This is something that always cracks me up.
Everyone has experienced it at one point or another and it occasionally ends badly but it is funny.
Think about it… have you ever talked about someone you thought couldn’t hear you and the foot in mouth feeling when you realize they can hear you?
This is especially true of the players out there on the field at The Coke. So many fans yell, heckle, cheer on the players and most do not react. Last night we had a few great examples of how well those players can hear fans. Now the music does block out most sounds, but when the music is done they can hear pretty much anything you say.
In the first inning we started cheering for Shane Victorino in center field. We shared with him, briefly, our signature LEFT RIGHT LEFT cheer which resulted in him turning around shushing us. SHHHHHHHHH! Come on Shane.. all in fun. But he heard us!
Later in the game, our old friend Bubba Bell (Pawtucket’s left fielder last night), came out on to the field and someone yelled, “Hey Bubba! Why aren’t you in centerfield tonight… don’t you like us anymore?” and he immediately responded with a smile and wave. He heard us!
While Victorino and Bell were quite a distance from us I also got a good laugh from Matt Rizzotti.
Every Wednesday home game, the Ironpig’s broadcast team sets their table up someone in the stands and asks fans to join them for an inning on the live game broadcast. Last night I spent the 8th and 9th innings with them while they were set up just a few feet behind the Ironpig’s on deck circle. Early on I kept getting the impression that players were listening in to what we were saying. Curiosity got the best of me and I started talking about Rizzotti.. my intention was to see if he was truly listening. I cracked a few jokes his way and as he struggled to keep a straight face my theory had been proven correct. They are listening.
These players can hear just about everything you say. So keep on cheering, keep on sending out encouraging thoughts…and if so inclined show your appreciation for the good and the bad. You are being heard Lehigh Valley!
OinK!
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
You bet your last dollar, Kehl, players can hear the people in the stadiums, large and small…
Our college coach used to give students money to show up at practice and heckle the players in training.
It was awful. They would know your girlfriend’s name. Everything about you, for example, if you keep harassing me about being skinny I will, sooner or later, get angry.
But, once you get to, say, the University of Connectiucut to play a game and there are 10,000 shrieking maniacs in the stands, which are right are literally right next to the field — then you begin to figure out why coach does the things he does.
It always amazes me when you share stories of the Nation’s interaction with opposing players, like Bubba Bell.
Because I was always taught the very best thing to do with opposing “fans” is to completely ignore them. Do not even look at them! It’s the worst thing one can do, I was told, as it only provides encouragement…
AAA baseball players are paid professionals. It is part of their job to put up with the fans.
The fans, on the other hand, need to keep things sports-related. If a guy is skinny, well, that’s the way it goes. The fans NEVER have any business attacking a player’s girlfriend or mom or sister, etc.
I have always respected and admired Kehl and Noise Nation for keeping things within the boundaries of the unwritten rules!
LEFT RIGHT LEFT is a riot, particularly when one considers many members of the Nation have military backgrounds.
Home field advantage is a natural element indigenous to sport.
Bless the Nation – Lord knows the IronPigs can use all the assistance available!
This is where I wish I was able to watch the whole game on TV2 (I usually have other things I do on the net at that time)… do any of their cameras go over and nose in on Provence/Schaeffer/guests when they do this?
After lots of computer training I have learned to type and use the internet. So I firgured why not reply to my favorite fan club’s blog.
So anyway MY favorite “Can you hear me now moment” was when I say my favorite player Chris Aguila and I went bananas for him! AND GUESS WHAT!?! He waved and laughed and even signed my shirt! AWESOME!
Very funny Arby’s RBI Guy video at Reading Phillies site with Bozied and Rizz. Seems like Rizz has a great sense of humor!
http://www.readingphillies.com
That is a GREAT video! Thanks for posting it. With a team like this they NEED a sense of humor… good stuff!
Taggalicious!!!