America's #1 Online Cigar Auction
first, best, biggest!

Last post 19 years ago by xibbumbero. 6 replies replies.
Pitcher arrested in chair-throwing incident
SteveS Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
I not only wasn't at this game, I didn't see it on TV, see a report on the TV news OR read about it in this morning's paper ... guess I missed some pretty crazy stuff ...
=================================================================
OAKLAND, California (AP) -- Tuesday, September 14, 2004 Posted: 12:15 PM EDT
Texas reliever Frank Francisco was arrested Tuesday morning on a charge of aggravated battery after he threw a chair into the right field box seats, hitting two spectators in the head, as Oakland A's fans taunted the visitors.
One of the fans, an unidentified woman, was bloodied and her nose was broken in the incident Monday, which happened after a two-out, top-of-the-ninth homer tied the game.
Major league baseball's commissioner's office said Tuesday morning that it was investigating. Francisco was cooperative after he was taken into custody, Oakland Police Department deputy chief Peter Dunbar said.
With two outs in the ninth, Texas Ranger Alfonso Soriano tied the game at 5 on his second homer of the night. Moments later, with the Rangers' Hank Blalock at the plate, the Texas bench and bullpen cleared.
"Tonight, it went over the line," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. "It was a real break from the normal trash you hear from fans. We've had problems about every time we've come here."
Texas reliever Doug Brocail was seen screaming at a male fan, and the pitcher had to be restrained by his teammates and bullpen coach Mark Connor. Others also had to be held back.
Francisco threw the chair at a fan in a lower box near the Rangers' bullpen along the right-field line. The chair hit one man in the head, then bounced and struck the woman.
Security ran to the scene and a small section of fans was cleared from their seats.
A's manager Ken Macha came across the field to speak to Dave Rinetti, vice president of stadium operations, before play resumed 19 minutes later.
There was talk between the umpires and managers of suspending the game, clearing the stands and forfeiting the game.
The Athletics won 7-6 in the 10th inning.
Rinetti said afterward that the woman was being treated at a hospital for facial cuts and a broken nose and was considering pressing charges. Francisco was escorted by police out an alternate stadium exit after the game and into a car waiting on the field. No arrests were made.
Brocail declined comment, and Francisco wasn't around the locker room afterward.
Francisco, 25, was named American League rookie of the month for August, when he was 3-0 with a 1.69 earned-run average.
drjothen Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 10-17-2003
Posts: 319
As an ex-minor league player I would never condone what the pitcher did but I also could never understand how some people thought that purchasing a ticket also gave them the right to be not only profane but at times physically threatening or give them the right to throw things on the field.

I remember an occurance when after sliding into third on a base clearing triple, I stood up and then bent back over to knock dirt of my lower body. Right after I bent over the third baseman was struck by a chunk of plaster that was thrown at me. Fortunately it hit him in the back and did no damage. How much are we expected to take.

DRJ
plabonte Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 09-11-2000
Posts: 2,131
Verbally taunting the individual I think is a part of the game and for what the major leagers are paid they should have to take.

Threats of physical abuse, throwing of anything, or taunting other then to the individual (such as to their spouse, mother, children, etc.) is unacceptable and the fan should be ejected.

Unless you are at a Detroit Red Wings game during the playoffs in which case you should be able to throw an octopus on the ice but not at any players. :o)
rayder1 Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 06-02-2002
Posts: 2,226
Man that's bad. I've beed to a few hundred A's games and never saw fans get unruly...except at the umpires...but never at the level to get a response from the team.

I used to have seats right above the visitor dugout. There was a bit of messing around...but never crossing the line that got crossed here.

Most of the times...kids in A's hats would chat with opposing players and dangle baseballs by string to get autographs from the visitors. Must have been fans with free tickets.

BTW I think whatb this player did was way worse than anything Pete Rose ever did. Maybe he should be banned for life.
Charlie Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 39,751
Doesn't matter if fans got unruly or not, he had no business throwing a chair or anything into the crowd! If the fan comes onto the field then it becomes a differnt matter, but no chairs allowed.....this is not professional wrestling.

Charlie
SteveS Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
"... no chairs allowed.....this is not professional wrestling"

(or Indiana basketball)

xibbumbero Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
At a Dodgers came in Sandy Eggo a fan behind the dugout got too verbally aggressive, so Tommy Lasorda notified security that a fan used a racial slur towards a player. Security came and threw the fan out in spite of other fans protesting that no racial slur had been used. X
Users browsing this topic
Guest