Throw Francisco out of baseball!!!

Mr. Hyde

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- 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 and hit two spectators in the head during Monday night's loss to the Oakland Athletics.

One of the fans, an unidentified woman, was bloodied and her nose was broken.

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 inning, the Rangers' Alfonso Soriano tied the game 5-5 with his second homer of the night. Moments later, with Hank Blalock at the plate, the Texas bench and bullpen cleared.

After the game, Rangers manager Buck Showalter said the fans ``went over the line.''

``It was a real break from the normal trash you hear from fans. We've had problems about every time we've come here,'' he said.

On Tuesday, Texas owner Tom Hicks issued an apology.

``On behalf of the Texas Rangers, I want to apologize for the conduct of some members of our club last night in Oakland. Their behavior, especially the injury to a fan, was unacceptable. Even in a difficult or abusive environment, players should never be provoked into such actions,'' Hicks said in a statement, adding that he had been in contact with the commissioner's office.

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 on her left temple.

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.

``From what I understand, there was some calls made to security early during the game but I have no idea what started it out there,'' crew chief Joe Brinkman said.

Rinetti said afterward that the woman was being treated at a hospital for facial cuts and a broken nose. Francisco was escorted by police out an alternate stadium exit after the game and into a car waiting on the field.

Rangers officials did not return calls Tuesday morning.

Brocail declined to comment, and Francisco wasn't around the locker room afterward.

Francisco, 25, was the American League rookie of the month for August, when he was 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA.

The teams meet again Tuesday night in Oakland.






The guy is a loser. He doesn't deserve a paycheck. Throw him the fuck out!

Invictus

Fuck that, if he was getting some shit, then the guy had it coming, the woman was unfortunate but hey shit happens.

Mr. Hyde

You're missing the point. He's a fucking player. He's supposed to have the mentality to handle a hostile crowd. The fans pay to be there. He doesn't.

AudioSavior

He is human. Not every player there is can perfect. Fans who talk shit to player is like people who talk shit on the internet. They talk all tough because they have nothing to worry about,except in this case. I blame security for not doing something to control the situation sooner.

Randy Orton

WC's Resident Alchoholic

I probably would have thrown a chair too, I bet the "fan" was probably saying shit to the guy the whole game and hten he finally had enough and threw the chair at him.

Mr. Hyde

He should apologize to the woman for breaking her nose. Although she'll get plenty of compensation I'm sure.

Freak

I don't care what those fans were saying, criticism should never come as a surprise to any athlete, and he should be expected to sit there and take it. The guy has been around for years now, and he has the nerve to throw a CHAIR at these people? What the hell is that? There's 19-year old kids who play college sports and probably hear stuff just as bad when they visit rival schools.

Randy Orton

WC's Resident Alchoholic

i don't think he did anythign worng and the fan most likely deserved it, i would say to apologize to the woman but that don't matter because there will be a lawsuit in a month.

Simon

Founder/Admin

LOL, so anytime someone talks shit to a ballplayer they can hurl large objects into the crowd?!?!??

IMO, he should be thrown out of baseball. That is completely uncalled for. Shit talking is part of the sport. Even if the fan was saying something about his kids, mother, skills as a ballplayer, that is not reason to assault the fan.

Especially when your stupid ass hits the wrong person and breaks her friggin nose. Imagine if it hit some 5 year old and killed him?

What's next? The players go into the crowd with their baseball bats? The fans bring guns to the game? Stupid stupid stupid.

If anything there should be a couple of cops in the bullpens that are so close to the fans.

Randy Orton

WC's Resident Alchoholic

Yes, i can understand why he would throw the chair at him and i'm surprised it doesn't happen more often. Imagine sitting there for 3+ hours and having some guy just talking shit to you the whole time, I think anyone would go crazy. It would have been better if he just wacked him with it WWE style.