Throw It Back

by DCinWC on Oct 13, 2006 8:53 AM PDT

Or Not Throw It back?

At Game 1 we were sitting in 130. Inge's HR ball went whizzing over our heads and was caught in 131. Everyone is chanting "Throw it back, Throw it back." He didn't. Eventully security had to come and relocate him. In case you don't know this THEY TOSS YOU FROM THE GAME if you "throw it back!" Yes it's cool, and it is a very bad policy, most parks in the MLB praise this behaviour. Is it because of Carl Everetts noggin, or that ass who mixed it up with Texas, or is it because this is Oakland and you know how they are. That totally sucks. Do they really toss the people? or maybe they relocate them so people THINK you get tossed. If I caught that ball there is no way I am throwing it back; ticket prices, parking, concessions - I am already into the game for $200. I thought it sucked this guy is hassled so much he has to be moved.

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It is a baseball edict:

Nothing can be thrown onto the field, including HR balls.

"I think we just feel that now is our time." - Nick Swisher

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Oct 13, 2006 8:56 AM PDT reply actions

its a bunch of crap if you ask me

Kind of like how youre not supposed to crowd surf at concerts but when you get to the front of the crowd, to that gap betweed the crowd and the stage, security just grabs you and leads you back out into the crowd. Youre not suppose to throw baseballs back but how can you not? its your duty as a fan.

by Amnesiac727 on Oct 13, 2006 9:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Sure

It's also the duty of security to enforce the rules and evict you.

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Oct 13, 2006 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Ground rules change.

At some stadiums, you're encouraged to bounce beachballs around the crowd. At others, that'll get you tossed.

The point is, it's a pretty random rule.

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 13, 2006 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't consider it my duty...

...to throw a ball back.

by Flashfire on Oct 13, 2006 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions

When youre team is losing in an ALCS

game and a home run from the other team comes your way. If on top of that you feel the need to hang on to the ball, well that sucks for you, let me know in the future Ill send you $15 to get you one at the team story

by Amnesiac727 on Oct 13, 2006 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions

*store

by Amnesiac727 on Oct 13, 2006 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions

Don't care. I'm not getting ejected for it.

by Flashfire on Oct 13, 2006 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Throwing it back

If I was the one who caught the ball I wouldn't throw it back either. I'd simply give it to the person around me who's the most vocal about having me throw it back. If you want to throw it back so badly then have at it and deal with the consequence of possibly being thrown out.

LET'S GO OAKLAND!

We can be considered David, David knocks out Goliath. -Eric Chavez PT-42

by norcaldevilasu on Oct 13, 2006 9:13 AM PDT reply actions

i wouldn't throw a baseball back!

how often do people actually catch HR balls? i'd keep that sucker!

i was yelling for the guy NOT to throw it back because i knew he'd get tossed for it.

by gotgreen on Oct 13, 2006 9:15 AM PDT reply actions

Me, neither.

I've never gotten a home run ball and if I'm lucky enough to ever catch one, I sure as hell as am not throwing it back, regardless of whoever hit it.

You can boo me all you want, but I'm keeping it.

Kettlecorn! Swishercorn!

by TurnTwo on Oct 13, 2006 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions

To coin an old piece of sporting wisdom...

...act like you've been there.

"Home run ball? Whatever." (toss)

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 13, 2006 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions

No way Id throw it back....

Unless it was at Wrigley where it IS an actual tradition. The rest are just copycats.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Oct 13, 2006 9:17 AM PDT reply actions

Absolutely right

I'd no more throw back an HR ball at the Coliseum than sing Sweet Caroline in the 8th inning, or chant the names of each A's starter in sing song fashion before the first pitch. These traditions are fine...for Wrigley, Fenway or Yankee Stadium. Everywhere else it's just wannabee bandwagoneering. I'd feel the same way if blue-clad drummers and flag wavers showed up in the Kaufman Stadium LF bleachers.

Eternal Springs™: The official October bottled water of your Oakland Athletics

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Oct 13, 2006 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions

Great call

Coliseum tradition is CLEARLY to chant along with the drummers. Not throw balls back.

by Dog Days on Oct 13, 2006 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions

If three drummers show up at Kaufman...

... who would listen to them?

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 13, 2006 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Nice Friday Zen koan

Eternal Springs™: The official October bottled water of your Oakland Athletics

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Oct 13, 2006 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions

How about this

First series against Yankees.

Sheff hits a HR, person throws it back, gets ejected. Ball boy gets ball gives it to kid next to us. This is Sheffs 450 HR, he wants the ball. Kid is now showered with goodies from Sheff.

Who would you rather be?

while I'm GM, I'd get the black uniform tops back into the mix, make high socks mandatory and add a beer tap in the press box-Mychael Urban

by jb on Oct 13, 2006 9:18 AM PDT reply actions

Depends whether you're mercenary...

...or for your team.

I was at that game, and when that dude got tossed, my first thought was "he ain't missing anything." We were losing about 8704-0 at that point.

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 13, 2006 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions

I would defnitely throw it back

and then tell security it was all you people who wouldn't.

by mikeA on Oct 13, 2006 9:19 AM PDT reply actions

Agree with ASU

Ejection. It sure isn't worth my ejection from the game to toss a HR ball back, 'tradition' or otherwise.
If I didn't care about the ball/player, I'd give it to someone else .... you throw it back, enjoy the game from outside.
If it happens during the postseason, and you're a season ticket holder and you bought the playoff strip ... the rest of your strip is forfeited. Now it really isn't worth it.

by Rickeyfan on Oct 13, 2006 9:25 AM PDT reply actions

High street had a really good idea

We were talking about this, I can't remember which series this was. She said that if you want to show your disdain for the home run without getting ejected, just drop it down the huge stairs (assuming of course, you're in the bleachers). Can they throw you out for that? It's not in the field of play.

Asked where Zito's perfect fit would be, Hudson said, "Do they have a league on Mars?"

by JLaff on Oct 13, 2006 9:27 AM PDT reply actions

I was there too

and somebody threw a ball back. I don't know if it was the person who caught Inge's homer, or even if it was the same ball. But someone threw a ball out to the field.

by OaklandSi on Oct 13, 2006 9:28 AM PDT reply actions

Throwing it back=lame.

Someone could get hurt.

"Next thing you know, they'll have me taking an overdose of pills."--Milton Bradley

by jeepers on Oct 13, 2006 9:28 AM PDT reply actions

You just reminded

me of a Rivercats game, where a foul ball from the opposing team was thrown back and it hit the back of a mans head in the stands turned left and hit the bat boy before it got back to the field.

while I'm GM, I'd get the black uniform tops back into the mix, make high socks mandatory and add a beer tap in the press box-Mychael Urban

by jb on Oct 13, 2006 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions

I'd throw it back.

But here's the key - throw it back IMMEDIATELY.

On opening day, some dude in the right field bleachers caught a Yankee homerun (one of many), and the crowd started in on him to throw it back, and the dude hemmed and hawed until the next pitch was about to be thrown, and THEN he tossed it in, nearly hitting the right fielder.

Dumb.

Catch it. Then launch it while the outfielder is still looking at you. That way at least you're not interrupting play, or going to hit someone in the back of the noggin.

And if they toss you out, wear it. At least you made your statement and lived or died for your team.

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 13, 2006 9:54 AM PDT reply actions

to live and die with my team

i'd rather show support for my team by being at the game and cheering loudly even if they're down 10-0 than by throwing back a baseball and getting kicked out of the game.

by gotgreen on Oct 13, 2006 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions

Sure.

Because making sure the crowd stays at 34,905 is much more important than letting it slip to 34,904.

You can really hear that extra cheer at the plate, I'm told.

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 13, 2006 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Game 7 of the World Series

And the opposing team leads off the game with a HR. You catch it. You throw it back and get kicked out of that game?

by fadedash on Oct 13, 2006 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions

No.

More likely, game seven, we're getting out asses handed to us, sixth dinger of the game comes down for the other guys, I throw that one back.

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 13, 2006 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions

so really

it's a move out of frustration than anything else. it has nothing to do with showing pride in the team

by fadedash on Oct 14, 2006 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions

Again, no.

It's a case of "your homerun doesn't impress us... in fact, here, have it back."

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 14, 2006 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

I deeply want to see the A's win

but I have too much appreciation for the game above any individual team or player to not be in some way impressed by a home run or any other accomplisment by the opposition. Thus, the mere fact that someone on the other team hit a homerun is nowhere close to being reason enough to return the ball to the field.

by snowflake on Oct 14, 2006 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Diff'rent strokes.

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 15, 2006 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions

So it's worth it to you to pay money for a...

...game, especially a playoff game, and get yourself booted just because you want to be like all the cool kids and throw a ball back on the field?

That's stupid.

by Flashfire on Oct 13, 2006 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions

As I said elsewhere...

..it's not something you do on every home run. It's something you do when your team is getting smoked.

And yeah, game seven of the Series, my guys are down 8-0 in the 6th, I'm tossing it back.

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 13, 2006 8:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Why throw it back?

It doesn't make sense. Your pitcher gives up a jack, so rather than accept it, you give the HR more attention by returning the ball to the field of play? They don't take the run off the board if you throw the ball back.

Does anybody know why it's the expected course of action after a visiting team HR?

by Dog Days on Oct 13, 2006 10:22 AM PDT reply actions

It's not something you do every time.

It's something you do when your team is getting smoked.

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 13, 2006 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions

right on

I just don't see the point to throwing it back. I doubt any of the players, on either team, care at all or even notice when someone throws the ball back. So I just can'te see there being any practical value, and if it's a symbolic statement, why do it so frequently? To have any symbolic value it would have to be reserved for extraordinary circumstances.

by snowflake on Oct 13, 2006 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I would never throw a home run back

It's one of the dumbest things in sports. How many people get the chance to catch one in the first place? And they want to throw it back because it's hit by an opponent AND risk getting ejected?

Stupid.

by Flashfire on Oct 13, 2006 10:45 AM PDT reply actions

What's the policy

Say you're sitting in the bleachers, catch the ball, then chuck it down behind the fence, or say, onto the stairs? Then do you get kicked out?

Apparently I agree with nearly everyone else here... the only people chanting "Throw it back" are the ones who didn't catch it and have no worry of getting booted. I'm sorry, but tickets (especially playoff tickets) are too expensive to throw away doing something you know you're gonna get kicked out for.

"I guess more players lick themselves than are ever licked by an opposing team." ~ Connie Mack

by Flyin As on Oct 13, 2006 10:54 AM PDT reply actions

Agreed

I don't go to a lot of games, so I make sure to soak in everything I can. If I had full season tickets it might be a different story, but as it stands, it just doesn't seem worthwhile to get kicked out of a game.

"The future's like, who cares?" ~Eric Chavez

by rebus on Oct 13, 2006 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions

If you have full season tickets...

...you could also run the risk of losing them.

by Flashfire on Oct 13, 2006 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

We DO have full season tickets

and they cost a damn lot of money, so we're going to get every penny out of them.

(We also sit in foul territory, so its kinda difficult to get a home run anyways, but...)

"I guess more players lick themselves than are ever licked by an opposing team." ~ Connie Mack

by Flyin As on Oct 13, 2006 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Isn't throwing it back a Yankees-fan thing?

If so, then it's a bad idea.

"You can throw your cocks if I don't care!" - Iggy Pop

by AlamedaAphid on Oct 13, 2006 11:48 AM PDT reply actions

Red Sox fans have done this for years

by OaklandSi on Oct 13, 2006 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions

No, it's a Wrigley thing

And was more or less unheard of at other parks until the ESPN era.

Eternal Springs™: The official October bottled water of your Oakland Athletics

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Oct 13, 2006 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions

I've seen it at the Coli pre-ESPN

Squeak!

by ArakSOT on Oct 13, 2006 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions

To my knowledge it is a Wrigley Field thing

So unless you are a Cubbies fan on the north side - you are a copycat...

by SD Erik on Oct 13, 2006 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions

If I catch a homerun...

hell if I catch a foul ball...I don't care who it is, I have made a vow to buy and wear his jersey.
I've been to hundreds of baseball games and have NEVER caught a homerun...not even in batting practice.
If I catch a homerun, I keep it. Period.

Each his own, folks, but I will easily tell everyone to shut up as I enjoy my new baseball.
There are some things money can't buy, and catching a homerun, is one of them.

"Straight outta Oakland, California where we sparkin on ya" - 2Pac

by Erik being Erik on Oct 13, 2006 1:02 PM PDT reply actions

Amnesiac

So let's say if in either game (at Oakland) the A's hit a HR to take the lead and a Tigers fan caught it. He throws it back.

Do you cheer when you see security escort him out?

Also, I was at game 3 of the ALDS in the left field bleachers and when Torii hit his HR to make it 4-1(I think) people chanted for the guy to throw it back on the field. He did and then security came over. I saw A's fans point him out to security. Not everyone believes in the unwritten rule of throwing the ball back.

In fact, it's pretty much a black and white rule the other way. Throw something on the field with intent and you get kicked out.

by fadedash on Oct 13, 2006 1:03 PM PDT reply actions

I would cheer

but thats just the nature of the situation. I hate the tigers (specially now) and thus their fans. Look what I am saying is that it shouldnt be against the rules, it makes no sense. If the ball comes to me from Torii Hunter and we are losing, hell yeah Ill throw it back and as Im escorted out I raise my fist high with pride for the green and gold. I have never understod this whole "but it costs losts of money to get it, heck no Im not doing it" attitude because to me, I love this team and its not everyday I get to "take one for the team". Would I get tossed? heck yeah. Would I lose out on money? yeah of course. But would I stand up for my team? definitely!

by Amnesiac727 on Oct 13, 2006 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions

and I would stand and aplaud you

I'd throw it back. What kind of keepsake is an HR vs the muppets?

Squeak!

by ArakSOT on Oct 13, 2006 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Damn straight.

What am I gonne do, point to the ball on my mantlepiece and say "that's the second homer Matsui hit off us on opening day last year when Zito got smoked"?

Be damned. I'll put that bastard through a shredder.

Balls cost $8. If you really want one, it won't take long to save up for it.

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 13, 2006 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions

pride for green and gold?

how would that be pride for the A's? it wouldn't help them at all. all it would do is amplify a negative event in the game.

by snowflake on Oct 13, 2006 9:46 PM PDT up reply actions

How is that negative?

youre sending a ball back! youre not aiming it at a players head. Youre not waiting around until a member of the opposite team comes out and then you launch it towards their face. You throw the ball back onto the field. And no it isnt helping the team one bit, but its my way of saying "F-you Torii/Vlad/Jeter, not in our house!"

"ooh this guy just crushed us by scoring this home run, here let me hang on to it as a keepsake" -that makes less sense to me than a persons right to throw the ball back onto the field

by Amnesiac727 on Oct 13, 2006 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions

you're misinterpreting

negative event = home run by the opposition
throwing it back applifies that by calling additional attention.

I doubt whoever hit it is the least bit intimidated by the "not in our house" message. I just don't see any practical value in throwing the ball back.

by snowflake on Oct 13, 2006 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't see it that way.

I see it as not amplifying the event, but rather showing disdain for it.

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 14, 2006 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Then it's being done far too frequently

If the point is to show disdain, then the supposed reason for throwing the ball back is more a symbolic one than a practical one. However, for a gesture to actually carry symbolic meaning, it needs to be reserved for extraordinary circumstances. I was at game 3 of the ALDS and both of the homeruns hit by the twins were thrown back onto the field, and there was nothing extraordinary about either of them. I sat there shaking my head wondering why people were bothering under the circumstances. Throwing the ball back after an opposition home run has become nothing more than a meaningless trend. I'm not sure if I accept the symbolism/showing-disdain reasoning at all, but in recent cases, it hasn't come close to having any meaning.

by snowflake on Oct 14, 2006 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions

If it happens all the time, it's pointless.

Granted.

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 15, 2006 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions

For the record...

...I caught a home run on the fly once.

It was Deivi Cruz's first major league home run.

It was also the first one I caught cleanly in a game.

You think that ball is getting thrown back? Hell no!

by Flashfire on Oct 13, 2006 1:51 PM PDT reply actions

Give it to a kid!

What am I going to do with it - put it on a shelf? Look at it longingly while I remember the glorious day that I was perfect enough to catch a homer?

Giving the ball to a kid and telling him/her to make sure to actually play with it will make a bigger impact on a young fan than having it as a memento of a day at the park will ever do for me.

Make a kid's day!

"I'm more into going home and being horizontal" - Lew Wolff

by bvank on Oct 13, 2006 5:41 PM PDT reply actions

If you don't like throwing it back as a tradition

..this would make a great replacement. In Vancouver, the bleacher fans will yell at anyone who doesn't give a caught ball to a kid. The "give it to a kid - give it to a kid" chants don't end until you do.

Now that's something I'd like to see at the Col.

"It's time to blow this team up." - Oaktoon, July 2006

by Ozzz on Oct 13, 2006 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions