kingjammy24
08-15-2007, 03:17 PM
Offerman lets temper get best of him
td.yspwidearticlebody { font-size: 13.5px; }August 15, 2007
By PA SportsTicker
It only took a matter of seconds for Jose Offerman to ruin whatever reputation he had built as a baseball player. A former major league All-Star, Offerman was charged with two counts of second-degree assault after launching a rage-filled attack with a baseball bat during an independent minor league game Tuesday night.
The night started on a positive note for Offerman, an infielder for the Long Island Ducks who had homered off Bridgeport Bluefish lefthander Matt Beech in the first inning.
Just an inning later, Offerman lost his mind and perhaps his livelihood as a baseball player.
After getting hit by a pitch from Beech, Offerman charged the mound with his baseball bat in hand.
Wielding his bat like a weapon, Offerman drilled catcher John Nathans in the back of the head and nailed Beech on the fingertips of the right hand.
Offerman's reckless actions left Nathans with a concussion and Beech with a broken right finger. Both players were treated at a hospital and released.
"It was just a scary incident for everybody witnessing what took place," Bluefish pitcher Mike Porzio told the Connecticut Post. "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 actions had Offerman, 38, being led from The Ballpark at Harbor Yard in handcuffs. He posted $10,000 bond and is due in Bridgeport Superior Court on August 23.
Offerman should have plenty of time on his hands since his career in the Atlantic League could be over. Bluefish chief executive Mary-Jane Foster has asked the league to suspend Offerman for life.
Getting a mild reprieve, Offerman on Wednesday was suspended indefinitely by Joe Klein, the league's executive director.
"We'll suspend Offerman indefinitely, which is what we do when we have an incident," Klein said. "Then he'll come in and have a hearing and a couple days later we make our decision."
When Offerman snapped, it left memories of another ugly incident in a minor league game.
In 2001, Izzy Alcantara was playing for the Class AAA Pawtucket Red Sox when he snapped in a game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.
After getting hit by a pitch, Alcantara had his own method of revenge. Before heading to the mound, the hot-head unleashed a karate kick to the chest protector of Jeremy Salazar, knocking the catcher back before making his way to the mound.
Alcantara incited a benches-clearing brawl, leaving quite a memory for fans who attended the game on Family Night.
For his actions, Alcantara drew only a seven-game suspension. But the one-time prospect's career never was able recover.
On Tuesday, Offerman left a lasting and ugly image for the 1,902 fans in attendance.
Offerman's fit of rage came nearly 17 years to the day that he made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1990.
Two years after his debut, Offerman became the Dodgers' starting shortstop. Three years later, he was an All-Star for the first time in a career that will now be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Offerman, who was traded to the Kansas City Royals, enjoyed another highlight in 1998. That year, he batted a career-high .315, led the American League with 13 triples and added 45 stolen bases.
In 1999, Offerman signed a four-year, $26 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. His first season in Beantown included his second appearance as an All-Star.
After being traded to Seattle in the middle of the 2002 season, Offerman was unable to land a job in the majors the following campaign. Instead, he played the entire campaign at the place where his nightmare occurred - in Bridgeport as a member of the Bluefish.
Offerman again landed on his feet, this time with the Minnesota Twins. In 2004, the feisty Dominican led the league with 12 pinch hits.
In 2005, Offerman split time with the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. He has not made it back to the majors since.
During his 15 seasons in the majors, Offerman was a .273 hitter with 57 homers, 537 RBI and 172 stolen bases in 1,651 games. Numbers aside, Offerman now has left a legacy that forever will be tarnished.
td.yspwidearticlebody { font-size: 13.5px; }August 15, 2007
By PA SportsTicker
It only took a matter of seconds for Jose Offerman to ruin whatever reputation he had built as a baseball player. A former major league All-Star, Offerman was charged with two counts of second-degree assault after launching a rage-filled attack with a baseball bat during an independent minor league game Tuesday night.
The night started on a positive note for Offerman, an infielder for the Long Island Ducks who had homered off Bridgeport Bluefish lefthander Matt Beech in the first inning.
Just an inning later, Offerman lost his mind and perhaps his livelihood as a baseball player.
After getting hit by a pitch from Beech, Offerman charged the mound with his baseball bat in hand.
Wielding his bat like a weapon, Offerman drilled catcher John Nathans in the back of the head and nailed Beech on the fingertips of the right hand.
Offerman's reckless actions left Nathans with a concussion and Beech with a broken right finger. Both players were treated at a hospital and released.
"It was just a scary incident for everybody witnessing what took place," Bluefish pitcher Mike Porzio told the Connecticut Post. "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 actions had Offerman, 38, being led from The Ballpark at Harbor Yard in handcuffs. He posted $10,000 bond and is due in Bridgeport Superior Court on August 23.
Offerman should have plenty of time on his hands since his career in the Atlantic League could be over. Bluefish chief executive Mary-Jane Foster has asked the league to suspend Offerman for life.
Getting a mild reprieve, Offerman on Wednesday was suspended indefinitely by Joe Klein, the league's executive director.
"We'll suspend Offerman indefinitely, which is what we do when we have an incident," Klein said. "Then he'll come in and have a hearing and a couple days later we make our decision."
When Offerman snapped, it left memories of another ugly incident in a minor league game.
In 2001, Izzy Alcantara was playing for the Class AAA Pawtucket Red Sox when he snapped in a game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.
After getting hit by a pitch, Alcantara had his own method of revenge. Before heading to the mound, the hot-head unleashed a karate kick to the chest protector of Jeremy Salazar, knocking the catcher back before making his way to the mound.
Alcantara incited a benches-clearing brawl, leaving quite a memory for fans who attended the game on Family Night.
For his actions, Alcantara drew only a seven-game suspension. But the one-time prospect's career never was able recover.
On Tuesday, Offerman left a lasting and ugly image for the 1,902 fans in attendance.
Offerman's fit of rage came nearly 17 years to the day that he made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1990.
Two years after his debut, Offerman became the Dodgers' starting shortstop. Three years later, he was an All-Star for the first time in a career that will now be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Offerman, who was traded to the Kansas City Royals, enjoyed another highlight in 1998. That year, he batted a career-high .315, led the American League with 13 triples and added 45 stolen bases.
In 1999, Offerman signed a four-year, $26 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. His first season in Beantown included his second appearance as an All-Star.
After being traded to Seattle in the middle of the 2002 season, Offerman was unable to land a job in the majors the following campaign. Instead, he played the entire campaign at the place where his nightmare occurred - in Bridgeport as a member of the Bluefish.
Offerman again landed on his feet, this time with the Minnesota Twins. In 2004, the feisty Dominican led the league with 12 pinch hits.
In 2005, Offerman split time with the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. He has not made it back to the majors since.
During his 15 seasons in the majors, Offerman was a .273 hitter with 57 homers, 537 RBI and 172 stolen bases in 1,651 games. Numbers aside, Offerman now has left a legacy that forever will be tarnished.