Assault in baseball...?

[AYHJA]

Hmmm, interesting...

Jose Offerman was arrested and suspended for assault after he went after a pitcher that beaned him...Hmmm...I don't have any substance for it, but I don't like it...I don't like the idea that a pitcher can go after a hitter, and a hitter be the one hit for assault...I don't think that it should have happened, but all I can see now is a bunch of sanctions and rules that will zap even more life out of what I feel is already a dwindling sport...

Thoughts..?

[trashtalkr]

I think it's completely fine that he got charged with assault. Think about this: a man is walking down the street and another guy comes out of the alley and beats him with a baseball bat. Definitely assault. Now, during this baseball game, Offerman came after an unarmed pitcher and catcher. The pitcher now has a broken finger on his pitching hand (that could potentially end his career) and the catcher has a severe concussion that has ended his season and who knows what the long term effects will be. This is definitely a case of assault - on the baseball field or off of the field.

You do bring up a good point about the pitchers going after batters. I think baseball should do something to cut those down also, but as an isolated case, this was definitely assault

[ruffriders23]

I am mad that it took this long for someone to press charges. Fighting with weapons is not part of the game.

[AYHJA]

I definitely think it should go both ways...Just cause you hit me first and I only got a bruise, and I retaliate and beat the crap out of you doesn't mean that I'm the guilty party...One would have to assume that had that pitcher not hit Offerman, he wouldn't be in this situation...I mean, there's no way to know for sure, but I wouldn't be thinking, 'OK, I'm gonna hit this guy w/a 80 MPH fastball, he's gonna wince w/pain, but not want to come kick my ass...'

I don't think dude should have went ballistic and whipped his ass w/a bat, but still...Think of it like a car accident...You know accidents happen, but if you were in your car, watching this guy look right in your face as he drove directly into your passenger side door...Sure cars can be fixed, and most wounds will heal, but I can't say w/any degree of certainly that I wouldn't get out of my car, snatch dude the fuck out and try to kick his ass...

[Jgrrrr]

Beaning players has always been part of the game to send a message. Not the best way where a fastball or cutter to certain parts of the body can lead to something dangerous.
I see what you're saying though about the pitcher and his motive to use a baseball, but it's been looked on by many for years as something that is just part of a game. When the batter gets hit however, the golden rule is to not bring a bat with you, that thing is as many times more dangerous than a fastball

[trashtalkr]

Since this was a minor league game, there is no video that is circulating the web about this incident. So we won't know for sure if the pitcher intentionally hit Offerman or not. From the news reports, though, the beaning did not sound like a retaliation for something that happened earlier. I think Offerman just got pissed.

As a baseball player, I know all about the intentional beanballs to send messages to hitters. Pitchers never do it just to do it though. Usually that batter broke an "unwritten" rule earlier in the game and deserves it. Hitters usually know when it's coming. Also, a good pitcher won't aim for a place where it'll hurt too bad. They should aim for the butt or the upper thigh for an intentional hit. A 90 mph fastball is going to hurt no matter what, but it is a thing of "I don't want to hit you, but you deserve it."

Never should a batter go after a player with a bat

[AYHJA]

TT you have a perspective that I cannot share, as you are the only ball player I know...

But if pitchers can send a message...Bean a player...Shouldn't Offerman's message be accepted as well..? A baseball is a hard, concentrated object...If the pitcher wants to send a message, then he should fucking strike the guy out, not hit him with the ball...I can't make those distinctions, I don't care if you hit me w/a fly swatter or a walking cane, the fact of the the mater is that you fucking hit me, and therefore I have the right to assume you assaulted me...

I just can't find a hypothetical that can make me understand otherwise...To me, if a guy beans a guy, lets fine him, hit him up w/some charges or something...That way, whether its intentional or not, he'll fucking get some control or be looking for a new job...