Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.

Ronquillo: Rangers' pitcher throws more than game

johnronquillo
John Ronquillo
The State Press

When life gets rough, throw a chair. It always seems to work on the "Jerry Springer Show." Come on now, just try it. You're stressed, filled with angst and rage, tormented by self-doubt and to further your frustration some truly obnoxious fans from Oakland are really chapping your hide.

Well, Texas Rangers relief pitcher Frank Francisco did it, and thus began a very ugly relationship with a slew of unhappy baseball fans.

The incident occurred in Oakland during the ninth inning of Monday night's game versus the Oakland A's. The Rangers' Alfonso Soriano tied the game 5-5 with his second home run of the night. Shortly thereafter, with Rangers infielder Hank Blalock at bat, the Texas bench and bullpen cleared as if a pinata had just opened, delaying the game for nearly 20 minutes.

Francisco's rage got the best of him when he chucked the chair (Geraldo Rivera- style) into the box seats, hitting a man on the head and breaking a woman's nose. Francisco was arrested by Oakland police Tuesday morning and later posted bond and was released. Major League Baseball officials are still investigating the matter.

Now I know some people may think: "Hey, the guy just wanted his team to win and Texas is six games behind Oakland in the pennant race." But haven't we learned our lessons about players and fans interacting in such a brash manner? Remember the incident two years ago at Comiskey Park in Chicago when "Wild" William Ligue, Jr. and his son attacked Kansas City Royals first-base coach Tom Gamboa. Ligue taunted Gamboa incessantly during the game and in the long run ended up charging him from behind and beating him, which resulted in permanent hearing loss for Gamboa.

Bottom line: Francisco went too far. While he is now charged with aggravated battery (a felony) he also deserves whatever punishment comes from the MLB commissioner's office. But since the act resembled a three-year-old's temper tantrum, the punishment will be as equally lame, I'm sure. Perhaps a spanking and grounding him until October would be better.

True, Oakland is notorious for raucous fans, but what standard could be set to prevent this from happening again? Well there probably won't be any standard, and it will surely happen again. Rangers manager Buck Showalter seemed to place the blame with the rowdy fans while letting Rangers owner Tom Hicks do the apologizing.

"... 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 release issued Tuesday.

There's no logical explanation for why Francisco threw a chair into the crowd. He just did it. And while journalists, commentators and fans across the country can decry his actions all they want, there's not a lot we can do about it other than boo.

Let's just be glad he wasn't standing close to a set of free weights.

John Ronquillo is a public administration graduate student. Reach him at johnron@asu.edu.


Continue supporting student journalism and donate to The State Press today.

Subscribe to Pressing Matters



×

Notice

This website uses cookies to make your experience better and easier. By using this website you consent to our use of cookies. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.