Seven-year old boy hospitalized after being hit w/ foul ball

[ChiCubsfan0502]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-baseball-boy-hurt_webjul12,0,5241006.story

 

I saw this on TV when it happened and although they never showed the boy, you could see the crowd looking towards the area where Lilly hit the foul ball.

 

Cubs fans and all Baseball fans please say a prayer for this kid. As the father of two young children, I can't begin to imagine what his family is going through.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

My prayers will be with him and his family tonight.

[Sammy Sofa]

Man, that's awful. I hope he comes out of it OK. It definitely seemed like someone was really hurt on the TV broadcast, but I didn't think it was this bad. That's gotta weigh on Lilly, too. Edited July 12, 2008 by Sammy Sofa

[Ski]

Wow, that's terrible. You see tons of hard line drive foul balls, but you usually don't expect this to happen.

[reds44]

Wow, I was there and saw it but didn't expect to see that news. It was on Lilly's little half swing it went back surprisingly fast and you just saw the entire section looking for help. Then seconds later you see that dad running down the stairs holding the back of the kids head and people running after them. People need to pay attention at the game.

 

He'll be in my prayers.

[weis21]

That's horrible. When I was watching, something seemed a bit off after that foul ball. I think Len paused a few more seconds than normal, or maybe there were more people looking at where the foul ball went, but something just seemed eerie.

 

Nothing would make me happier than to see him throw out a first pitch next year after a full recovery. My thoughts and prayers go out to the child and his family.

[Omar]

Is it time to put up more protection?

[bhogg]

I've wondered if it was possible to put up a super duper hi-def clear plexi-glass "fence" in ballparks.

 

 

It would have to be something that didn't take away from the awesome view --- no scratches, no haze, no fading, no glare, etc.

 

Otherwise, the owners wouldn't go for it because the most expensive seats would lose value.

[Magnetic Curses]

you have to pay attention back there, this goes for the parents. if you have small children, don't sit there, i can't stress that enough. DON'T SIT THERE. if i ever sit in an area that's in danger for hard foul balls, i sit between my wife and home plate and i pay attention on every single pitch.

 

now that i have a child, i don't think i'll ever sit in a place like that again.

 

this sad sad news.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I love sitting in seats like that, but I usually sit higher up if I have Addison with me. It's dangerous for adults when those balls come flying, but either moreso with children.

 

Parents with small children need to sit higher up, behind the nettings, or in the outfield seats. It's no one's fault, but there's really no way to protect a child from a hard hit foul ball in those circumstances.

[Derwood]

is it still a "man rule" to never bring a glove to the ballpark now?

[Soul]

Wow, what inning did this happen? I wonder if it affected Lilly on the mound.

 

I don't think I could go out and pitch if I knew I just put a kid in the hospital, though of course I don't know if Lilly realized the severity during the game or not.

 

I hope everything turns out OK.

[bhogg]

I break the man rule every time. I'm a kid at heart and I bring my glove.

 

 

Also, you can pay attention in those spots and the ball still gets on you really quick. We're talking about major leaguers here. They hit the ball hard.

 

Accidents happen, even to perfectly good parents.

[Jehrico]

is it still a "man rule" to never bring a glove to the ballpark now?

It never was.

[shnsajax]

Its very hard to keep a small child focused on the game the entire time, actually for more than 10 minutes. Once the child gets distracted it will distract you too, and I think this is where the problem would come.

[PackLandVA]

If I'm with a youngster, I always sit with me between home plate and the kid. It at least makes me feel like I can get between the ball and the child if necessary.

[anabiono]

wow, this young child will definitely be in my prayers

 

please get better little buddy

[SouthSideRyan]

They said on the broadcast today that he's doing much better.

[hardcorecubfan]

the article made me cry, prayers out to him and his family.

[17 Seconds]

Thumbs up to Ted Lilly visiting him in the hospital.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080518&content_id=2723868&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[Tracer Bullet]

is it still a "man rule" to never bring a glove to the ballpark now?

It never was.

 

Some would disagree. But I've always thought it was fine if you have children with you.

[bhogg]

Thumbs up to Ted Lilly visiting him in the hospital.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080518&content_id=2723868&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

 

 

Do you think the words, "Kid, I'm sorry -- I didn't realize I could hit the ball that hard" ever came up?

 

 

On a serious note, I hope the little guy can come back and throw out a first pitch, get to meet the team, etc.

 

The times I've taken Ryne to a game, it's pretty tough to enjoy everything for fear that a ball will come screaming your way. You tell yourself it's a one in a million shot, but you still don't want to be that one.

[Jehrico]

is it still a "man rule" to never bring a glove to the ballpark now?

It never was.

 

Some would disagree. But I've always thought it was fine if you have children with you.

No, there's never been any such unwritten rule.

[ConstableRabbit]

is it still a "man rule" to never bring a glove to the ballpark now?

It never was.

 

Some would disagree. But I've always thought it was fine if you have children with you.

No, there's never been any such unwritten rule.

No gloves allowed for fans over 12, man. C'mon, you're killing me here.

[Brian]

Wow, what inning did this happen? I wonder if it affected Lilly on the mound.

 

It was actually the half inning before he got shelled and removed. So it's possible, it had to have been noticeable to Ted because the game stopped, the Reds catcher was up looking over there as was the ump. I doubt he'd blame it on that, but it's hard to believe that the kid wasn't on his mind out there.