When players attack
 

Has Jose Offerman lost his mind? In a MiLB game he was HBP and charged the mound.... with the BAT! :eek: He is now charged with assault for hitting both the catcher and the pitcher with the bat. Arrested in the clubhouse and bail set and posted at $10,000.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2975386

From the article - "Offerman, Beech and (Tommy) John were all ejected."

What did Beech do, other than imitate in for a piñata???

http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spd...news-headlines

"Out of the majors since playing for the New York Mets in 2005, Offerman homered in the first inning Tuesday night for the Long Island Ducks. The next inning, he was hit by a pitch from Bridgeport Bluefish starter Matt Beech and charged the mound with his bat."

Not condoning what Offerman did, but intentionally throwing at a batter after the batter hits a home run should be grounds for assault charges as well. Maybe or maybe not if the pitch is in the thigh, backside, or ribs. But definitely if it is at the head.

Offerman was hit in the calf. There was no mention of 'intent' in the article cited in the OP. I didn't see the play but 'intent' seems to be a hard sell when the batter was hit in the calf. More likely an umpire playing CYA.

Well, let's see:

• • Hit in the calf with a cutter.
  • Let's hit the pitcher in the head with a bat.

Yup, sounds fair to me ----- NOT!

Offerman was a head case when he played for Boston years ago! I see that time hasn't changed him. In my opinion, Baseball should set him aside for life for pulling this stunt!

No Mercy for the Wicked!

I didn't say it was fair. But it is high time pitchers who intentionally throw at the head (didn't happen in this case, but it does happen) face charges as well.

with a Pticher you cant prove INTENT...hell' say it was a accident. a batter chargin w a bat is always INTENT however

If I'm a pitcher and I want to throw at somebody I'm aiming at the biggest piece of him I can find. For players not named Barry Bonds that's usually their butt.

As an umpire I may rule 'intent' if a pitch is up and in, depending on what preceded the incident. I have a hard time seeing intent when the batter was hit in the lower leg.

To start with, most times you see a ball heading for a batter's head is an accident. Balls slip, mechanics go crazy - in other words $hit happens, and the ball goes to the wrong place. You will rarely ever see a fast ball heading for a batter's head unless the pitcher is really wild (or wants to leave the game). Pitchers will throw to the body but usually off speed.

"A professional pitcher can put the ball where ever he wants. So if I am going to throw at your head, I'm going to make sure that it's my best pitch because it's such a small target! And my best pitch is straight as an arrow at over 98 MPH!" Nolan Ryan

Something to think about.

I think he has lost his mind according to his game

Hyperbole. Even Ryan walked 2795 batters.

Juan Marichal, reincarnated.

Bob

Inside dope on Offie
 

I happen to live in Bridgeport and am webmaster for the Bluefish (the defensive team in thisincident). I wasn't at the game, but have talked to quite a few who were there.

Offerman (an ex-Bluefish, BTW) lollgagged it trotting around the bases on his first-inning dinger. Catcher John Nathans said something to him on his next at bat. Then, Matt Beech hit him with in the calf on an 0-1 curve.

Here's the link to Offie's "denial." Then click on the photo to see a well-done slide show. No video crew was at the game.

Hmmm two ballplayers faking a broken finger and a concussion? Do I smell a rodent?

http://www.connpost.com//ci_6631730?...w.connpost.com

Ace, cub reporter

So Ryan wanted to place the ball in a position where the batter might swing, or a walk would occur, and he didn't care which.

Yep, every single time.:rolleyes:

Wouldn't intent on the pitcher's part be a judgement call? If I think a pitcher threw at somebody on purpose, he's gone. I think the events preceding the event have a lot to do with how I would handle the situation. With that said, a batter that carries a bat to the mound has pretty much taken all doubt out of my mind as to what he is about to do. If he hits a guy in the parking lot with a bat, he is probably going to be arrested. This guy needs to be ran from the game for life. When a batter steps in the box, he takes a chance on getting hit with a pitch. A pitcher shouldn't have to wonder if he is going to be attacked with a baseball bat.

I have lost track. How many games were missed by the guy in Durham who threw a bat at the umpire? Was it like 80? Don't think he will be removed for life. It's happened in the BIGS before also and as far as I can remember no one has been removed for life for this.

Proper Diagnosis of Symptoms?
 

Why did Nathans immediately return to his position after possibly sustaining a concussion; amnesia? I would think that if Nathans was hit on the back of the head, the symptoms would have been a bump on the head and a call for an ice pack. He was treated and released the very same night after throwing up and complaining of nausea. X-rays must have not turned up any swelling or he would have been hospitalized for observation.

Anyone else see the blow to the back of his head? Perhaps, in the excitement, Nathans swallowed his dip of snuff or his chew of tobacco. Perhaps the over-exertion during the melee brought about heat related symptons of nausea and vomiting. Is there a Dr. in the house to explain Nathan's nervous reaction after being hit on the head?

Offerman lied in that article -- he most certainly did take a swing at Beech. The slideshow clearly shows that.

But curiously enough, the blow appeared to land mostly on Beech's pitching hand. At no point does it appear to hit Nathans on the back of the head.

Still, a broken finger is hard to fake, with x-rays and all. It might've happened during the ensuing melee.

Either way, stupid move on Offerman's part.

Mike Wilbon (pti) says thatt JO was entilted to swing his bat at Pitch becusee Baseball wont do away w the beanball. so there. I saw it on Pti the other day.

Would you take a DR. in an educational sense rather than a medical licensing one? :D Nausea is common to concussions.

Now, tell me who got beaned. No one.

I saw Nathans the day after he got hit. He was still shaky.

This guy is a hard-nosed ballplayer.

I cannot believe that people on this board can support Offerman's actions.

Ace

Shame on you for suggesting this. And it's "exertion" and "nausea."

Ace

i dont. it was Wilbon who did--i just report that fact. i couldnt bel he defended it either!

he kept sayin that aslong as Pitchers can buzz batters wo being arrested then batters can attack them w thier bats legally! i think the guy is nutzo myself.

The guy in Durham was Delmon Young (Dimitri's brother), who is now in the major leagues. Certainly not banned for life, I'd have to say.

But on the bright side it cost Delmon close to 1/2 a year in MLB and I suspect he is on a very short leash so far as the umpires are concerned. 1/2 a year at the MLB rookie minimum is something like $380k, so he lost $200K plus his AA pay.

Offerman hit F2 on the BACKSWING after hitting F1. His recoil got the catcher in the head.

Don't assume until you got the all the facts, gentleman.

So, would that be "soft" interference?

get all the facts, then assume?? :confused: