Piazza Hit in Head with Water Bottle

[Tribefan]

Big man. Throwing a bottle from behind. Hope they make an example out of him.
Piazza to press charges against fan who threw bottle
ESPN.com news services

Updated: July 26, 2007, 9:59 AM ET
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Mike Piazza said he will press charges against a fan who allegedly threw a half-full water bottle at him during Wednesday afternoon's Oakland Athletics-Los Angeles Angels game, hitting the A's designated hitter in the back of the head.

"I'm pressing charges,'' Piazza told reporters. "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."
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2949665

[4bronxbombers]

I agree with Piazza. The fan needs to be held accountable. Coward.

[TheYankee]

Good for Mike. I think the inclination is often to forgive and forget these things happen, but sometimes people need to realize what they did costs them.

[TheYankee]

LOL. Just read the article all the way through....

"It startled the heck out of me, a thump to the back of my head,'' he told reporters. "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 love how everyone was pointing him out, and he gets scared and tries to bolt. Did anyone see the highlights of it? I remember seeing the loser clapping as he walked up the stairs, as if to say, "Yep, I did it. Woohoo." What an idiot.

[Why Not?]

Was it Roger Clemens? Did he think the water bottle was a baseball?

[TheYankee]

Was it Roger Clemens? Did he think the water bottle was a baseball?

Or a broken bat...

[nojoke]

Smart decision on Piazza's part. Hopefully if these guys realize they'll get in trouble they won't do it anymore.

[mitchrock]

Glad to see Piazza pressing charges. Players shouldn't have to feel threatened by the fans at the game.

[4bronxbombers]

Stupid fan.

[Game4Tino]

OK, Piazza is right on this one, he should press charges on this guy, however...

Have'nt we all grown weary of Piazza and all his drama? The first "man" in baseball history to call a press conference because he was hit by a pitch. And who can forget him waiting for someone to run interference before he took a 1/2 step toward Clemens in Game 2? The day the Mets ditched him was so great because I knew I wouldn't have to look at the guy anymore, damn baby.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

Thats awesome, I wish I saw that.

[Hitman23]

This is the friggin reason I cant go to an event and have bottled water, in a bottle. They have to pour it in a styrofoam cup. it annoys the crap out of me. People need a little self control. There are always idiots who ruin things for the rest of us.

[TommyK8]

OK, Piazza is right on this one, he should press charges on this guy, however...

Have'nt we all grown weary of Piazza and all his drama? The first "man" in baseball history to call a press conference because he was hit by a pitch. And who can forget him waiting for someone to run interference before he took a 1/2 step toward Clemens in Game 2? The day the Mets ditched him was so great because I knew I wouldn't have to look at the guy anymore, damn baby.

Just a word about Mike Piazza....he is arguably the greatest offensive catcher in baseball history.

[Hitman23]

Just a word about Mike Piazza....he is arguably the greatest offensive catcher in baseball history.

I don't think there's much of an argument. And if he played anywhere else but Shea his numbers would be even better.

[BonusCantos]

This is the friggin reason I cant go to an event and have bottled water, in a bottle. They have to pour it in a styrofoam cup. it annoys the crap out of me. People need a little self control. There are always idiots who ruin things for the rest of us.

Just like at Giants Stadium how they screw the caps off of all the Pepsi bottles when you buy them. They only started doing that a season or two ago.

[Game4Tino]

Just a word about Mike Piazza....he is arguably the greatest offensive catcher in baseball history.

Yeah, he was a wonderful catcher.

[Hitman23]

Just like at Giants Stadium how they screw the caps off of all the Pepsi bottles when you buy them. They only started doing that a season or two ago.

what the hell is the point of that?

[YankS1302]

Was it really water, I thought that guy was a huge Piazza fan and he was sharing some of his Jesus juice w/ him. I think Mike was more upset that it all spilled on the ground.

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

what the hell is the point of that?

To make it harder to lob a full bottle at someone.

[Hitman23]

To make it harder to lob a full bottle at someone.

maybe they're saving up for the Nintendo WII with the codes under the cap.

[Casey37]

Yeah, he was a wonderful catcher.

Yeah...untit he tried throwing runners out at second.

[hellonewman]

OK, Piazza is right on this one, he should press charges on this guy, however...

Have'nt we all grown weary of Piazza and all his drama? The first "man" in baseball history to call a press conference because he was hit by a pitch. And who can forget him waiting for someone to run interference before he took a 1/2 step toward Clemens in Game 2? The day the Mets ditched him was so great because I knew I wouldn't have to look at the guy anymore, damn baby.

I don't see how this incident has any connection to those previous incidents whatsoever.

[Game4Tino]

Yeah...untit he tried throwing runners out at second.

Precisely, he was a DH in catcher's gear, his whole career. Frankly, I was upset that the Mets put up with his subpar @$$ behind the plate just so he could break records. I'll still take Bench as the Greatest Hitting Catcher.

[Game4Tino]

I don't see how this incident has any connection to those previous incidents whatsoever.

Because it seems like the guy is always crying about something. "I'm pressing charges, waaaaaaaaa. Roger hit me with the ball, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I can't believe he threw a bat at me, waaaaaaaaaaaaa. I'm not Gay, waaaaaaaaaaaaaa". Pipe down and fade into bolivian already!

[hellonewman]

Because it seems like the guy is always crying about something. "I'm pressing charges, waaaaaaaaa. Roger hit me with the ball, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I can't believe he threw a bat at me, waaaaaaaaaaaaa. I'm not Gay, waaaaaaaaaaaaaa". Pipe down and fade into bolivian already!

I didn't like how he handled the Clemens incidents either but there is a huge difference between how you handle something that happpens in the heat of competition and how you handle some drunk idiot in the stands ambushing you from behind with a bottle. He's got every right to show this clown up and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

Because it seems like the guy is always crying about something. "I'm pressing charges, waaaaaaaaa. Roger hit me with the ball, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I can't believe he threw a bat at me, waaaaaaaaaaaaa. I'm not Gay, waaaaaaaaaaaaaa". Pipe down and fade into bolivian already!

Fade into Bolivian? That sounds dangerous.

[hellonewman]

Fade into Bolivian? That sounds dangerous.

Yeah, didn't work out too well for Butch and Sundance.

[yanksphan]

In a strange twist, apparently, the bottle will be pressing charges against Piazza:

[BonusCantos]

what the hell is the point of that?

I guess it's because they don't want people throwing caps?

[JDPNYY]

What a baby.


Go get your hair frosted. You'll feel better Mike.

[yankeegeek]

When's the press conference?

[__starr69]

To make it harder to lob a full bottle at someone.

If there's no cap on a bottle, the wind will get in it and it will not travel as far when thrown.
When I used to go to Shea, they were taking the caps off of the bottles they sold. They must've been psychic. I haven't been at Shea for a while (thank God!), so I don't know if this holds true anymore.

[Jersey Yankee]

So when the heck's the press conference on all this?

Will he be using some of that water to chase Guillermo Mota into the showers for daring to through at him?

The "man" belongs in a bubble where baseballs dare not come near his hallowed ground.

[Tribefan]

Because it seems like the guy is always crying about something. "I'm pressing charges, waaaaaaaaa. Roger hit me with the ball, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I can't believe he threw a bat at me, waaaaaaaaaaaaa. I'm not Gay, waaaaaaaaaaaaaa". Pipe down and fade into bolivian already!

He's not crying. It's called not condoning the idiotic and potentially dangerous actions of a moron. He should press charges. If this was any other player, would you be this critical? The fan is the one in the wrong here, not Piazza.

[Hitman23]

Because it seems like the guy is always crying about something. "I'm pressing charges, waaaaaaaaa. Roger hit me with the ball, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I can't believe he threw a bat at me, waaaaaaaaaaaaa. I'm not Gay, waaaaaaaaaaaaaa". Pipe down and fade into bolivian already!

but all these things did happen to him.

[silverdsl]

Because it seems like the guy is always crying about something. "I'm pressing charges, waaaaaaaaa. Roger hit me with the ball, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I can't believe he threw a bat at me, waaaaaaaaaaaaa. I'm not Gay, waaaaaaaaaaaaaa". Pipe down and fade into bolivian already!

I hope Piazza "cries" loud and long about this incident and doesn't back away from pressing charges. It boggles my mind that a fan thinks that throwing anything at a player, let alone a water bottle, is in any way acceptable. It's a$$hats like that fan who ruin things for the majority of the fans who know how to behave appropriately.

[Game4Tino]

Look, I'm not condoning the actions of the fan so take it easy. I would never throw a bottle at ANYONE. I'm just saying, I'm sick and tired of the guy cause he's always crying about things and this is just the latest incident. In fact, it's probably one of the reasons the guy (stupid as he is) threw the thing at Piazza and not anyone else. Who knows, maybe it was a jilted lover and Piazza is using the whole pressing charges thing as a cover up. That being said, it was a friggin' half empty water bottle, get over it.

Tribefan - the answer to the question is Yes, I would be this critical towards any player with the history of woe is me behavior that Piazza has behind him. Unfortunately for him, he is the biggest cry baby ever so there is no other player that would qualify.

[#9]

What a baby.


Go get your hair frosted. You'll feel better Mike.

He's got the appointment right after Clemens.










Why bring in the h8 to Piazza on this thread? It's about an MLB player standing up for themselves against a moronic fan. Piazza did not bring this on himself, he was doing his job.

[#9]

Who knows, maybe it was a jilted lover and Piazza is using the whole pressing charges thing as a cover up. That being said, it was a friggin' half empty water bottle, get over it.

So if one of us were to come by your job and throw s#*% at you when you didn't expect it, you'd be totally cool with it?

[DontHateOnNumber2]

I saw that. The guy is an idiot. What was he hoping to accomplish other than getting ejected or being seen on Sportscenter? I wouldn't be surprised if he did it on a dare.

[Casey at the Bat]

... In fact, it's probably one of the reasons the guy (stupid as he is) threw the thing at Piazza and not anyone else. Who knows, maybe it was a jilted lover and Piazza is using the whole pressing charges thing as a cover up. That being said, it was a friggin' half empty water bottle, get over it.

The guy was from La Puente, which is a predominantly Hispanic city in LA County.. and is largely "Dodger Land." He probably doesn't know anything about Piazza other than he used to play for the dodgers, then got traded away with new management. I am sure Piazza "crying" had nothing to do with it. As a matter of fact, I have never heard anyone outside of mets/yanks fans talk about Piazza "crying."

I don't care if it was a half empty bottle or a fresh slice of pizza (hehe), If you throw things at players, you should be prosecuted. I am glad Piazza is pressing charges. Good for him. No different than that dipstick at Fenway swinging at Sheffield or the other idiot who threw things at the Pacers, which ignited "the brawl." If anything, Piazza is dealing with this in the most appropriate way possible.

[Casey at the Bat]

If there's no cap on a bottle, the wind will get in it and it will not travel as far when thrown.

So instead of hitting the intended target, it hits the poor sap sitting two rows in front of him?

[Logan]

What a low-life asshole.. That kind of behavior under no circumstances should be tolerated.

[Hitman23]

Look, I'm not condoning the actions of the fan so take it easy. I would never throw a bottle at ANYONE. I'm just saying, I'm sick and tired of the guy cause he's always crying about things and this is just the latest incident. In fact, it's probably one of the reasons the guy (stupid as he is) threw the thing at Piazza and not anyone else. Who knows, maybe it was a jilted lover and Piazza is using the whole pressing charges thing as a cover up. That being said, it was a friggin' half empty water bottle, get over it.

Tribefan - the answer to the question is Yes, I would be this critical towards any player with the history of woe is me behavior that Piazza has behind him. Unfortunately for him, he is the biggest cry baby ever so there is no other player that would qualify.

It's easy to say this about him because you're a Yankee fan. But if you look at it from the outside it's not so simple. He DID get hit in the head with a ball. This is dangerous. He DID have a bat thrown at him. This is also dangerous. He WAS accused of being gay, and it was a media circus. He DID have a water bottle thrown at him. This should not be tolerated.

The man has "cried" and "whined" about legitimate gripes that most people would. Put yourself in his position and I'd doubt you would just "get over it". That HBP put him out for a while. Maybe the water bottle reaction is a bit excessive. But it doesn't change anything. Piazza is a good guy who was once the franchise player of a terrible team and he put fans in the seats. IMO you're being overly critical about a player simply because he played for a team you hated and he's an easy target considering the way the media has mocked him.

[Game4Tino]

So if one of us were to come by your job and throw s#*% at you when you didn't expect it, you'd be totally cool with it?

Of course not, I'd handle it like a man and meet you in the parking lot. Is that an acceptable answer?

I really don't care if everyone here is mad, I hate Piazza and I'll take every opportunity to tell anyone about it, case closed.

F PIAZZA!

[Hitman23]

Of course not, I'd handle it like a man and meet you in the parking lot. Is that an acceptable answer?

I really don't care if everyone here is mad, I hate Piazza and I'll take every opportunity to tell anyone about it, case closed.

F PIAZZA!

I don't think anyone is mad. But it's obvious your entire argument is based on the fact that you don't like him. it doesn't make his legitimate gripe any less legitimate.

And because of who he is, meeting the fan in the parking lot to take care of business is not the smartest of ideas. He'd wind up being the one sued.

[penfold]

I don't think pressing charges against this dipwad is excessive. Next time, it might not be water... it could be acid. There are a lot of f-ed up people in this world.

If Piazza were REALLY whiny about it, he could sue Arte Moreno, the Angels, and the stadium/stadium staff. As it is, he's just making sure the moron has to deal with the consequences of his actions.

[#9]

I don't think pressing charges against this dipwad is excessive. Next time, it might not be water... it could be acid. There are a lot of f-ed up people in this world.

If Piazza were REALLY whiny about it, he could sue Arte Moreno, the Angels, and the stadium/stadium staff. As it is, he's just making sure the moron has to deal with the consequences of his actions.

Exactly - very good post. Piazza has reacted the best that he could in this situation.

[#9]

The guy was from La Puente, which is a predominantly Hispanic city in LA County.. and is largely "Dodger Land." He probably doesn't know anything about Piazza other than he used to play for the dodgers, then got traded away with new management. I am sure Piazza "crying" had nothing to do with it. As a matter of fact, I have never heard anyone outside of mets/yanks fans talk about Piazza "crying."

I don't care if it was a half empty bottle or a fresh slice of pizza (hehe), If you throw things at players, you should be prosecuted. I am glad Piazza is pressing charges. Good for him. No different than that dipstick at Fenway swinging at Sheffield or the other idiot who threw things at the Pacers, which ignited "the brawl." If anything, Piazza is dealing with this in the most appropriate way possible.

Total agreement. Snce when is Piazza a whiney player? In fact what have we heard from him since he left NY until now?

[silverdsl]

Of course not, I'd handle it like a man and meet you in the parking lot. Is that an acceptable answer?

I really don't care if everyone here is mad, I hate Piazza and I'll take every opportunity to tell anyone about it, case closed.

F PIAZZA!

Not case closed. References to possible jilted lovers and meeting people in the parking lot don't make me think this thread is going in a good direction. Hate Piazza all you want, but I suggest you dial it down a notch because we have community standards here.