What would you do if you were this player’s parent, coach or umpire.....
First let me say that this 2012 player I am talking about is a great talent and is going D1 (verbal commitment). His ability on the field is not in question. From everything I am told he is a hard worker and it shows. But I was told by several trusted observers of him this year that he is a classless jerk on the field. I always try to reserve final judgment until I could put eyes and in this case also ears on a player.
The teams play a 3 game set in conference. In the first game the player I am speaking of made some nice plays at SS had a one hit. On one of the outs he made he took his helmet and threw it on the ground as hard as he could which rolled about 20 feet away from him. I started to think maybe what I have heard about him is true.
Game 2… On a pickoff play to second he tags the opposing player at second to which the player is called safe. He holds the ball, approaches the umpire and begins to not only question the call but speaks to the umpire in a condescending tone which causes the umpire to say get the ball back to the pitcher, I will umpire and you worry about playing the game. The player not only doesn’t throw the ball back but continues to stand in front of the umpire questioning the call. A parent from the opposing team states “ Come on quit whining and lets go” The player looks into the crowd and states ”Why don’t you shut the F*** up, F***er” The runner on second tells the SS to have some class to which the SS starts to berate the runner who just shakes his head. The next pitch is hit for a 3 run home run. The next batter after the home run hits a ball up the middle, the SS dives makes a great stop and as he is getting up to throw yells “Showtime” as he throws out the runner. In the next half inning the player I am speaking of is running from first to third on a ball hit in the gap. The opposing second baseman is around the SS area as he is backing up the SS who is receiving the cut. The second baseman is also the player who told this kid to have some class. As he rounds second he goes way out of his way to run into the back side of the second baseman. The second baseman budges a bit but the runner bounces off and tumbles to the ground, he gets to third safely but looked foolish in doing so.
The rest of the game he continually chirped at SS. When there was a pitch he thought was a strike that was called a ball he would either let out this odd whewing yelp or he would yell out “That’s a great pitch, looks like a strike to me, I want to live in that spot.”
Not a person left that game without the same opinion of the player as what I was told prior, what a classless jerk. In all my years of playing, coaching or just watching a HS game as a fan, I don’t think I have ever seen or heard anything like this kid. A photographer from a paper was covering the game. As the aforementioned events took place he put down his camera and said, what a great player but what a jerk, what a shame.
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