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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Dayton Daily News: Hopper admits putting baseball in Freel’s glove

Why wasn’t Freel’s catch of Humberto Cota’s long drive one of ESPN’s Web gems? Because Freel didn’t catch it. With evidence mounting, Norris Hopper confessed that he put the baseball in Freel’s glove after they collided and Freel was knocked out and taken to a hospital.
...
OK, how about Hopper shoving the baseball into Freel’s glove while Freel lay still on the grass?

“I didn’t have to touch Freel,” said Hopper. “The ball was right there, inches from his open glove, and I just had to roll it in quickly.”

Said Griffey, “That was smart. Saved Kyle Lohse an earnie (earned run).”

Dayton Daily News: Hatteberg’s homer lifts Reds past struggling Astros (RR)

NTNgod Posted: May 30, 2007 at 02:13 AM | 21 comment(s)
Related News: General, Cincinnati

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1. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: May 30, 2007 at 02:29 AM (#2384154)

A team can't protest a game after it's over, right? But this is much more "cheating" than steroids is. Let's see the media call for Hopper's head.

2. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: May 30, 2007 at 03:02 AM (#2384163)

It is official: Human lives must be sacrificed to lower the ERA of Kyle Lohse

3. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: May 30, 2007 at 03:07 AM (#2384166)

It is official: Human lives must be sacrificed to lower the ERA of Kyle Lohse

LOL ... ouch!

4. Dan Contilli Posted: May 30, 2007 at 03:07 AM (#2384167)

Not that I'm not happy he's telling the truth, 'cause that's great, but why would you admit to that?

BTW, does Griffey come off like a jerk in this article, or is it just me.

5. bunyon Posted: May 30, 2007 at 03:09 AM (#2384168)

You'd admit to it because you aren't adept at dealing with a pressing media.

6. Baldrick Posted: May 30, 2007 at 03:52 AM (#2384174)

"Saved Kyle Lohse an earnie (earned run).”

Did he really say "earnie"?

Really?

7. JMN Has Mastered Impact and Dominate Posted: May 30, 2007 at 03:57 AM (#2384176)

Give the kid high marks for quick thinking, and make sure he gets a Gaylord Perry autographed glove. I like the cricket ethos as much as the next guy, but baseball ain't cricket.

8. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: May 30, 2007 at 04:16 AM (#2384181)

A team can't protest a game after it's over, right? But this is much more "cheating" than steroids is.

Just like every player of the 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s who has ever admitted to amphetamine use, Hopper only tried putting the ball into Freel's glove once. He immediately didn't like the way it felt, and he never tried putting the ball into Freel's glove again.

9. vortex of dissipation Posted: May 30, 2007 at 04:17 AM (#2384182)

BTW, does Griffey come off like a jerk in this article, or is it just me.

No, he's just being his usual sarcastic self. Put a smiley next to the quotes...

10. Joe Bivens, Proud Union Member Posted: May 30, 2007 at 06:51 AM (#2384196)

Cheating? No. Not really. Almost. Maybe. Ok, it is, but it's relative. It's why they have umpires. Ballplayers do all sorts of things to try to fool umpires. Always have, always will.

11. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: May 30, 2007 at 07:12 AM (#2384198)

I know, and I think it's fine, just like I think steroids are fine. But the Mariottis of the world act like cheating is the end of the world--but only if it's done by the muscle-bound types, not the ones they're hoping will be the next Freel.

12. Fly Has Risen, Like a Phoenix from Arizona Posted: May 30, 2007 at 07:55 AM (#2384205)

I think this is cheating to the exact same degree as holding in football is cheating. You can't do it, and it's against the rules, but there are penalties in the rules: 10 yards in football, no catch in baseball. That's why we have officials.

13. Craig Calcaterra Posted: May 30, 2007 at 08:41 AM (#2384227)

I suppose you can bump up the scienter a tad because it was a bit slower in developing and a bit more calculated, but really, how is this fundamentally different from an outfielder trapping a ball and then bouncing up and raising his glove hand in the air, hoping blue calls an out?

Funny thing: Hopper's quick thinking was ten times scapprier than anything Freel has ever done.

14. zonk Posted: May 30, 2007 at 08:46 AM (#2384229)

So if it's only cheating if you get caught, is it also cheating if you turn yourself in?

15. Bangkok9 eschews 1 from Column A Posted: May 30, 2007 at 08:59 AM (#2384235)

Baseball has always been about getting away with stuff for money.

16. too fat and ugly to play third Posted: May 30, 2007 at 09:50 AM (#2384274)

His children should be taken away. More accurately, somebody should be knocked out and then Hopper should place his children in that person's hand.

17. Harold Reynolds: An Erotic Life (AG#1F) Posted: May 30, 2007 at 09:56 AM (#2384278)

Behold!

18. TWO!-OH!-OH!-OH! CLAP!-CLAP!-CLAP!CLAP!CLAP! Posted: May 30, 2007 at 10:34 AM (#2384320)

I can't stand cheating players these days like Hopper, Belle, and Truby ....

19. Dave Posted: May 30, 2007 at 11:09 AM (#2384378)

But this is much more "cheating" than steroids is.

Is there an official rule against pretending you (or your teammate) caught the ball? Or lying to the ump? What is the penalty?

20. Brian White Posted: May 30, 2007 at 12:26 PM (#2384456)

but why would you admit to that?

If you watched the replay video that was on ESPN.com (which is no longer there, and the one on MLB.com doesn't show it), it was pretty obvious he put the ball back in Freel's glove. If Hopper continued to deny it, he would have looked pretty stupid for arguing against something everyone could see on video.

And players try to deceive umpires all the time; its pretty much a part of the game. I don't see anything particularly wrong or unusual with what Hopper did.

21. Shibal Posted: May 30, 2007 at 07:20 PM (#2384968)

Interesting. I went to MLB.com to see a replay of the game, and they don't have it available on archives.

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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Dayton Daily News: Hopper admits putting baseball in Freel’s glove

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