*Ronny Paulino is a generous man

[PurpleHaze]

I had the displeasure of witnessing two crappy losses on Friday and Saturday in Atlanta. But Ronny Paulino provided me with some great moments and souvenirs. I wanted to write about this sooner, but my Internet didn't work at the hotel. I also get a headache during rough stretches for the Marlins when reading the discussions...it's just really depressing and frustrating.

 

Anyway, on Friday night after JJ struck out Chipper to end the fifth, Ronny threw me the strikeout ball. I was in the first row behind the Marlins' dugout. Mind you I only get to go to games every few years and I have never had that kind of luck. I'm 25 but I felt like a kid again -- and it was a JJ ball that he K'd Chipper with. I was already sh*tfaced, so that made my night that much better. And some asshole kid, probably 10, tried to snatch it out of my hand, but I was stronger at 95 pounds. And that ball was waaay too significant to let that happen.

 

Well, on Saturday we had the same seats, and Paulino tossed us ANOTHER Chipper strikeout ball -- this time it was Jose Veras who fanned the future HOF-er. Later, after the strike-em-out, throw-em out play, Paulino looked at me and tried to throw it to me again, but it bounced too hard on the top of the dugout and sailed over my head. I've appreciated what Ronny's done all season, and this weekend he really made the trip worthwhile -- and the losses stung less for me...especially Friday.

 

And if you're wondering how I am differentiating the balls, the JJ one has some grass stains on it.

[louiecastillo1]

I had the displeasure of witnessing two crappy losses on Friday and Saturday in Atlanta. But Ronny Paulino provided me with some great moments and souvenirs. I wanted to write about this sooner, but my Internet didn't work at the hotel. I also get a headache during rough stretches for the Marlins when reading the discussions...it's just really depressing and frustrating.

 

Anyway, on Friday night after JJ struck out Chipper to end the fifth, Ronny threw me the strikeout ball. I was in the first row behind the Marlins' dugout. Mind you I only get to go to games every few years and I have never had that kind of luck. I'm 25 but I felt like a kid again -- and it was a JJ ball that he K'd Chipper with. I was already sh*tfaced, so that made my night that much better. And some asshole kid, probably 10, tried to snatch it out of my hand, but I was stronger at 95 pounds. And that ball was waaay too significant to let that happen.

 

Well, on Saturday we had the same seats, and Paulino tossed us ANOTHER Chipper strikeout ball -- this time it was Jose Veras who fanned the future HOF-er. Later, after the strike-em-out, throw-em out play, Paulino looked at me and tried to throw it to me again, but it bounced too hard on the top of the dugout and sailed over my head. I've appreciated what Ronny's done all season, and this weekend he really made the trip worthwhile -- and the losses stung less for me...especially Friday.

 

And if you're wondering how I am differentiating the balls, the JJ one has some grass stains on it.

 

 

What is it with women and balls? :mis2

[Michael]

What is it with women and balls? :mis2

 

What is it with you and women?

Oh wait...

[SilverBullet]

LOL, congrats.

 

I remember the time I snagged an Amezaga foul ball... at that moment he became my "favorite player forever"... you get so proud especially when you know you're a true Marlins fan. I 've always wondered about these bums who got a free ticket from who knows where, then catches a ball and they have no clue what player hit it, no idea who the other team was... all of that stuff goes over their heads. I know "everything" about my foul ball. Its a classic memory for me forever.

 

And lastly, it kinda bugs me how all the little kids want you to give them the ball. I got the ball and several kids came over and asked for it. Hell no. I'm not the a---hole who will snag it from a kids hands but why would I just give the ball away to a kid who doesn't know what game he's at... and who will take it home and just throw it over the neighbors fence or lose it in the park. Me, I've got a nephew and a niece, at that moment I immedietaly thought of them and how they would enjoy the ball. And me, Ive waited my whole life to catch that ball and enjoy it. I'm all for kids having fun... but if they want a ball, have their own dad or uncle get it.

 

Ok, im done.

[Jonny Ramos]

LOL, congrats.

 

I remember the time I snagged an Amezaga foul ball... at that moment he became my "favorite player forever"... you get so proud especially when you know you're a true Marlins fan. I 've always wondered about these bums who got a free ticket from who knows where, then catches a ball and they have no clue what player hit it, no idea who the other team was... all of that stuff goes over their heads. I know "everything" about my foul ball. Its a classic memory for me forever.

 

And lastly, it kinda bugs me how all the little kids want you to give them the ball. I got the ball and several kids came over and asked for it. Hell no. I'm not the a---hole who will snag it from a kids hands but why would I just give the ball away to a kid who doesn't know what game he's at... and who will take it home and just throw it over the neighbors fence or lose it in the park. Me, I've got a nephew and a niece, at that moment I immedietaly thought of them and how they would enjoy the ball. And me, Ive waited my whole life to catch that ball and enjoy it. I'm all for kids having fun... but if they want a ball, have their own dad or uncle get it.

 

Ok, im done.

 

 

I got a De-Aza foul ball during that double header against Arizona last year. The one that ended around... 3am?... Upton hit that upper deck homerun.

[SilverBullet]

LOL, congrats.

 

I remember the time I snagged an Amezaga foul ball... at that moment he became my "favorite player forever"... you get so proud especially when you know you're a true Marlins fan. I 've always wondered about these bums who got a free ticket from who knows where, then catches a ball and they have no clue what player hit it, no idea who the other team was... all of that stuff goes over their heads. I know "everything" about my foul ball. Its a classic memory for me forever.

 

And lastly, it kinda bugs me how all the little kids want you to give them the ball. I got the ball and several kids came over and asked for it. Hell no. I'm not the a---hole who will snag it from a kids hands but why would I just give the ball away to a kid who doesn't know what game he's at... and who will take it home and just throw it over the neighbors fence or lose it in the park. Me, I've got a nephew and a niece, at that moment I immedietaly thought of them and how they would enjoy the ball. And me, Ive waited my whole life to catch that ball and enjoy it. I'm all for kids having fun... but if they want a ball, have their own dad or uncle get it.

 

Ok, im done.

 

 

I got a De-Aza foul ball during that double header against Arizona last year. The one that ended around... 3am?... Upton hit that upper deck homerun.

 

De Aza was here in 2009? Lol, sure seems like ages ago

[louiecastillo1]

What is it with women and balls? :mis2

 

What is it with you and women?

Oh wait...

 

Y quien carajo eres tu?

[Sirspud]

I hate the way everyone thinks that you're evil if you don't give a kid the ball. If I do get a ball, I earned the right to do what I want with it. I paid to get to the game and I often times bring my glove just on the offchance, even though I know that sometimes I'm sitting in seats where a ball will never get to. When I was a kid, I didn't expect that some adult around me would give me a ball. I was out there running after the balls in such a way that woudln't be socially acceptable for fully grown adults to be. One of my friends once got into a fistfight with a kid going after a home run ball at a park in ST, they both were the only ones brave enough to jump over a fence to get it.

 

As little boys at a ballgame, we earned our right to have balls.

[I Love Me Some Fish]

I hate the way everyone thinks that you're evil if you don't give a kid the ball. If I do get a ball, I earned the right to do what I want with it. I paid to get to the game and I often times bring my glove just on the offchance, even though I know that sometimes I'm sitting in seats where a ball will never get to. When I was a kid, I didn't expect that some adult around me would give me a ball. I was out there running after the balls in such a way that woudln't be socially acceptable for fully grown adults to be. One of my friends once got into a fistfight with a kid going after a home run ball at a park in ST, they both were the only ones brave enough to jump over a fence to get it.

 

As little boys at a ballgame, we earned our right to have balls.

 

 

I agree, just don't do this

[Sirspud]

I hate the way everyone thinks that you're evil if you don't give a kid the ball. If I do get a ball, I earned the right to do what I want with it. I paid to get to the game and I often times bring my glove just on the offchance, even though I know that sometimes I'm sitting in seats where a ball will never get to. When I was a kid, I didn't expect that some adult around me would give me a ball. I was out there running after the balls in such a way that woudln't be socially acceptable for fully grown adults to be. One of my friends once got into a fistfight with a kid going after a home run ball at a park in ST, they both were the only ones brave enough to jump over a fence to get it.

 

As little boys at a ballgame, we earned our right to have balls.

 

 

I agree, just don't do this

 

 

 

I agree, although in the guy's defense (and even Bartman's) when we're at a game we're not fielders prepared to get a ball on every play, its surprising when one does come our way so we usually react pretty quickly without even being able to take into account our surroundings. I wouldn't consciously do something like that, but there's a solid chance that I'm 100 percent reaction and wouldn't even know I was doing that.

 

As far as Bartman, I'm sure he was surprised as hell to see a ticked off Moises Alou right in front of his face.

[Michael]

What is it with women and balls? :mis2

 

What is it with you and women?

Oh wait...

 

Y quien carajo eres tu?

No te preocupes por eso, amigo mío.

[Schnellders]

In a similar tone, back in 2004 when the British Open golf was at Troon, on one of the practice days I saw first hand the chaos created by a ball (albeit a different sport). Ernie Els finished his round, signed his golf ball and threw it along the ground towards the crowds of youngsters waiting, and it rolled straight towards me. I ended up trapping it under my foot once it got under the metal barriers yet lots of folk swarmed in and ended up ripping it from underneath my shoe, with there being like 4 folk on the ground. Sounds ridiculous, and it was. At least I ended up getting Kenny Perry's ball later in the day though I was pissed at losing Els' signed ball.

[mystikol87]

What's "golf". The anti-kids-getting-balls rant was awesome -props.