(if you say something to Gary about losing his chef to Barry Bonds, well, them’s fighting words)
When most of the postgame chit-chat oughta center around the shitty umpiring and Randy Johnson getting knocked around for the 2nd game in a row, instead we’ll be hearing plenty about the boorish behavior of Boston fans, one of whom had the chutzpah (ie. beer muscles) to feign a swipe at the Yankee right-fielder.
Sheffield, who was praised by Johnny Damon of all people during WEEI’s post-game wrap for showing “restraint”, chose to shove the offending fan while a ball was still in play and baserunners were advancing. I realize they don’t often work on that play during spring-training, but considering the Yankees have two more visits to Fenway in the regular season, perhaps that’s something they can practice on an off-day.
Human rights activists and card-players alike will note that while Ron Artest was suspended for the better part of an NBA season, Sheffield wasn’t even ejected from tonight’s game. If no action from MLB is forthcoming, we can only presume that Sheff is off the hook because he failed to properly beat anyone up.
POSTSCRIPT : Sheffield claims he was hit in the mouth, which is certainly a serious thing. Hopefully the Yankees medical staff will find the right sort of balm to rub on Gary’s legs in order to facilitate faster healing.)
that “fan” was a classic masshole. Johnny Damon should also be given props to the security guard for restraining himself from duking it out with Shef. Fenway must be using different security than the middle east club.
Larry Bowa was recomending a one-year stadium ban for fuckheadz who run on the field, interfere with play, etc. Over in England, would be WIlliam Lique’s are banned for life (unless they’re Cardiff City troublemakers, in which case they get jobs for life with Sam Hamman).
Perhaps this will halt the deluge of sportswriters pontificating on how these two teams, fans, and cities despise each other. Though I can’t wait until Kay loses his last bearing and lists why Jesus is a Yankees fan.
Had that fan touched the ball, Varitek would have been held to a double and one run would not have been scored. The Sox fans should have jumped that slob on those grounds alone. I was listening to the game on radio last night and got a laugh at how the male announcer for the Yanks was all “hey, I’d take a swing at him (the fan) too” while the female announcer was taking umbrage at Sheffield taking a poke at the fan. I would concur with Bowa and idiots who interefere with a ball in play should be banned for a year and if they are season ticket/ticket plan holders, their plan rescinded without refund.
Re: Ground Rule double. I was watching the Indians-White Sox last night for some reason instead of doing my taxes or watching Yankees-Red Sox and saw the same bonehead play by a Cleveland fan in a tie game with a Cleveland runner on first and two out. The jacko grabs the ball, the runners stop at 2nd and 3rd, jacko gets ejected, the next batter pops up, inning over. I really don’t want Minnesota-style plexiglass all over our nation’s finest ballyards, but stuff like this; and the A’s-Rangers chair last year; and Reggie Sanders in the 2002 World Series with thundersticks raining on him only make it more likely.
This also applies to balls hit by the opposing team. There was a game last year where a fan nearly touched a ball that was hit down the left-field line. Pat Burrell fielded the ball and threw the lead runner out at the plate to end the inning. Had the fan touched the ball it would have been runners at 2nd and 3rd with two outs rather than the end of the inning.