St. Louis Cardinal pitcher Darryl Kile dead.

KMOX ^

[dennis1x]

As a Cardinal fan this has been an awful week.

[CARDINALRULES]

Let's see.

RESPECT -- for his widow and his family.

His teammates and the Cubs players were both very shocked and in no condition to play today.
As I said earlier, would you want to stand at the plate knowing the pitcher isn't going to have his full attention on where that ball is going to go?
Did you see these men crying and noticably in shock?
It takes a lot for that to occur.

And it would only need one idiot to say something stupid to set off a riot in the stands. (Just like something was said on here).

The Cardinals have already had one death in the "family" this week...and yes I mean FAMILY -- these guys spend 6+ months out of the year together.
This year's team was especially close and I hope they can keep it together.

Yes, they will probably play Sunday night after they have had a little time to have the shock wear off and then come back to STL and continue to play for the rest of the season knowing that an important part of not only their team but of their family is gone for good... it's not like a trade, injury, signing with another team or retirement.

[isthisnickcool]

Hey Archie. I'm not interested in anything you have to say so please don't ping me again.

[LWalk18]

I do find it offensive that people here equate their own feelings, and even the feelings of Kile's teammates, with the situation facing his real family. The word "family" doesn't mean baseball.

But you have been questioning why his teammates didn't just suck it up and play (and unlike a school situation, they would have to play as if nothing had happened- you, in your ignorance fail to realise that the players have a responsibility to play every game to the best of their ability). The team will play tommmorow, and they will make up the game later in the season- just as if the game had been rained out.

Either you are dense or purposefully callous- but this has been explained to you again and again. If you find this thread inappropiate stop posting to it- how hard is that?

[ValerieUSA]

I understand what it is to be a fan of an athlete who passes away. I understand what it is to lose a co-worker/friend. I also understand what it is to lose a close family member. I understand there is a huge difference in the impact of each of these events, and I just can't bring myself to pretend otherwise.
I cannot understand why "family" is now such a flexible word that it can apply to sportsclubs and fans without anyone recognizing the hyperbole.

[Neets]

Just because you may have admired a player doesn't make you a part of his family, entitled to share in the pity and to take personal offense when you don't think someone understands or sympathizes with your "grief" sufficiently. That is highly presumptuous.

No, what is highly presumptuous is your edict on what and who constitutes a "family" that is entitled to grieve/mourne/play/not play...and the manner in which they do or not do so....in fact i'll go out on a limb and say it's rather PREPOSTEROUS.

[TYVets]

If you are planning on having a family,

please adopt.

[ValerieUSA]

you, in your ignorance fail to realise that the players have a responsibility to play every game to the best of their ability

*doh* I think I am the one who is saying the players have a responsibility to play every game -- including the one scheduled today. If you are contending that they are obligated to cancel a game when they realize the conditions are not favorable for them to be at their best, then you are ignorant. That's not what life, or even the game of baseball, is about.

[ValerieUSA]

I stand by what I said, forgive me if I don't have to go out on a limb to do so.

[ArneFufkin]

How can anyone be so bitter and clueless?. You are incapable of understanding the fundamental emotion here. It's not grief ... it's an UNDERSTANDING of the grief his family, teammates and fellow players harbor, and the righteousness of the Cubs' action today. It's a sense of loss for a wonderful performer and a good father and husband. It's an appreciation of the gesture of respect and condolance that the Chicago Cubs players, staff and fans have shared with the city and team who are their oldest and most passionate rival. It's about loss to a community, and a profound tribute to them by another wonderful community. You're ill informed and you're soulless. What an ugly take you've embraced and articulated here ad nauseum. Blecchhh.

[LWalk18]

There is no point in playing when the players are grossly distracted. A ball thrown at 90-95 miles per hour can be very dangerous if the pitcher is not focused. The players had just learned about his death, they were NOT focused. The game will be made up later, so what is your problem?

[centexan]

Eh, no. That was Jim Deshaies in 1986 and Lasorda sent up a pinch-hitter for the pitcher who popped out. And, no, I don't have it confused because Deshaies is the only major leaguer in modern times to begin a game with eight straight strikeouts.

Ya know, right after I posted that I thought, "oops, or was that Deshaies?" Thanks for jogging the memory. It was nice that Bagwell got the game winning hit tonight - I understand he and Darryl were good friends.

[ValerieUSA]

You have been ugly to me. I have been reasonable and did not call you names. Your demonstration of sensitivity and respect has been a profane and dishonorable temper tantrum.

[FlJoePa]

Let's see...
* 3-Time All Star
* 19 game winner
* 20 game winner
* Pitched a no hitter

What would you consider top 10%?

[John W]

Maybe your views simply bring out the worst in people.

[Neets]

Arne has done no such thing....in fact he seems to have been quite measured in his responses to you...on the other hand you have been the one dictating how and what entitles people to think and feel what they may...as if because we don't think and feel like you do we are WRONG. AND you seem to quite frequently go out of your way to portray yourself as the expert on this subject.

I think you are tired now and we have all exhausted your air.

[BluesDuke]

This may interest you. Both Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio didn't start the Astros game today because they were shaken by Darryl Kile's death (he was close to them as an Astro and beyond); then, both appeared as pinch hitters toward the game's end - Biggio flied out, but in extra innings Bagwell got the game winning base knock. Each one deals with sudden death in his own manner. None are we to determine which manner is right or proper.

[ValerieUSA]

"You're not welcome in any setting where fun and fellowship is on the menu.
Unlike the hags above who are dead ringers for Alice the Goon and Jane Hathaway, most Freeper females don't sport facial hair and do understand honor, integrity and underwear rotation.
What a graceless shrew.
It's a poignant irony that the two iron maidens don't have the elegance to appreciate.
How can anyone be so bitter and clueless?. ..You're ill informed and you're soulless. What an ugly take you've embraced .."

This is ugliness. Nowhere in my posts will you find anything comparably crude, insulting, cruel and childish or deserving of such a personally vitriolic response.

[John W]

"Nowhere in my posts will you find anything comparably crude, insulting, cruel and childish or deserving of such a personally vitriolic response."

Wrong.Your take on the Kyle death and baseball's response to it is all those and more.

[ArneFufkin]

I don't respect you one iota. You don't know Darryl Kile the man, you don't know Darryl Kile the player, you don't know the wonderful baseball tradition and dynamic of the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs, you don't know the passion of the rivalry between the clubs and the cities, you don't know the real fraternity of baseball players, you don't know the special bond that baseball fans have with the teams and players in their communities, you don't know Bob Gibson, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Stan Musial, Hack Wilson, Fergie Jenkins, Dizzy Dean, Harry Carey and Jack Buck. You don't know jack sheyatt about anything you're babbling about here.

[ValerieUSA]

No, it isn't. My expectation that the game should go on is not mean and vicious and doesn't hurt anyone.