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  1. #1
    rodeo clown canuck's Avatar
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    who thinks baseball is boring?

    think again?

    Baseball game turns ugly

    By JANIE McCAULEY

    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 co-operative 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.

    "Tonight, it went over the line," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said after the game. "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 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.

  2. #2
    flibbertigibbet LazyL's Avatar
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    Bratwurst and bat work

    MILWAUKEE, July 10 Pittsburgh first baseman Randall Simon was questioned by sheriff's officers after hitting one of the Milwaukee Brewers' sausage mascots with his bat during a game.


    DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Jon Reddin said he was reviewing tape of Wednesday night's sausage race and would decide later Thursday whether to file charges.

    The Pittsburgh Pirates' Randall Simon is in trouble for taking a swipe at a racing sausage at Wednesday night's game. Four people in sausage costumes race around the infield warning track between the sixth and seventh innings at Brewers' games to entertain fans.

    When the group went past the Pirates' dugout, Simon took a half swing at the Italian sausage character, hitting her from behind and causing her to tumble. When she fell, she also knocked over the woman dressed as the hot dog.

    "They both were treated at the scene for scraped knees, but at this point I don't think they have any other complaints," said Warichak, whose department provides security at Brewers' games.

    Warichak identified the person in the Italian sausage costume as a 19-year-old woman from South Milwaukee whose first name is Mandy, and the person in the hot dog costume as a 21-year-old woman whose first name is Veronica.

    Greenberg said the racing sausages were scheduled to compete against racing pierogies (dumplings) at a series with the Pirates in Pittsburgh Aug. 15-17 and then again during a series between the teams Aug. 22-24 at Milwaukee.

  3. #3
    rodeo clown canuck's Avatar
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    Racing pierogies?!! how stupid is that?

    it's so obvious that a pierogy will be slower than a bratwurst...

    sheesh

  4. #4
    flibbertigibbet LazyL's Avatar
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    yeah, gotta love a sport that has stupid fake-food races during breaks, rather than cheerleaders.?

    And using those early-teen girls as bat-runners is a little perturbing.

  5. #5
    Gimpy NoKnees's Avatar
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    Yah, that was a fun one. I mean, sure, you expect the Oakland folks to be a little rowdy, but it was the ranger pitcher that threw the chair, not the fan as I would have expected.

    Anyway, I'm sure the guy in the stands was way outta line with what he said, and it truly started with him. Just unfortunately his wife ended up getting the brunt of it. 2 words, "Anger Management"...

    I liked the Brewer incident last year, or the year before.. What'ev... The guy was just kidding around and just tapped that big'o Mascot head. The thing weighs as much as the poor woman wearing it. Anyway, yah, she took a header... Bad choice by the player, but really unlucky results.. I think she skinned her knee... She was actually pretty cool with the whole thing once the embarassment was over... Seemed like everyone else had a fit...

    ANyway, I'm rambling... Bad work day... Must escape...
    Greg
    "NoKnees"

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