Times wires
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
LOS ANGELES — A California man said Wednesday that Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell made homophobic comments and sexual gestures and threatened to knock out his teeth with a bat before Saturday's game in San Francisco.
Justin Quinn, 33, of Fresno said he was in the stands during batting practice with his wife and 9-year-old twin daughters when he noticed McDowell heckling three men and making crude sexual gestures with his hips and a bat. Quinn, who was near the field, said he shouted, "Hey! There are kids out here!"
Quinn alleged McDowell replied that kids don't belong at a stadium, picked up a bat, walked up to Quinn and asked him, "How much are your teeth worth?"
"My kids are in panic mode. They're like grabbing onto me," Quinn said. "I'm talking to him, trying to calm him down, and the kids are screaming."
Some parents who were in the stands booed McDowell and came down to retrieve their children. Quinn said McDowell eventually walked away.
Quinn's lawyer, Gloria Allred, sent commissioner Bud Selig a letter asking for an investigation and "appropriate disciplinary action," which should include sensitivity training.
In a statement, Selig said he found the allegations "troubling." He added the Braves will investigate and report to him. In a separate statement, the Braves said they were "concerned" about the allegations and "this in no way represents the Braves organization and the conduct we expect of our employees." McDowell apologized as part of the statement.
Bat suit tossed: A New York judge threw out a suit against the Mets and MLB filed by a fan who was hit by a shattered bat. James Falzon, who sustained multiple facial fractures in 2007, alleged more should have been done to safeguard spectators from break-prone maple bats. The team and league argued fans are warned about the possibility of bats going into the stands by the public-address announcer and game tickets say fans assume risk for accidents incidental to the game.
Marlins: CF Chris Coghlan, an East Lake High grad, left in the eighth with a sore right shoulder but said he hopes to play Friday.
Mets: RHP Mike Pelfrey said he wants to make tonight's scheduled start despite losing 11 pounds while dealing with the flu. He threw a bullpen session and said he "felt fine." If Pelfrey doesn't go, Dillon Gee will start.
Nationals: Federal officials will meet with MLB after RHP Livan Hernandez's name surfaced in the trial of a convicted drug dealer. Prosecutors presented evidence at the trial, which ended Tuesday, that Puerto Rican drug dealer Angel Ayala Vazquez had a car repair shop registered in Hernandez's name. Hernandez declined comment. Also, RH reliever Chad Gaudin went on the DL with an inflamed right shoulder.
Phillies: RHP Roy Oswalt left the team for his home state of Mississippi, where tornadoes have caused deaths and widespread damage, to be with his wife and daughter. The team said they were safe and there wasn't any significant damage to his home. It added Oswalt hopes to be back for his next start on Tuesday. Also, C Carlos Ruiz left in the first with lower back tightness. His status is undetermined.
Rangers: RHP Darren O'Day, last season's primary setup man, went on the 60-day DL and is out indefinitely with a partially torn labrum in his left hip.
Yankees: The team is sending letters to season-ticket holders informing them it accidentally distributed personal information. An employee sent an e-mail to several hundred season-ticket holders and mistakenly attached an internal spreadsheet that contained names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses for about 17,000 holders of partial and full ticket plans. It said no other personal or financial information, such as social security numbers, credit card data or banking records, was included.
Rockies-Cubs: The game was postponed by rain and will be made up June 27.