Post by Fish Troll on Sept 24, 2007 19:50:40 GMT -5
Offerman pleads not guilty to assault
Posted: Monday September 24, 2007 10:55AM; Updated: Monday September 24, 2007 11:24AM
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) -- Former major league All-Star Jose Offerman pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he attacked a pitcher and catcher with his bat during a minor league game in Bridgeport in August.
Offerman is due back in Bridgeport Superior Court on Oct. 17. He declined comment after his appearance Monday.
Offerman was playing for the Long Island Ducks when he allegedly charged the mound after he was hit with a pitch. He was accused of hitting two Bridgeport Bluefish players and was indefinitely suspended the next day.
Offerman's attorney has said he does not believe his client struck the players with a bat.
He has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault.
Bridgeport Bluefish catcher John Nathans sustained a concussion and Bluefish pitcher Matt Beech had a broken finger on his non-throwing hand after the incident.
The 38-year-old Offerman last played in the majors in 2005 with the New York Mets. He batted .273 during his 15 seasons in the majors and was an All-Star infielder in 1995 with the Dodgers and in 1999 with Boston.
In the Aug. 14 game that led to the charges against him, Offerman hit a home run on the first pitch. The next time up, Beech hit him in the leg with a pitch.
Offerman charged the mound with his bat. Nathans tried to intervene and was struck in the head. Beech, who formerly pitched in the majors, wound up with a broken middle finger on his right hand.
Beech acknowledged he was trying to pitch Offerman inside but said he wasn't aiming to hit him.
The attack cleared both benches and the game was delayed about 20 minutes. Offerman, Beech and Bridgeport manager and former major league pitcher Tommy John were ejected.
Beech and Ducks catcher Jared Price were both suspended for their roles in the fight.
Posted: Monday September 24, 2007 10:55AM; Updated: Monday September 24, 2007 11:24AM
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) -- Former major league All-Star Jose Offerman pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he attacked a pitcher and catcher with his bat during a minor league game in Bridgeport in August.
Offerman is due back in Bridgeport Superior Court on Oct. 17. He declined comment after his appearance Monday.
Offerman was playing for the Long Island Ducks when he allegedly charged the mound after he was hit with a pitch. He was accused of hitting two Bridgeport Bluefish players and was indefinitely suspended the next day.
Offerman's attorney has said he does not believe his client struck the players with a bat.
He has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault.
Bridgeport Bluefish catcher John Nathans sustained a concussion and Bluefish pitcher Matt Beech had a broken finger on his non-throwing hand after the incident.
The 38-year-old Offerman last played in the majors in 2005 with the New York Mets. He batted .273 during his 15 seasons in the majors and was an All-Star infielder in 1995 with the Dodgers and in 1999 with Boston.
In the Aug. 14 game that led to the charges against him, Offerman hit a home run on the first pitch. The next time up, Beech hit him in the leg with a pitch.
Offerman charged the mound with his bat. Nathans tried to intervene and was struck in the head. Beech, who formerly pitched in the majors, wound up with a broken middle finger on his right hand.
Beech acknowledged he was trying to pitch Offerman inside but said he wasn't aiming to hit him.
The attack cleared both benches and the game was delayed about 20 minutes. Offerman, Beech and Bridgeport manager and former major league pitcher Tommy John were ejected.
Beech and Ducks catcher Jared Price were both suspended for their roles in the fight.
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/more/09/24/offerman.ap/index.html
Another former Met player doing their thing.
