RANGERS RELIEVER THROWS CHAIR AT FAN

[RexBudler]

Texas reliever Frank Francisco threw a chair at a fan in a lower box to the left of the Rangers' bullpen along the right-field line in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics on Monday night.

The chair hit one man in the head, then bounced and clobbered a woman in the side of the head on her left temple.

The Rangers sprinted out of their dugout with two outs in the top of the ninth and reliever Doug Brocail could be seen screaming at a male fan. Brocail had to be restrained by his teammates and bullpen coach Mark Connor, and others also had to be held back.




Security ran to the scene and a small section of fans was cleared from their seats.

The incident caused a 19-minute delay.

A's manager Ken Macha came across the field to speak to Dave Rinetti, vice president of stadium operations, before play resumed.


:142lmao:

 

[RexBudler]

Typical Oakland fans causing trouble :moon:

I know mjalaam will like me for that one...Dont worry bro...just a joke...I'm just a little mad that your damn team came back once again to win

 

[MonkeyPants]

I wonder if that chick is going to go after Francisco for beaning her with the chair. She should....really.

Oakland A's fans are usually pretty mellow compared to other parks.

The sad part is it takes an incident like this to take the water cooler talk away from the NFL as this will be one of the topics on sports talk radio across the country on Tuesday.

Frank Francisco -------> :cursin:

 

[mjalam]

Typical Oakland fans causing trouble :moon:

I know mjalaam will like me for that one...Dont worry bro...just a joke...I'm just a little mad that your damn team came back once again to win

i was sitting right by the ranger bp ..i can give you a full detail on what happened...that guy from the ranger's was talkin all the mess, and then he walked over there and called the fan a pussy..yadda yadda yadda and all hell broke lose...i can explain further if needed...definitely wasn't oakland fans

 

[MAJOR MARTY]

==== MORE DETAILS PLEASE ! ====

==== MORE DETAILS PLEASE ! ====

GIVE US MORE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOU SAW AND HEARD ...............THANKS

 

[RexBudler]

Believe me Mjalaam.....I know it wasnt the Fans causing havoc....No pro player should ever let a fan get to him like that....I would also sue him if I was that lady....Looks like her nose got busted up pretty good

 

[IntenseOperator]

It was probably a Cubs fan at the game moon1 ...

they tried to beat up the LA bullpen a few years back :chairshot

That kind of stuff goes on with Cubs fans all the time. :nutkick

Shot and killed a guy on the street just outside of the park this year. :yup

 

[bazeballer]

got to say a player going as far as throwing a chair. now thats intent to harm. walk over and take the fans beer and pour it over their head but to risk the kind of injury that could be sustained by a flying chair at ones head that's just plain stupid. no matter what the fan said. no matter what. :cursin:

 

[chuckdman]

That was absolutely nuts! I heard it on the radio this morning and was grossed out. Mjalam if you have more details kindly share. To get see a player get sooo pissed of to get a folding chair and lauch it into the crowd is nuts. He might as well have pulled out a gun and shot someone. Crazy!

Can you say 1-800-LAW-SUIT! I would go for the 100k if I were the lady. I heard there was a lot of blood and she broke her nose. She ever had nothing to do with it all.. NUTS!!!!! Francisco will be suspended for the rest of the year and then some.. plus pay big time from his pocket....... What a dumbass!!

 

[cag]

You can watch it on www.mlb.com

 

[RexBudler]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Texas reliever Frank Francisco was arrested Tuesday morning on a charge of aggravated battery after he threw a chair into the right-field box seats and hit two spectators in the head during Monday night's loss to the Oakland Athletics.

One of the fans, an unidentified woman, was bloodied and her nose was broken.

Major League Baseball's commissioner's office said Tuesday morning that it was investigating. Francisco was cooperative after he was taken into custody, Oakland Police Department deputy chief Peter Dunbar said.

With two outs in the ninth inning, the Rangers' Alfonso Soriano tied the game 5-5 with his second homer of the night. Moments later, with Hank Blalock at the plate, the Texas bench and bullpen cleared.

After the game, Rangers manager Buck Showalter said the fans ``went over the line.''

``It was a real break from the normal trash you hear from fans. We've had problems about every time we've come here,'' he said.

On Tuesday, Texas owner Tom Hicks issued an apology.



``On behalf of the Texas Rangers, I want to apologize for the conduct of some members of our club last night in Oakland. Their behavior, especially the injury to a fan, was unacceptable. Even in a difficult or abusive environment, players should never be provoked into such actions,'' Hicks said in a statement, adding that he had been in contact with the commissioner's office.

Texas reliever Doug Brocail was seen screaming at a male fan, and the pitcher had to be restrained by his teammates and bullpen coach Mark Connor. Others also had to be held back.

Francisco threw the chair at a fan in a lower box near the Rangers' bullpen along the right-field line. The chair hit one man in the head, then bounced and struck the woman on her left temple.

Security ran to the scene and a small section of fans was cleared from their seats.

A's manager Ken Macha came across the field to speak to Dave Rinetti, vice president of stadium operations, before play resumed 19 minutes later.

There was talk between the umpires and managers of suspending the game, clearing the stands and forfeiting the game.

The Athletics won 7-6 in the 10th inning.

``From what I understand, there was some calls made to security early during the game but I have no idea what started it out there,'' crew chief Joe Brinkman said.

Rinetti said afterward that the woman was being treated at a hospital for facial cuts and a broken nose. Francisco was escorted by police out an alternate stadium exit after the game and into a car waiting on the field.

Rangers officials did not return calls Tuesday morning.

Brocail declined to comment, and Francisco wasn't around the locker room afterward.

Francisco, 25, was the American League rookie of the month for August, when he was 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA.

The teams meet again Tuesday night in Oakland.