First Call: Questions about fan on field at PNC Park during Pirates-Phillies game

In “First Call” Monday, I have so many questions about that fan who got on the field at PNC Park. Also tarp terrors and a Big Ten coach should just keep preachin’ on.

I’m so confused

A fan casually walked up to home plate in the middle of the Pirates-Phillies game Sunday at PNC Park.

A fan just strolls along the field and security did nothing. #RingTheBell #LetsGoBucs @pirates @phillies pic.twitter.com/3T6OUzouqt

— Mike (@ChaiMike26) July 21, 2019

Maybe all this talk of extended protective netting is more about protecting the players from the fans than the fans from foul balls.

It looked like he wanted to shake the hand of Phillies hitter Brad Miller or something. Or, maybe, politely disagree with an earlier strike call against Bryce Harper.

Here’s a view of his escort in handcuffs out of the stadium.

Here he is being escorted away in handcuffs. #RingTheBell #LetsGoBucs @pirates @phillies pic.twitter.com/FQVTmDRoLt

— Mike (@ChaiMike26) July 21, 2019

I have so many questions here.

• How did it take security so long to respond? Do they realize how lucky they are that this guy was just acting like an idiot and not some crazy person trying to inflict harm?

• He’s going to jail. For Brad Miller? The guy is hitting .237.

• Jeans? It’s been 1,000 degrees all weekend. Who is wearing jeans on a day like that?

• The Hawaiian shirt game was strong. Was this planned? Is this some sort of Tommy Bahama endorsement gimmick?

• Where is James Harrison when you need him?

Harrison knows how to take care of unwanted fans pic.twitter.com/1Xr6BGlBpq

— Mitchell zieglar (@ZieglarMitchell) July 21, 2019

Wait, I can answer that question: New England? Snoring in a meeting? On FS1 ripping Mike Tomlin?

Never mind. Forget I asked.

It comes with the job

I’m going to assume this guy is OK, since I haven’t seen anything on Twitter about a man being swallowed whole by a tarp in Chicago.

But it appears this member of the Cubs grounds crew may be asking for a personal day the next time rain is in the forecast.

He got rolled up in the tarp

(Via @RandyWesleySD)pic.twitter.com/U1Ugfhiqta

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 21, 2019

Those guys need hazard pay.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the Cubs grounds crew have its issues.

VIDEO: Wrigley ground crew struggles to get tarp on field, gets booed http://t.co/sCVi4cMRlb

— Deadspin (@Deadspin) August 20, 2014

Yet, somehow, I don’t see Wrigley Field getting replaced by a dome anytime soon.

Can I get an amen?!

Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald was asked about why college football attendance may be dwindling.

He went on a screed against the youth of America and their infatuation with the cell phones.

Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald puts NCAA football's attendance problem and really society's eventual downfall in perspective:

Phones.

I know you might be watching this on one, but couldn't agree more with @PatFitzgerald23 pic.twitter.com/lQfiyVmpmM

— Rick Tarsitano (@RickTarsitano) July 20, 2019

The more Fitzgerald broadened the conversation, the more he was right. It’s not just about phones. It’s about technology and our symbiotic relationship with it in the 21st century.

Nothing in front of us seems as important as what is happening elsewhere. What can get to us in our hands always seems more important than what our eyes are actually seeing.

Yeah, Fitzgerald was slightly “old man yelling at a cloud.”

Yeah, Fitzgerald was a little “these darned kids today.”

Fitzgerald also was 100% right.

Pillar power

Defensively, the San Francisco Giants knew what they were getting in Kevin Pillar.

A highlight machine with a glove.

Just ask Pete Alonso and J.D. Davis of the New York Mets. They figured that out in the top of the first inning Sunday.

Nice catch, better throw. pic.twitter.com/V1hsQhqAUV

— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2019

Pillar has had a few of those in the past.