Don’t throw water bottles at Mike Piazza

July 26th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanR

piazza.jpgI would assume that ballplayers — and other professional athletes for that matter — have at least entertained the idea of some lunatic fan coming out of the stands and onto the field with a knife or gun or God knows what else and trying to kill everybody. It’s the Dave Eggers school of thought: although we never outwardly vocalize it, we’ve all thought about our parents dying in some horrific car crash and how we’d have to pick up the pieces for the rest of the family, or our own tragic death for that matter. It’s what we do as humans.

So perhaps — and I know this is a large and flawed assumption — this is why Mike Piazza got overly testy about a fan that launched a water bottle at his dome yesterday.{San Franciso Chronicle, via Ballhype.}

“I’m pressing charges,” Piazza said. “He’s going to spend the night in jail. He hit me right in the helmet. … It’s just inexcusable at a baseball game to throw a bottle at someone. Just a joke.”

After speaking to reporters, Piazza was taken to another area of the stadium to identify the suspect, Roland Flores, 22 of La Puente (Los Angeles County). Flores is being held for assault and battery at the Anaheim Detention Facility.

Piazza was standing in the on-deck circle when he was hit from behind.

“It startled the heck out of me, a thump to the back of my head,” he said. “I turned around and was like, ‘Was it you? Or you or you?’ Everyone pointed at the guy and I said, ‘You’re gutless,’ and he started walking out. There he goes, the bravest guy in the world. That’s a complete lower level of stupidity.”

I suppose I understand Piazza’s anger here. It sets a precedent for the rest of the jokers in the stands wanting to do something like this. But hey, this was just a water bottle, right? Ease up, Mikey.

UPDATE: E has a more lighthearted take on this over at FanHouse.

//

6 Responses to “ Don’t throw water bottles at Mike Piazza”


  1. crew
    July 26, 20073:02 pm

    I cannot believe that you think this is an over reaction!! You yourself said that this sets a precedent. Are people suppose to wait until someone is seriously hurt by something thrown out of the stands? What if Piazza had happened to turn around as the bottle was thrown and he had gotten hit in the eye with the end of the bottle? He could have been seriously injured; the fact that he wasn’t doesn’t diminish the act itself.

  2. Justin Skelton
    July 26, 20073:17 pm

    Are you retarded? Did E and yourself both decide to just become worst columnists on the face of the earth. A fan HIT him with and item. Do you mind if I hit you with an item? Could I come into your office and slap the back of your head with a water bottle? I’ll be right there.

  3. Justin Skelton
    July 26, 20073:20 pm

    P.S. This is the first and last time I will be coming to this website or reading anything by postmanRETARD. Enjoy making your witty little comments that make you cool or smart or funny or whatever you were going for. Piss off

  4. PostmanE
    July 26, 20073:21 pm

    Justin:

    Yes, you may. I won’t feel it, because the answer to your first question is yes, and the doctor says I have to wear one of these:

    http://images.skysports.com/images/playerpics06_07/Premiership/Chelsea/cech_helmet.jpg

    Who am I to argue — it’s a dangerous world!

  5. PostmanE
    July 26, 20073:23 pm

    Oh, and Justin:

    Seriously, sorry to hear it. Your reasoned, thoughtful take on things added so much to the discussion. R and I will try to find a way to move on, but we encourage you to stick around if possible. Come on … can’t we all just throw water bottles at each other and hug (and kiss) it out? Please?

  6. PostmanR
    July 26, 20073:28 pm

    When I used to landscape, my co-workers threw rocks at me. That was kind of funny, actually.

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