Uh Oh! The look on the pitchers face says about everything.

He is being charged with Assault and my be suspended for life. A true Idiot!

I hope someone has video of this..

Long Island Ducks? It sounds like it should be Bridgeport Ducks instead.

I don't want to see it for enjoyment, this is just one of things you'd have to see to beleive IMO.

Whats the difference, between swinging a bat at someone and throwing a 95 mph fastball at someone?  I'm not saying that Offerman isn't in the wrong, because he definately is.  But, should a pitcher that deliberately thows a pitch at a batter be charged as well?

Remember Izzy Alcantara kicking the catcher and then going after the pitcher? That was funny and a classic

you bring up a great point and something to think about. but the obvious problem is how can they prove intent? i mean tis pretty obvious when someone swings a bat at you they are trying to hurt you as this type of action is outside the realm of the game, whereas throwing the ball isn't.

Yeah... there are just about infinitely more shades of gray with pitchers in such a situation than with Offerman's actions.

Marichal only got eight games (and $1,750 in fines), back in '65.
I guess the game's getting soft...

that was a great one... i didn't think anyone remembered that

Oh, yeah - how could anyone ever forget?!  Koufax and Marichal both involved in that one (although Koufax refused to throw at anyone (he probably would've killing them if he did...))

lol
he probably would have!
it was a good one

A local Dominican paper supposedly interviewed him, but it won't come out 'til tomorrow.

I just don't know how he can possibly justify trying to kill a guy over getting hit in the calf...
What a d-bag.

Time to go on YouTube.

If someone threw a fastball at me i could justify it.

I know what Jose Offerman did was wrong and everything but I don't think the Pitcher and the Cather should press charges. A hitter couldn't press charges if he got hit by a pitch. I know there is a difference between a pitch and a bat but I still think pressing charges is stupid.

Offerman said he was being taunted by the catcher in his previous at-bat, but that he'd just thought of it as him kidding around, until the pitcher went a little too inside, that's when he got that the catcher was being serious. He claims he never hit anybody; he says he never hit the catcher as everyone's saying. He says he got carried away and when he realized what he was doing he was already in the midst of it all and that the umpire is witness that he did not hit anybody (someone said that the ump told the police this as well).

You form your own opinion

sounds like it could be interesting as everything develops.

I'm not sure if it sounds like a load of bull or not. There's what he said, but the pictures say something different. And I'm not sure he would've been arrested if he had, as he said, not hit anyone. I don't know what to make of it.

The pictures definately look like he's getting ready to club him.  but it's hard to tell without seeing video.  could come down to he said/he said kinda deal.  Usually that will go to the victim though.

Still, honestly, this guy sounds like a 12-year old..."He called me names!"  He needs to grow the f*ck up - maybe jail will help him with that.
Most adults aren't going to use a lethal weapon because someone called them a name. And even if the catcher was teasing him, if the battery really wanted to mess the guy up, why did they throw at his calf?  If I'm a pitcher, and someone is on my nerves, or I just don't like them, I'm going  up and in on him.  Alternately, break his ribs.  Then you claim that it "got away", and no one but you (the pitcher) ever knows.

Back in the Marichal/Roseboro days, if somebody hit a homer, and so much as smirked as he rounded the bases, you'd better believe that they were getting knocked down next at bat.  Like I said before, the game's getting soft.

Offerman - how incredibly immature.

I don't know if jail time is the solution. I say ban him indefinitely (maybe for life), but I'm unsure with all the pressing charges deal.

It's assault with a deadly weapon - if I swung a bat at someone on the street, it's a crime.  The fact that it was supposed to be within the confines and rules of a sporting event shouldn't have any bearing on whether charges are pressed or not.  The county D.A. wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't press charges.
Offerman wasn't trying to defend himself - all he had to do was brush himself off, and take his base, but instead he made two bad decisions - and now he should have to pay for them.

What do you think should happen to a player/manager that argues with an umpire during the game and chest bumbs or pushes the umpire?  Should charges be filed on that person as well?  According to the letter of the law that too is assault.  While i agree that what Offerman did was rediculous, i have a problem with leagal charges being filed for incidents that happen during a sporting event.  Whats next?  I brought up in an earlier post, should a pitcher be charged for throwing at a batter?  What about a defensive end that takes a late hit on a QB?  Do we start charging hockey players when they start thumping each other during a game?  Where does it end?  Who decides what is to far, and when or when not to file charges?

I am against pressing charges..

 

1)  "not defending himself" ?    well, technically, the other guy assaulted him with a deadly weapon (ask Ray Chapman if a thrown baseball is a deadly weapon) first.   and if Offerman is right about the catcher baiting him, it is possible that was further proff to Offerman that it was intentional AND THUS AN ATTACK.

 

2)   it is within the realm of sporting event between players and so I am highly reluctanct to go the legal route for the reasons listed by others (slippery slope being the big one).

 

3)  was anyone really really hurt (like crippled or have their career ended) ?    if that was the case, maybe.

 

 

so for now, I hope they just suspend him for a good long while and let us focus on other players and other problems.

A push and hitting someone with a baseball bat are slightly different.  When a person takes the time to make sure that they are armed, they make a conscious decision as to their intentions, and the whole situation changes.
Offerman swung that bat at least three times, and was clearly aiming for the pitcher's head the third time.  No intent?  I don't think so.

1.  When you step into the batter's box, you assume a risk.  Even if the pitcher is the best you've ever seen, one can get away from him, and go flying anywhere.  The batter should know this - not too, is naive or ignorant.
The pitcher threw a slider - a slider! - inside to Offerman - and it hit him in the calf.  If someone is intentionally throwing at you, I don't think that they'd throw a slider to hurt you.  A fastball between the shoulder blades or up and in if you really hate the guy,  is the usual order in that case.
How many catchers try to razz or distract the batters?  Offerman was in the show, and should've known better.  If he's getting old and washed up, and has to play in the minors, tough, be a man, take you licks, and hit another home run in your next at bat.
2.  The pitcher and catcher who were assaulted are pressing charges according to their manager (Tommy John)
3.  The catcher received a concussion, and will likely miss the rest of the season now.  The pitcher received a broken finger (on his non-throwing hand).  Offerman - no injury, not that I'd care at this point if he was hurt - his career in that league is/should be over.

No one has said that he wan't in the wrong.  But all of the other scenarios i mentioned could also result in assault charges in a court of law.  Why would we want to open the door for the courts to get involved in policing incidents happening during a sporting event.  If he would have dropped the bat and charged the mound and punched the pitcher in the face, would you still think that he should have charges brought up on him?

It would still be up to the pitcher - he was the one who was wronged.  I'm sure if there were a pansy enough ump, they could press charges if they wanted, but they'd be laughed out of the league.  In this case, the moron Offerman, battered two people, and now they're both pressing charges.
As far as police go, law supercedes rules of any games/sports always.  The commissioner only has power to suspend or ban the player.  Let's say someone charges the mound with bat in hand, and the pitcher is killed - is a lifetime suspension a fitting penalty?  I think not.

Damn. Talk about ruining my favorite weekend getaway. Now there will surely be press all over the  damn place annoying everyone. Damn you Jose Offerman!

(btw the Newspaper is called "Newsday", not  "The Newsday")

Please tell me that your kidding. That was some kind of a joke right? HE ASSAULTED TWO MEN WITH A BAT!

O come one man. Quit being stupid. You know damn well that there is a HUGE difference in the two situations. Your analogies have no merit and you know it.