fall League, based on where his homers landed.
I would never, in a million years, throw back a homerun ball that I caught. That’s usually a once in a lifetime event.
This is all unless I’ve recently slipped on a ball and inadvertently tightened the ligaments in my throwing arm. Then, I’d happily throw the ball from the bleachers to home plate. That could be my big break!
Milk was a bad choice...
Rookie of the Year reference = +100
Blue Devils user image = +100
You = +200
Go USA, Braves, BU Terriers, Irish, Caps, Colts, Hoyas, NU Cats, Wizards, DC United, Washington Freedom
BU Hockey: National Champions 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
-100 for +100 the Blue Devils when clearly UNC is the only sports team to deserve a + besides the Braves.
How was basketball last season?
We needn't have been nervous. The Melk-Man always* delivers.
* sometimes
It wasn’t that great last year, but that’s to be expected when your roster gets depleted by players leaving for the NBA after winning the national championship. How many Duke players got drafted in last year’s draft? Lol, Roy Williams encourages players to leave for the NBA if they’re projected as first round picks, while K lies about their draft status.
why?
you know you caught a home run ball, you have witnesses (hell, you might even be on video). so why not go a step further and show that the HR ball by the other team means nothing to you? the experience of throwing back an opposing teams ball would mean more than keeping it to me. my goal to throw it back isn’t to appease the fans, but that would be a byproduct as well.
to preface
i’ve been to more braves games i can remember and have a collection of 20+ balls (none of them HR balls that weren’t hit in BP) from games (even the ASG and HR derby). so a ball at this point doesn’t mean that much to me.
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