OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

[emann]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

I easily understand why the Marlins organization became so defensive toward this guy. It was his request for the Hanley bat... It was disrespectful toward Coghlan and immediately set this off on the wrong foot. It was like meeting a semi-famous person and asking them questions about the other more famous people they know. Lame.

He should have just asked for some tickets to a game in the first place and left it at that.

That said, the Marlins probably could have handled this better and you can see from that pic, Coglan is giving off some attitude. At that point, the guy probably should have just taken the ball and split. Now he's got a bat that he doesn't want (personalized at his request no less!) and some bad memories.

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

In the heat of the moment, both guys might have perceived things differently. Why jump to conclusions in a "He said, he said".

It all worked out and the player got the ball.

Talking about HRs, how many of these idiots catch the opponents HR and then throw the balls back on to the field just to be scooped up by the team. What a waste!

To me, what a great collectible to get a HR ball!!!!

I couldn't agree with you more, Andrew. It's a rare and hard thing to catch a home run ball. To the one who was lucky enough to catch it, if it means something to someone else.....anybody, the player who hit it, the team, another fan.....then it has value.

I have no problem with the guy who caught it asking for "something" in return. But I would not.......would not......ask for another players bat. That was tasteless and rude......but then so are most of todays baseball players....so who cares.

Coghlan got his ball.....all ended well no matter what the fan asked for.

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

eisenreich8,

After being so righteous and noble, what would you then do if you were to read three months later that Coghlan was a bad teammate, and had been suspended for 50 games as a player who tested positive for a banned substance in MLB?

Would you feel foolish?

Or....would you call him a CANCER and wish all hell to come crashing down on him and his world........like you did Manny Ramirez?


Just curious...

[orioles03]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

PAT said: "gave them to friends and family".......

Good to hear.

forgot my high school principal made my senior year a little easier

[eisenreich8]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

PAT said: "gave them to friends and family".......

Good to hear.

[orioles03]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

In the heat of the moment, both guys might have perceived things differently. Why jump to conclusions in a "He said, he said".

It all worked out and the player got the ball.

Talking about HRs, how many of these idiots catch the opponents HR and then throw the balls back on to the field just to be scooped up by the team. What a waste!

To me, what a great collectible to get a HR ball!!!!

that was the best thing when fans would throw back hr the players would always toss it to me in the dugout so the nest time i see the player i would getthe ball signed .i also liked when a ball would land in the bull pen the bullpen catcher would always get the balls and give them to me to get signed i probally had over 20 hr balls all signed andi would give them to friends or family

[allstarsplus]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

In the heat of the moment, both guys might have perceived things differently. Why jump to conclusions in a "He said, he said".

It all worked out and the player got the ball.

Talking about HRs, how many of these idiots catch the opponents HR and then throw the balls back on to the field just to be scooped up by the team. What a waste!

To me, what a great collectible to get a HR ball!!!!

[BamaHater]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

I had the opportunity of catching Morgan Ensberg's 1st grand slam ball. I realized what it meant to him so when he said he wanted it and offered one of his game bats that he autographed I took it. I was not looking to extort the man. At the time is was in college and had no job.

[eisenreich8]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

Dang I didn't finish my post before submitting! Anyway, I would have returned it to him because him having made it to The Show and probably the biggest moment of his life, what would it be that I would want done for me if that were my first homer in the majors? I just know that I have all the material stuff I really ever want and this ball or the profit from it would be diminished by my own sense of self.

Corny as it may sound, I can think back to my youth and I know that this is what my parents would want me to do, put the player first as the player is who it's all about anyway. I just paid to get entertained, but the ball would really mean more to him, and hence, I would derive greatest satisfaction from returning it with no conditions.

Others' opinions will vary...........

[eisenreich8]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

I do not endeavor to contradict or pass judgment on what ANYONE else in his situation would have done, but I will take the time to very sincerely and honestly state what I would have done.

I would have taken the ball down to the officials and handed it over. No strings. No comp. No nothing. Seriously, that is precisely what I know I would do in that situation. My feelings on this are personal but I would have returned the ball to Coghlan

[mbrieve]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

Ok, I've read the news accounts and his own account on his blog and I have come to the following conclusions:

1. This guy is strange and is a Zach Hample clone. I can't say I like either of them very much.
2. His demands, whether you believe him or the Marlins, were not over the top - heck, I would have asked for more. After being treated that way, I would have kept the ball.
3. I'm sure both parties were equally irritated and angry, but by looking at the "meeting" photo - it seems like Coghlan is a real jerkoff. There seemed to be such a sense of entitlement. Again, after all of this, I would have given Coughlan and the Marlins my contact info and told them I am keeping it. If they ever change their mind, call me.

Just my .02

[David]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

If the rules say fans get to keep balls they catch, then the fan can keep it. If MLB wants to and can change these rules, then change the rules.

[David]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

My question is how much was the fan charged for beer and parking. Then I can decide if there was a ransom.

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

We may never know which side is telling the truth but I find it hard to believe that a rookie ballplayer would be so rude to a fan who caught his first HR ball, unless he was provoked in some manner.

[godwulf]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

To my way of thinking, asking for some other player's bat may not be all that unreasonable...but it's just about as rude as you can get, and I, personally, would never do it. If you want a Hanley Ramirez bat, catch a ball off of one that Hanley wants back. The other is just embarrassing.