August 10, 2005

Scott Podsednik is No Gary Sheffield : Sure they may both play the outfield for good teams and come up in MVP discussions, but Scott has no idea how to take a punch.

read story | posted by yerfatma to Baseball at 8:03 AM CDT (30 comments total)

Larger version of image.

posted by yerfatma at 8:03 AM CDT on August 10

A busy night at the Stadium, I guess.

posted by yerfatma at 8:07 AM CDT on August 10

A busy night at the Stadium, I guess.

That was one of the most bizare things i've ever seen during a game .

Harper told three friends he was sitting with that he was going to test whether the net would hold his weight -- and then he jumped, police said.

I think a trip to the mental health center would be a good idea .

posted by evil empire at 8:24 AM CDT on August 10

Give me a break. If that fan intentionally threw the punch, he has more athletic ability than most of the Yankees.

posted by tommysands at 8:27 AM CDT on August 10

There's a link to the video of the Podsednik catch here, for those interested. It's under the photograph on the top right, under "Podsednik's leaping catch."

posted by holden at 8:33 AM CDT on August 10

I take back my previous comment. After watching the video, it does look like the fan intentionally threw the punch. Maybe he should also take a trip to the mental health clinic. Thanks holden.

posted by tommysands at 8:41 AM CDT on August 10

That was one of the most bizare things i've ever seen during a game .

Same thing happened during a Sox-Yanks tilt a few years back.

posted by yerfatma at 8:49 AM CDT on August 10

Nah. He didn't throw a punch. If you watch his hand before Pod catches the ball, you can see he's trying to track the ball for a barehanded catch.

That said, good job by Pod to hang on.

posted by grum@work at 8:50 AM CDT on August 10

That kid could have paid a hefty Stupid Tax. He's lucky as shit to be alive right now.

And Podsednik's catch, shown at speed, was a phenomenal piece of concentration. Whether that punch was intentional or not, to jump into the stands and make a catch while taking a shot to the face is an accomplishment.

posted by chicobangs at 9:06 AM CDT on August 10

Same thing happened during a Sox-Yanks tilt a few years back.

i've had the fortune of attending both games. i missed the actual fall in 2000. and the game was stopped for a much longer time because the jackass just laid there. but last night i actually saw the fall. freaky.

and i think grum is right. the guy grasps for the ball and his hand ends up in a fist.

posted by goddam at 9:10 AM CDT on August 10

d'oh. here's the proper link.

posted by goddam at 9:12 AM CDT on August 10

I amend my statement , the most bizare incident ive seen during a game still has to be the father / son duo that beat the snot out of the K.C. coach during a ChiSox game .

posted by evil empire at 9:21 AM CDT on August 10

It was a punch . You don't go after a ball or help catch a player falling in the stands with a closed fist . Hell of a catch .

posted by evil empire at 9:25 AM CDT on August 10

I don't think it was a punch. That would be an extremely hard punch to both throw (knowing where Posednik's face is going to be when he leaps) and contect with (watch it at regular speed) especially with the crowd rising up around you and a baseball coming towards your head. No punch.

I was watching the Jays game yesterday when they cut to Yankee Stadium in time for Johnny Yahoo to take a header from the upper deck. Just pay the extra money for better seat, pal. It really is a lot easier. Frankly, I blame the net - now this guy can potentially go out and have children. Stupid net.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 9:39 AM CDT on August 10

I don't think I have ever seen anyone catch a baseball barehanded while doing a Rocky impression. Look at his body language, he's throwing a punch, not stretching for a baseball.

posted by volfire at 9:44 AM CDT on August 10

I think the media should treat stupid net guys like they do the pinheads who climb foul poles or run onto the filed...no coverage. As Homer would say: "stop encouraging him, Marge.

posted by tommysands at 9:47 AM CDT on August 10

You don't go after a ball or help catch a player falling in the stands with a closed fist.

Isn't it possible that he just reacted to Podsednik's sudden presence by instinctively closing his hand so that a finger didn't get jammed in a very bad way? That's probably what my immediate reaction would be.

Not many people punch with their fist turned towards the inside. Try it yourself. Throw a punch with your right hand with your knuckles facing 9:00. Pretty damned awkward, eh?

posted by Ufez Jones at 9:48 AM CDT on August 10

I have to agree with Weedy that it was no punch. At the same time, I applaud Podsednik for not retaliating anyways. It's hard to take a still photograph with a high-shutter speed camera and assume just because the guy's hand is closed that at full speed he wasn't reacting for some other reason. When a guy with Podsednik's speed comes barreling at you and is ready to land on your lap, I'm not sure what anyone's reaction would look like or be. A natural reaction would be to tense up and fend the flying body off. As long as fans are involved in the action, you'll continue to have these types of situations/questions. I was never really convinced the Sheffield thing was a punch, either, but when it's Yankees/Red Sox, I think officials want to make sure they err on the side of strict, firm discipline where fans are involved.

posted by dyams at 9:53 AM CDT on August 10

As I mulled it over a smoke, I came up with exercise number two for you.

Pretend a ball's coming your way and you have to reach across your body with your dominant hand to catch it. Which way are your fingers facing?

posted by Ufez Jones at 9:55 AM CDT on August 10

The video shows that there was absolutely and positively no punch being thrown there.

posted by NoMich at 10:11 AM CDT on August 10

It's all just opinions of course so no one will know for sure but two things stand out to me ....

1. The strain in his arm (seen much better in the larger pic) looks like he has that fist tightly clenched , not exactly what you do going after a ball . Unless maybe he was helping him , which if that was the case a fist to the jaw isn't too helpful .

2. His eye contact is way off if he's going after the ball . Look where the glove is compared to where his eyes are looking .

Just my opinion

posted by evil empire at 10:13 AM CDT on August 10

CANCEL everthing I said , his hand comes downward in the video after missing the ball . no punch , but a great catch and concentration by Podsednik .

posted by evil empire at 10:21 AM CDT on August 10

Podsednik's focus and everyman appeal won me over while he was in Milwaukee.

Granted, I'm much happier with Brady Clark in CF, but Podsednik's a real man, and I hope he and the Sox go far this postseason.

That team's got some character.

posted by rocketman at 11:28 AM CDT on August 10

That team's got some character.

You are right! The White Sox have a lot of "'characters" on thier team! :-)

posted by daddisamm at 11:47 AM CDT on August 10

Pods has been a great addition to this team. Going from virtually nobody's to the best record in baseball, is something. People were'nt to happy about A.J. behind the plate either. Hes turn out great as well. Lets not forget that the fans VOTED Pods onto the All-star team lineup. Over Jeter, I might add..

posted by volfire at 1:03 PM CDT on August 10

Kudos to Podsednik's restrain. This could have easily escalated into a sheffieldesque situation.

posted by MNJ1193 at 1:16 PM CDT on August 10

ESPN just said that the idiot who "fell" from the upper deck did it on a dare. He said he would jump if his buddies paid for his fines and bail. I wonder if they will do the jail time too?

posted by dbt302 at 1:25 PM CDT on August 10

What's wrong with the Sox, Daddisamm? And as far as mutual jail time goes one could only hope..... NAh, stupid people never get caught, it's the smart ones that get away!

posted by volfire at 1:35 PM CDT on August 10

daddisamm is a Twins fan.

posted by holden at 3:43 PM CDT on August 10

Make up your own mind about what you see, but do ask yourself what would have happened had Gary Sheffield been involved?

Yawn. This is a pretty weak 'controversy.' Sportseconomist can't even admit he was wrong.

posted by crank at 5:28 PM CDT on August 10

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