In related news, the Boston Red Sox have had no choice but to beef up security. I blame drunk and ignorant fans. This is not the behavior one expects at a baseball game.
The Boston Red Sox promised more signs and more security on Friday to remind fans not to interfere with play, hoping to avoid another scuffle like the one between New York Yankees star Gary Sheffield and a fan in the right-field corner at Fenway Park.[...]Christopher House of Dorchestor should be ashamed of himself. His actions do not represent that of Red Sox Nation.
Sheffield shoved the fan before throwing the ball back to the infield. He then moved toward the fan before a security guard got between them. The fan was ejected from the ballpark but not arrested.
Major league baseball officials said they were investigating, and a decision on whether to discipline Sheffield was not expected immediately. Mike Dee, the chief operating officer for the Red Sox, said they are looking into the behavior of the fan.
"We are not treating it lightly," Dee said. "We are proud of the response by Red Sox security and Boston police. Their actions were quick and decisive. We respect the restraint and composure shown by Gary Sheffield. Together, they helped ensure that the incident did not escalate."[...]
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, through spokesman Howard Rubenstein, declined to comment except to say: "It's in the commissioner's hands."
Dee said the team will remind fans that those who attempt to interfere with a ball in play will be ejected "and, possibly, subject to other penalties" that could include criminal charges or the revocation of season tickets. Signs were already added in the right-field corner with a similar warning.
"It's one of the neat things about Fenway Park, to be that close to the action. But at the same time, things like that can happen," Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon said. "There's nothing wrong with screaming and making chaos out there to put a little more pressure on an opposing player. Just don't interfere with it."
The commissioner's office told The Associated Press that Bob Watson, baseball's head of discipline, was reviewing tapes of the play and Hallinan was expected to talk to Red Sox officials. In spring training, Hallinan told players not to go into the stands -- a clear reference to the NBA melee that involved Indiana's Ron Artest and other Pacers in their November game against Detroit.
"Whatever happens, you can't go into the stands," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "The fans who threw the beer at Ron Artest were wrong, but you can't do it. I think that's what was going through Sheff's head, because he looked [angry]."[...]
A source familiar with the situation who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity said the fan was Christopher House. The answering machine at a phone number listed for a Christopher House in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood said it was full and could not accept messages.
The testy rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox appeared to soften on Monday, when the visitors applauded as Boston received its World Series rings. Now the teams will have more than a month to cool down. They next play each other on May 27 at New York, with the Yankees' next visit Boston on July 14, right after the All-Star break.
Although Fenway's left field gets most of the attention because of its 37-foot Green Monster, outfielders know right field is a bigger challenge. The short wall there, with its angles and curves, makes for unpredictable bounces and brings the fans right on top of the players.
"It's probably the toughest right field in the major leagues," said Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar, who occasionally plays there.
Varitek's liner rolled into the corner and, as Sheffield went to field it, House made a sweeping motion with his arm. Sheffield said he was hit in the mouth.
"It ain't nothing you're going to feel the next day," he said Friday. "It wasn't that hard enough punch to knock you out or anything."
Dee commended Steven Chin, the 23-year-old security staffer who was seen on video putting himself between Sheffield and the fan.
Red Sox spokesman Charles Steinberg said the team is also looking into the actions of the fan who was holding a beer that spilled during the scuffle. He said he didn't have that person's name and doesn't know if the beer was deliberately thrown at Sheffield or it spilled after he was pushed by other fans.
This was the latest scuffle between fans and baseball players.[...]
"The fans have to be made aware that somebody could get hurt. When they throw something, when they interefere. It's just a frightening thing," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "They certainly have to be made aware that their place is in the stands and let the games play."
Lincoln Chafee is vulnerable. The Rhode Island Senator has only raised $136,000 in the first quarter of 2005.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., are considered far less vulnerable than Chafee, a Republican in a staunchly Democratic state. But Kennedy raised more than $2 million during the first quarter of 2005, and Lieberman raised $1.2 million.Jimmy Fallon speaks with the Chicago Tribune.
I'm sorry, I'll have to put you on hold until someone decides to place a vote on my bill.
Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., say they will block a vote on Lester Crawford to head the FDA until the agency decides whether to allow over-the-counter sales of post-sex contraceptives.The Portland Sea Dogs are currently 8-0, making them the only undefeated team in Minor League Baseball.
Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., says he won‘t allow a vote to confirm Rep. Rob Portman.
Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., says he will block Treasury Department nominees because of recent department rulings that he says make it more difficult to sell farm products to Cuba.
The Boston Red Sox should pick up their 150th consecutive sell-out at Fenway Park. The sell-out streak started on May 15, 2003. No word yet on Doug Flutie being in attendence. Last year, the Sox became the 4th team to sell-out their season for an entire year. The Sox are also the only team to record an increase in attendence over the past seven seasons.
George Steinbrenner wants a new stadium. I don't think he needs one. There is so much history at Yankee Stadium.
The new stadium will be built just north of the existing facility in the Bronx and is designed to seat 50,800. That's smaller than the current capacity of 57,478, but the new ballpark will have more luxury suites.Jason Isringhausen picked up his fourth save as St. Louis moves on to a 5-4 record. Pujols hit his third home run of the season. Rolen had his first.
The newspaper, citing officials familiar with the plans, reported that the new stadium will be comprised of two separate structures: an exterior wall, designed to replicate the original Yankee Stadium built in 1923, and the interior stadium itself.
The stadium construction will cost approximately $800 million and will be fully paid for by the team. The city and state will spend $300 million to build a new commuter rail station, improve parking, and create parkland along the nearby waterfront.
The new stadium will feature copper lattice work around its roof, much like the 1923 stadium. The new facility also will have expanded retail and concession areas.
Finally, what you have all been waiting for: This weekend has been very boring with no evening ball games on TV. After the Braves game ended, I watched Andromeda followed by hour 1 of Airplane and now it is Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams only because no other ballgames are on tv in the Cincinnati metropolitan area. I'll be home next weekend and I'm hoping the weekend after that. I'm definitely sure I'll be home for Derby weekend and the rest of the summer.
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