Jose Offerman goes bezerk - attacks pitcher w/ bat (1 Viewer)

[Nigel]

link w/ pics.

Former Red Sox infielder Jose Offerman was arrested Tuesday night after charging the mound and hitting the pitcher and catcher with his bat during an independent minor league game.

Bridgeport police said Offerman was arrested, but did not detail the charge. A source told the Connecticut Post he was charged with second-degree assault and faced a $10,000 bond. Police said he posted bond.

Offerman, playing for the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League, homered in the first inning. The next inning, he was hit by a pitch from Bridgeport Blue Fish starter Matt Beech and charged the mound with his bat.

Offerman hit Beech in the hands and struck catcher John Nathans in the head. The Connecticut Post reported that Nathans suffered from nausea, Bluefish lefthander Mike Porzio said. Police said Beech, according to the Post, had a broken right middle finger.

"He hit him with a cut fastball in the left calf," Bluefish manager and former major league pitcher Tommy John told the Post. "And the next thing you know, Offerman's going to the mound with his bat over his head taking swings at Beech. He took at least two, maybe even three (swings)."

"It was just a scary incident for everybody witnessing took place," said Porzio, who according to the Post signed a witness report after the attack. "Everybody was in shock at the time because it's not something you see. I've played 15 years and I've never seen that before.

"Everyone was fearful for Matt Beech because apparently something set Offerman off, because he's played a long time and nobody could believe what they were seeing. Unfortunately, though, he got out to the mound before we could. Luckily for Matt Beech, he was agile enough to dodge a bat. But it may have only been John Nathans taking one on the backswing in the head to have saved Matt Beech from really taking one in the face."

The game was delayed for about 20 minutes because of the melee. Offerman, Beech, and John were all ejected.

"I called (Atlantic League executive director) Joe Klein immediately after the incident and told him what had occurred on the field," Bluefish CEO Mary-Jane Foster told the Post. "And I have asked that the Atlantic League suspend Jose Offerman from the league for life."

Offerman batted .273 during his 15 seasons in the majors. He last played in the majors in 2005 with Philadelphia and the New York Mets. He was an All-Star in 1995 with the Dodgers and 1999 with Boston.

Former Red Sox outfielder Carl Everett is one of Offerman's teammates on the Ducks.

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

Roid Rage?

 

[Nigel]

Roid Rage?

my guess is sucking-at-baseball rage.

 

[wilked]

Roid Rage?

Could be:

Offerman, playing for the Long Island Ducks

 

[redman]

If Jose Offerman ever attacks you, just curl up in a ball on the ground.

Because if there's one thing we all know, it's that Offerman can't handle a ground ball.

[/Dodger fan]

 

[TommyGilmore]

Why is it that if you injure an opponent with your fists, it's just "part of the game" -- but if you cause the EXACT SAME INJURY with a baseball bat, you get arrested??

 

[The Man from Laramie]

Why is it that if you injure an opponent with your fists, it's just "part of the game" -- but if you cause the EXACT SAME INJURY with a baseball bat, you get arrested??

You really don't see the difference?

 

[The Man from Laramie]

If Jose Offerman ever attacks you, just curl up in a ball on the ground. Because if there's one thing we all know, it's that Offerman can't handle a ground ball. [/Dodger fan]

golf clap

 

[The Man from Laramie]

kudos to the catcher for protecting his pitcher.

 

[Please See Mine]

Wow, Matt Beech is still around.

 

[Trip Mcneely]

Good for him !

 

[The Shizzle]

Wheres the video?

 

[Please See Mine]

Here are a couple pics:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/2007...for_attack.html

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/spor...batassault.html

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

Why is it that if you injure an opponent with your fists, it's just "part of the game" -- but if you cause the EXACT SAME INJURY with a baseball bat, you get arrested??

The better question is why are pitchers allowed to throw at hitters jepardizing their careers and hitters are suppose to just take it?Or, how many times has Roger Clemens been arrested?

 

[Alias]

slideshow, *almost* as good as video:

http://extras.connpost.com/offerman/

 

[TommyGilmore]

Why is it that if you injure an opponent with your fists, it's just "part of the game" -- but if you cause the EXACT SAME INJURY with a baseball bat, you get arrested??

The better question is why are pitchers allowed to throw at hitters jepardizing their careers and hitters are suppose to just take it?Or, how many times has Roger Clemens been arrested?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending Offerman. But baseball players have done far worse damage with other objects (fists, cleats, baseballs) and were barely punished. THAT's what's unfair.

 

[The Shizzle]

slideshow, *almost* as good as video:

http://extras.connpost.com/offerman/

Last picture, pink shirt, front row. Can you zoom in?

 

[redman]

Can someone explain to me why the pitcher was tossed out of that game?

 

[redman]

Why is it that if you injure an opponent with your fists, it's just "part of the game" -- but if you cause the EXACT SAME INJURY with a baseball bat, you get arrested??

The better question is why are pitchers allowed to throw at hitters jepardizing their careers and hitters are suppose to just take it?Or, how many times has Roger Clemens been arrested?

Sorry, but that's idiotic. The game assumes that the pitcher is throwing in the hitter's direction. There's also an internal struggle in the game over control of the strike zone, meaning the pitcher throws inside. Do some guys headhunt? Absolutely, though it's pretty rare these days. But it's not in the same category as taking a bat out to the pitchers mound.

 

[TommyGilmore]

slideshow, *almost* as good as video:

http://extras.connpost.com/offerman/

Last picture, pink shirt, front row. Can you zoom in?

She's about 13 years old.

 

[nase]

slideshow, *almost* as good as video:

http://extras.connpost.com/offerman/

Good find. I hope #27 got suspended. ####### pushed down the pitcher who was trying to protect his catcher from a madman with a baseball bat. Real ####### classy.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

Why is it that if you injure an opponent with your fists, it's just "part of the game" -- but if you cause the EXACT SAME INJURY with a baseball bat, you get arrested??

The better question is why are pitchers allowed to throw at hitters jepardizing their careers and hitters are suppose to just take it?Or, how many times has Roger Clemens been arrested?

Sorry, but that's idiotic. The game assumes that the pitcher is throwing in the hitter's direction. There's also an internal struggle in the game over control of the strike zone, meaning the pitcher throws inside. Do some guys headhunt? Absolutely, though it's pretty rare these days. But it's not in the same category as taking a bat out to the pitchers mound.

I'm not talking about pitching inside. I'm talking about taking and deliberately throwing a 90+ MPH fastball with the intention of hitting an opposing batter. Many time the intent can be reasonably doubted, but, while rare there are cases where there is no doubts about the intent.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

Can someone explain to me why the pitcher was tossed out of that game?

Yes, but you would find the reason "idiotic".

 

[avoiding injuries]

Just came across the video.(ameteur)

 

[Night Hawks]

Just came across the video.(ameteur)

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Why is it that if you injure an opponent with your fists, it's just "part of the game" -- but if you cause the EXACT SAME INJURY with a baseball bat, you get arrested??

The better question is why are pitchers allowed to throw at hitters jepardizing their careers and hitters are suppose to just take it?Or, how many times has Roger Clemens been arrested?

Sorry, but that's idiotic. The game assumes that the pitcher is throwing in the hitter's direction. There's also an internal struggle in the game over control of the strike zone, meaning the pitcher throws inside. Do some guys headhunt? Absolutely, though it's pretty rare these days. But it's not in the same category as taking a bat out to the pitchers mound.

Clemens was on the juice then.He threw the bat at Piazza and then said he thought it was the ball.I'm trying to remember the rule where you can throw the ball at the runner to get him out.

 

[redman]

Why is it that if you injure an opponent with your fists, it's just "part of the game" -- but if you cause the EXACT SAME INJURY with a baseball bat, you get arrested??

The better question is why are pitchers allowed to throw at hitters jepardizing their careers and hitters are suppose to just take it?Or, how many times has Roger Clemens been arrested?

Sorry, but that's idiotic. The game assumes that the pitcher is throwing in the hitter's direction. There's also an internal struggle in the game over control of the strike zone, meaning the pitcher throws inside. Do some guys headhunt? Absolutely, though it's pretty rare these days. But it's not in the same category as taking a bat out to the pitchers mound.

I'm not talking about pitching inside. I'm talking about taking and deliberately throwing a 90+ MPH fastball with the intention of hitting an opposing batter. Many time the intent can be reasonably doubted, but, while rare there are cases where there is no doubts about the intent.

Isn't it a key point that you can't discern in most cases between those times when an aggressive pitcher throws inside and happens to hit a guy versus a malicious pitcher throws to hit a batter? Not ever aggressive pitch will avoid hitting a batter just like not every malicious pitch will hit a batter. To me it's ridiculous to take the stance that every hit batsman should result in the conclusion that the pitcher was trying to hit him.

Can someone explain to me why the pitcher was tossed out of that game?

Yes, but you would find the reason "idiotic".

Please pout more.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

Why is it that if you injure an opponent with your fists, it's just "part of the game" -- but if you cause the EXACT SAME INJURY with a baseball bat, you get arrested??

The better question is why are pitchers allowed to throw at hitters jepardizing their careers and hitters are suppose to just take it?Or, how many times has Roger Clemens been arrested?

Sorry, but that's idiotic. The game assumes that the pitcher is throwing in the hitter's direction. There's also an internal struggle in the game over control of the strike zone, meaning the pitcher throws inside. Do some guys headhunt? Absolutely, though it's pretty rare these days. But it's not in the same category as taking a bat out to the pitchers mound.

I'm not talking about pitching inside. I'm talking about taking and deliberately throwing a 90+ MPH fastball with the intention of hitting an opposing batter. Many time the intent can be reasonably doubted, but, while rare there are cases where there is no doubts about the intent.

Isn't it a key point that you can't discern in most cases between those times when an aggressive pitcher throws inside and happens to hit a guy versus a malicious pitcher throws to hit a batter? Not ever aggressive pitch will avoid hitting a batter just like not every malicious pitch will hit a batter. To me it's ridiculous to take the stance that every hit batsman should result in the conclusion that the pitcher was trying to hit him.

Then I guess it is a good thing that this assertion wasn't made than isn't it.