Adam Greenberg gets another chance slightly O/T

[Cfern023]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

Ton of debate over this over on ESPN.....I get how many feel this is merely a publicity stunt...TONS of others have never reached the majors and would love the opportunity....what makes this kid so special?

He got hit in the head with a 95MPH fastball on the first pitch of his first MLB apperance by a Florida Marlin.

If you think that it doesn't make him special, you may need to recheck the history books. He's the only one to ever have his MLB career end on the first pitch of it.

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by Cfern023

He got hit in the head with a 95MPH fastball on the first pitch of his first MLB apperance by a Florida Marlin.

If you think that it doesn't make him special, you may need to recheck the history books. He's the only one to ever have his MLB career end on the first pitch of it.

I think it is a great story too, he earned his trip to the majors, but had nothing to do with how it ended.

I do doubt that only MLB player to have his career end after one pitch "fact" I read a few times. There have been 38 players who have only pinch hit in their career and didn't reach base or strike out, but they went 0-for-1 in their only game. If you check baseball-reference, only one of those players (Rob Sasser) was recent enough to check the pitch-by-pitch during his AB and he saw 5 pitches. I have a hard time believing none of the 37 others only saw one pitch. I checked two newspaper accounts for each of the four Pirates players that are among this group and not one referenced a pitch count in any way so I doubt it is a known fact, likely just misstated.

He is(won't be for long) definitely the only one to have his career ended by a hit by pitch on the only pitch he saw, but that isn't what some of the articles were saying.

[npa589]

Fantastic story. I've been a Cubs fan my whole life, and always travel to Miami to watch the Cubs against the Marlins. I was at this game, and was anxiously anticipating watching Greenberg play, as I had been following him in the minors. I was just out of high school, and actually attending University of Miami, and was with my family. My dad, brother and I, were so thrilled for him getting his first at-bat, and were remarking "imagine what he's feeling right now, his dream as a little kid is coming true right now". My dad remarked further - saying "He's probably crappin' his pants. Cmon Adam!"

First pitch...


I followed him for a few years here and there, still remembering that gut-wrenching moment vividly from my point of view on the 3rd base side, about 10 rows up.

I'm thrilled for Adam, because he had already proven he was good enough to make it to a major-league club, 7 years younger than he is now.

[Wite3]

To answer an earlier question...

He had to get permission from the Comish and MLB because of the injury. I think he has to sign a waiver as well because of the danger posed. Granted, he has come a long way back but MLB is nervous about putting a guy out there who has had vision problems, migraines, post-concussion syndrome, etc.

MLBPA had to give him permission because of the roster spot. This was tough but because the Comish and MLB cleared him and allowed him to play, he will not take anyone's roster spot (causing that player to be sent down, lose money, lose mlb service, etc.).

If you read or see interviews with Greenberg, he is one of the good guys. He really never wanted this and when the movement started to snowball, he was shocked and embarrassed and flattered but did not think he had a shot at all.

I do not care if it is a publicity stunt. It is the right thing to do and should be a great moment for baseball.

Joshua

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by Wite3

If you read or see interviews with Greenberg, he is one of the good guys. He really never wanted this and when the movement started to snowball, he was shocked and embarrassed and flattered but did not think he had a shot at all.Joshua

So then why did he accept this offer, if he felt like he didn't deserve it (and he doesn't) he should have turned this down. He would have gotten way more respect.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

So then why did he accept this offer, if he felt like he didn't deserve it (and he doesn't) he should have turned this down. He would have gotten way more respect.

Sometimes in life you do the right thing, that is why. How many of us kids aspired to the Bigs and made it? He has my respect.

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by Leon

Sometimes in life you do the right thing, that is why. How many of us kids aspired to the Bigs and made it? He has my respect.

But he doesn't deserve it. Yeah it sucks that he never got an at bat, but he made it to the Bis. It's just a PR move. Do I deserve an at-bat? Can I got shoot a free-throw? Can I go attempt to return a kick-off (or watch it sail through the end zone)? Hell no! Why? Because I don't deserve to. He doesn't either, because he isn't good enough, that's why.

[ramram]

It will be interesting to see how they pitch to him but I'm suspecting the catcher will whisper to him "fastball middle, middle".

Rob M.

[Robextend]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

So then why did he accept this offer, if he felt like he didn't deserve it (and he doesn't) he should have turned this down. He would have gotten way more respect.

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't turn down a chance to have a major league at bat. Jason Bay doesn't deserve the salary he is getting but he is getting it. Should he give all that money back?

Not everyone can have this type of moment, so because no one else that has struggled for 7 years in the minors/independent leagues is getting it, he shouldn't either? Not sure why you are so adamantly against this...

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by Robextend

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't turn down a chance to have a major league at bat. Jason Bay doesn't deserve the salary he is getting but he is getting it. Should he give all that money back?

Not everyone can have this type of moment, so because no one else that has struggled for 7 years in the minors/independent leagues is getting it, he shouldn't either? Not sure why you are so adamantly against this...

Oh course no one would turn it down, that's not the point. The point is whether he deserves it or not. And no, he doesn't because he hasn't done anything since then to prove that he is of a major league calbier player. So because he had a tough break, and you feel sorry for him, give him an at bat!? Well shit, I almost played pro ball until my shoulder blew out, put me in there for an at bat, but they aren't because I don't deserve one. Bay may not deserve it now, but then when he signed he did.

[jp1216]

From the PR side, I see it as a great 'feel good' jesture.

From the player's side - I would politely thank the Marlins for the gesture, but decline the offer. No one that has worked that hard to comeback should accept a last ditch token offer. His story sucks, but he did make it once. He worked hard and made it. No gifts or tokens.

He loves the game and wanted another chance. I'm shocked he is taking this offer. 'Everybody feel sorry for me' society at it's best.

I will watch and root for him on 10/2. I do feel sorry for what happened 7 years ago. I just don't think 'its the right thing to do'.