Ball Played: Indians literally drop the ball
June 24, 2015LeBron James breaks social media silence
June 24, 2015Hey, did you know the Cleveland Indians have struggled against the Detroit Tigers of late? In what would end as yet another Tribe loss against the divisional rival Tigers (this one 7-3), at least one person wearing an Indians ball cap near the diamond showed a little fire — it was just too bad that it had to be someone who wasn’t on the Indians major league roster … and was 11 years old.
In the bottom of the fifth inning with the score 7-1, Jason Kipnis ripped a grounder foul down the first base line. Eleven-year-old Dom, from Avon, snared the ball with his ball cap. Overcome with excitement produced by grabbing a big-league ball (and probably too much cotton candy and ice cream), Dom refused to let some opportune eye contact with Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera go to waste, giving Cabrera a few enthusiastic and heated “Hello, Miggy”s before a “I got your back,” showing that the kid may have a career in professional wrestling if not baseball.
Between innings, Cabrera gave Dom a baseball, a bat, and a pair of batting gloves — a cool moment for an 11-year-old kid; even if it did come from a Tiger. Given how much horror and angst Cabrera has caused Indians fans the last three or so years, it seems the least he could do was make a young Indians fan the coolest kid in his neighborhood for a week.
When asked later in the game what happened, Dom said he told Cabrera, “‘You need to be fired up.’ He really did. He was bored. He looked bored out there.” I would be bored too if I was in the field up 7-1 facing a team against whom I was currently hitting .900 with an OPS of 1.945 (numbers approximate).
When asked if Miguel Cabrera was now his favorite player, Dom remained unpersuaded. “I don’t know. I mean, he’s on Detroit.” That’s right, Dom. Stay strong. Don’t let Cabrera bribe his way into your heart with some cheap souvenirs after he’s ruthlessly tortured your favorite team all season.
Amazingly, Dom didn’t even have the best fan catch on Tuesday night, as his play was overshadowed by the Chicago Cubs fan who caught a ball with his bare hand while feeding his baby, which is just an unfair degree of difficulty and some flagrant show-boating. Nevertheless (and never mind what an infant is doing in such heavily trafficked foul ball territory along the first base line), Dom showed more fielding proficiency with his hat than Lonnie Chisenhall did with his glove in his majors stint this season. I say give the kid a contract and see how he does in Double-A.
11 Comments
Crap. Respect, Miggy. That was a very nice thing to do.
It’s bad enough we have to tip our cap because he’s just SO damn good, but now he has to go do something like this…
It’s so classy, and yet it’s bush league.
Miguel Cabrera owns that place on the field and now off the field. Hey Kipnis where were you? Hey Dr. Smooth? Paging Corey Klubot! Way to let a visiting player punk you.
Damn him! Damn him to hell for being classy.
Exactly.
I just love that all the chubby Tigers fans got NOTHING. Kid even dissed one guy’s high five. That’s right, Dom, take their stuff and disrespect them!
I’m sure Miggy and all of the 10 people left in Detroit are really fine people, but I’ve got nothing but hate. Hate, hate, hate.
This is the problem with baseball. We used to go to the games and feel like we were part of the fabric of the event. Now I feel like the game is being held in a glass jar just inside of the walls. Every now and then a foul ball (or home run), acting as a shot of dopamine, pings its way into the stands, keeping the fans satiated for a moment.
Joe Carter won me over by playing catch with my friends and me in-between innings. Other guys would gladly sign your glove or toss you a ball. Nowadays, whether it’s due to unruly/crazy fans or player egos, the demarcation is distinct and abrupt, and it has neutralized the connection that the common fan once held to the game of baseball.
The game needs more stuff like this, and like that amazing Matt Kemp episode in San Fran in 2013.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8B6pEBYP9s
You stay classy, San Cabrera. Oh, and the other thing Ron Burgundy said that one time, that applies too.
Cabrera owns them on and off the field apparently. Great story though.
Um… according to the interview I saw with the kid on Fox 8 yesterday, the kid was NOT talking smack. He kept yelling to Cabrera that “he has his back!” Which his adult supervision should have ended with hearty-smack upside the head, comfort and aid to the enemy is traitorous, even if it earns you a future HOFers bat.