Texas Rangers' reliever beans fan with chair thrown into stands

[wilheim]

OAKLAND (AP) — 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.


USA Today

 

[RIOSHILL]

Holy SHIAT

 

[cussin'it]

Well they arrested and charged the phucker today!!

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Texas Rangers 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.

 

[TommyMullins]

THAT WOMAN IS GONNA SUE THE PLAYER, THE TEAM, THE STADIUM AND THE LEAGUE FOR BILLIONS!

 

[Railbird]

Brocail had roid rage

 

[Brock Landers]

I wish i would have been "lucky" enough to have gotten hit in the head by a chair thrown by some asshole like that! LOL

Start counting the dollars 5 mins later..

 

[Fishhead]

What in tarnations was this guy thinking??????

Just seen the clip.

Unreal......ban him for at LEAST a full year!

Totally unaccecptable!

 

[drhockey]

I'm sure the multi-million dollar settlement will make the pain of a broken nose go-away quite quickly. What an ass, which is what I talk about with professional athletes-no self-control and completely out of tune with reality. What about the old saying, “sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me”. Maybe they should include this in a Ranger team meeting…?

Dr.

 

[lander]

That gold-digging bitch should be prosecuted for harassing Sr. Francisco.

 

[eldiablo]

Yes, he was wrong ...but let's not hang him or put him in front of a firing squad. I almost agree with Mrs. Lander. Her jerk-ass husband was one of the main ones harassing the players. I saw him in a suit and tie today, I seriously doubt he wears one everyday.

 

[gijoe]

he is a fireman but they were oakland fans and i know all about those idiots

 

[wilheim]

NEW YORK -- Texas Rangers pitcher Frank Francisco was suspended for the rest of the season and two teammates and a coach were suspended Friday after he threw a chair that hit a woman and broke her nose during a game against the Oakland Athletics earlier this week.

Pitcher Doug Brocail was suspended for seven games and reliever Carlos Almanzar and hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo were suspended for five games. Jaramillo's suspension is scheduled to begin Friday night against the Anaheim Angels.

Unless appealed, the suspensions for Francisco and Brocail were scheduled to begin Friday, while the suspension for Almanzar is scheduled to begin Saturday. All four were fined.

Francisco's suspension will be for no less than 16 regular-season games in the event of an appeal, said baseball vice president Bob Watson.

Francisco threw the chair into the right-field box seats and hit two spectators in the head on Monday night during Texas' 7-6, 10-inning loss. 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.

Francisco was arrested and taken from the stadium to jail, where he was booked and his mug shot was taken. He was released about two hours later on $15,000 bail.

Jennifer Bueno, whose nose was broken, said Wednesday she plans to seek compensation for her injuries once prosecutors and baseball officials complete their investigation.

Earlier this week, Francisco's attorney, Rick Minkoff, said the player rushed out of the dugout to defend his teammates, and was pushed up against a fence in the crush of fans and players.

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

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service