Gary Sheffield assault on fan

[45acp]

For those of you who don't watch baseball, during today's Red Sox vs. yankees game, yankees right fielder gary sheffield hit a fan. At the time he was chasing a ball that was rolling along the right field wall, as sheffield reached for the ball, a fan also reached over the wall for the ball and inadvertantly swiped sheffield across the forehead. Sheffield then picked up the ball, and with ball in hand punched the fan who reached for the ball. As he struck the fan, he also struck a female fan who was knocked down by the blow. The fan was kicked out of the stadium, sheffield however has not been arrested as far as I know. I have two questions, first of all does what sheffield did constitute assault? Second, would you LEO's arrest him for it?

[Bart]

sheffield could argue he thought he was under attack. in any event, since neither the fan nor sheffield sustained any major injuries, any charges would probably constitute a misdemeanor. i wouldnt make an arrest on the spot. id write a report and if either the fan or sheffield wanted to press charges against each other, they can bring a copy of the report to the state attorneys office. if the state attorney thinks he has enough to file charges, he'll do the arresting.

[Groundhog]

ESPN.com is reporting that the fan hit Sheffield first, swinging a "short uppercut" as Sheffield was making the play. I hate the Yankees almost as much as a Boston fan, but if I locked anybody up, it would be the fan based on that story.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2037710

[Vendetta]

He is a Yankee he should be charged with assault and fined....I despise all that is the New York Yankees . He is a little punk and this is not the first time he has thrown a little sissy fit. Have I mentioned I hate the Yankees.

[45acp]

ESPN.com is reporting that the fan hit Sheffield first, swinging a "short uppercut" as Sheffield was making the play. I hate the Yankees almost as much as a Boston fan, but if I locked anybody up, it would be the fan based on that story.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2037710

Did you see the replay? The fan's actions didn't look intentional to me, although I am biased.

Sheffield is now claiming that he never swung at the fan (the tape shows that he did) and yankees manager joe torre has said that "people like that shouldnt be allowed to walk the streets" referring to the fan. Seems to me that personal responsibility went out the window on this one. Although I wouldn't expect any different from the yankees.

[Groundhog]

Did you see the replay? The fan's actions didn't look intentional to me, although I am biased.

Sheffield is now claiming that he never swung at the fan (the tape shows that he did) and yankees manager joe torre has said that "people like that shouldnt be allowed to walk the streets" referring to the fan. Seems to me that personal responsibility went out the window on this one. Although I wouldn't expect any different from the yankees.

No, I'm at work....just read the story online when I saw your post. All they have is a still photo, and you can't really tell anything.

[Joebob]

The replay looked like neither of them even made contact. The fan began to reach, then realized he should get the hell out of the way. He did, but a split second too late, then Sheffied did sort of a half-swing, half-push that wiffed. Who gives a sh&t in my opinion, but we will be hearing about it for days. Fenway park is asking for it with those 2 ft. high fences in right. The best part was the look on the face of that woman sitting to the right of the man in the stands who got her drink/food spilled. Classic.

Criminal charges? Arrests? Give me a break.

[Delta784]

The fan will sue, and Sheffield will give him $5000 or so to go away. End of story.

[45acp]

The replay looked like neither of them even made contact. The fan began to reach, then realized he should get the hell out of the way. He did, but a split second too late, then Sheffied did sort of a half-swing, half-push that wiffed. Who gives a sh&t in my opinion, but we will be hearing about it for days. Fenway park is asking for it with those 2 ft. high fences in right. The best part was the look on the face of that woman sitting to the right of the man in the stands who got her drink/food spilled. Classic.

Criminal charges? Arrests? Give me a break.

Wiffed? No contact? What replay did you see? Don't get me wrong, I don't think that anyone really got hurt in the incident. My problem isn't as much with the result of sheffield hitting the fan, its the fact that he did it in the first place. It was absolutly rediculous for him to attack a fan for being in his way. I'm not defending the fan, he shouldn't have been reaching over the wall. But sheffield was frustrated because the yankees were losing, and decided to take that frustration out on some stupid fan. You would think that someone who is paid millions of dollars every year to play a game would be able to control himself in situations like this one.

[Vendetta]

Amen 45acp

[Joebob]

Wiffed? No contact? What replay did you see? Don't get me wrong, I don't think that anyone really got hurt in the incident. My problem isn't as much with the result of sheffield hitting the fan, its the fact that he did it in the first place. It was absolutly rediculous for him to attack a fan for being in his way. I'm not defending the fan, he shouldn't have been reaching over the wall. But sheffield was frustrated because the yankees were losing, and decided to take that frustration out on some stupid fan. You would think that someone who is paid millions of dollars every year to play a game would be able to control himself in situations like this one.

I saw the Sportscenter replay. I really didn't think Sheffield made contact with the guy. In my opinion, anyone who interferes with live play derserves whatever they get. Yes, Sheff was probably frustrated, but I think he reacts the same way if the Yanks are winning. He thought he was punched by a fan. I thought he showed restraint by not going Ron Artest on the fan. I go back to my earlier point about the problem created by that short right field fence in Fenway. Fans should not be able to enter the field of play, and it is impossible for them not to crowd the wall and reach for balls that come their way. For the record, I'm from Texas, and hate both the Red Sox and the Yankees.

[45acp]

I saw the Sportscenter replay. I really didn't think Sheffield made contact with the guy. In my opinion, anyone who interferes with live play derserves whatever they get. Yes, Sheff was probably frustrated, but I think he reacts the same way if the Yanks are winning. He thought he was punched by a fan. I thought he showed restraint by not going Ron Artest on the fan. I go back to my earlier point about the problem created by that short right field fence in Fenway. Fans should not be able to enter the field of play, and it is impossible for them not to crowd the wall and reach for balls that come their way. For the record, I'm from Texas, and hate both the Red Sox and the Yankees.

Yeah getting attacked by a juicer is definatly what that guy deserved for reaching his hand over the wall. And only throwing one punch shows excellent restraint... for someone on steroids.

[Welpe]

In my opinion, anyone who interferes with live play derserves whatever they get.

Sorry, I don't buy that. If it is an accident, sure but because a fan is hanging over the wall doesn't give some overpaid athlete carte blanche to start throwing punches.

There are rules in baseball and even laws to govern fan interference. That is enough.

[Joebob]

Yes, I agree that Sheff is a steroid pumping hothead, but I still believe he thought that the fan was taking a swing at him. And for that, I think his reaction was justified.
No, reaching over the wall doesn't warrant getting punches thrown at you, but taking a swing at the player does. I may be wrong, but thats just how I feel. Can we get some non sox/yankee fans to chime in on this.

[theugly]

For those of you who don't watch baseball, during today's Red Sox vs. yankees game, yankees right fielder gary sheffield hit a fan. At the time he was chasing a ball that was rolling along the right field wall, as sheffield reached for the ball, a fan also reached over the wall for the ball and inadvertantly swiped sheffield across the forehead. Sheffield then picked up the ball, and with ball in hand punched the fan who reached for the ball. As he struck the fan, he also struck a female fan who was knocked down by the blow. The fan was kicked out of the stadium, sheffield however has not been arrested as far as I know. I have two questions, first of all does what sheffield did constitute assault? Second, would you LEO's arrest him for it?

Lesson learned? Don't feed the animals!