WPCNR'S VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. Special to WPCNR by John Vorperian, Host of WPPA-TV’s Channel 76 BEYOND THE GAME. August 20, 2007: What a boxscore! 26 runs, 34 hits, 3 ejections, 2 ambulances, and one arrest. Ex-MLB All-Star and Long Island Duck lead-off hitter Jose Offerman jacked Bridgeport Bluefish Matt Beech’s first pitch. In the next frame he did a rendition of the homicide squeeze play and created a fracas bringing to Harbor Yard, Bridgeport’s finest and placing his big league comeback on ice.
White Plains Public Access TV's John Vorperian, host of Beyond the Game, Tuesdays at 10, Friday at 9 on Channel 76 -- "The Spirit of 76" in White Plains was at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, last week when Jose Offerman lost it and started swinging wildy. Mr. Vorperian had the view from the Press Box. This is his review of the incident.
In Tuesday night’s August 14th independent minor league game the Bridgeport Bluefish lost to the
Atlantic League’s North Division leading Long Island Ducks by a score of 13-12. The incident in the top of the second inning left the 'Fish without their starting pitcher and catcher, as well as their field
manager, Yankee Legend, Tommy John.
Jose Offerman, a former Bluefish led off the game with a home run on the first pitch. He was later enraged in the second inning when Bridgeport starting pitcher and once Phillie, Beech's pitch hit him in the leg on a zero ball, one strike count. Offerman, bat in hand took several steps towards the Southpaw, stopped and then charged the mound. The former Met swung his bat at Beech who was struck in both his hands.
Catcher John Nathans, past Red Sox property, in an attempt to help his teammate, was also struck by the bat in the head and was forced to leave the game with a concussion.
A bench clearing brawl delayed the game for nearly twenty minutes. Umpires yanked Offerman, Beech, and John from the contest. Down in the visitors' clubhouse, Police allowed Offerman to change into civies and booked him for second degree assault. Cuffed and taken to the station he was released upon posting of bail.
Up in the pressbox (and later at the Beyond The Game research center) sport scribes were rattling off ‘bats as weapons’ scenarios. Here are just a few. 1965 SF Giant Juan Marichal uses LA Dodger John Roseboro’s head for batting practice. 1966 Pacific Coast League Seattle catcher Merritt Ranew gets clubbed by Vancouver’s Santiago Rosario. 1972 Oakland A’s Campy Campaneris launches his bat at Detroit Tiger LerrinLaGrow. 2000 Bomber Roger Clemens javelins lumber at Metropolitan Mike Piazza in game 2 of the Fall Classic.
My question, had the weapon been secured? In the scrum LI Duck #8 Carl Everett got the bat and tossed it into his team’s dugout. There’s no video as well there are some universal laws and circumstances, camerapeople have no control over. But The Connecticut Post was on top of things. Go to their web site: http://www.extras.connpost.com/offerman/ and you’ll see Duck #29 former Expo/Angel and yes Greenburgh’s own Norm Hutchins running towards the fight. As the mess progresses #8 ex-BoSox/Met/Astro Carl Everett gets control of the evidence.
Offerman, currently suspended, is to appear in Connecticut court on August 23rd, The real question is not what the judicial system will do but rather whatwill the Atlantic League mete out as appropriate
discipline? Here’s a circuit that promotes Family fun at the ballpark not the crime of the week. It’s a
dicey situation because the league official in charge of such also has ties to this winning charter club.
Bears watching. My thoughts? Time to get the cons out of the pros.
White Plains' John Vorperian, a member of the Society for American Baseball Research, is a published contributor to two books celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the 1967 Impossible Dream Team, the Boston Red Sox of Lynn, Lonborg, Rice, Tony C, The Hawk, Rico, Reggie and The Yaz (The 1967 Impossible Dream Red Sox, from Rounder Books) and 75, The Red Sox Team That Saved Baseball, also from Rounder Books. Johnny wrote a profle of Don McMahon for the Impossible Dream Red Sox, and the profile of Deron Johnson in the '75 tome. Books are available on the Rounder Books, 1 Camp Street, Cambridge MA. On his WPPA-TV sportstalk show, Beyond the Game, Johnny talks sports with celebrities from all sports, but his real love is "The Game."
