Oakland denies Texas' claim that fans went over the top in a scuffle that led to a pitcher's arrest.
By Associated Press
Published September 15, 2004
OAKLAND, Calif. - The Athletics and Rangers disagreed over who's to blame for an altercation in the stands that led to the arrest of Texas reliever Frank Francisco after he threw a chair that hit a woman and broke her nose.
David Rinetti, A's vice president of stadium operations, said Tuesday a review of the ninth-inning fracas the night before, which took place in the lower box seats between the Texas dugout and bullpen, showed the fans' behavior wasn't over the line according to baseball's rules of conduct posted at every entrance.
"The incident became ugly when players approached the seating area," Rinetti said.
He noted the fans didn't yell racial slurs or swear at the players.
Yet Rangers manager Buck Showalter was quick to point to problems the Rangers have had at Oakland Coliseum. He claimed the Rangers had asked for more security in the area, but Rinetti said neither he nor his security staff had been approached with such a request.
Still, the A's beefed up security for Tuesday's game and the rest of the series, and probably for the rest of the season. Several additional officers from the Oakland Police Department were brought in to assist the Coliseum's regular security staff, which was increased by 10 in the visiting bullpen and dugout.
The Rangers said they had a lengthy team meeting before the game, but players were coming in and out of the locker room during that time. The team bus didn't arrive until 4:22 p.m., and their clubhouse was not opened to the media the usual 31/2 hours before game time. It finally opened 1:15 before, and players didn't have anything to say about what happened.
"If it doesn't pertain to the game, I'm not talking," pitcher Kenny Rogers said. "I think the (security) will be just fine. It's just another ballgame."
Francisco was arrested Tuesday morning on a charge of aggravated battery after he threw a chair into the rightfield box seats and hit two spectators in the head during the 7-6, 10-inning loss.
The injured woman, identified by her lawyer as Jennifer Bueno, 41, of Livermore, wants Francisco to be prosecuted. A civil suit is also likely because she'll need medical treatment, attorney Gary Gwilliam said.
Bueno's husband, Craig Bueno, is a battalion chief with the Hayward Fire Department. Gwilliam wouldn't comment on what Bueno might have yelled at the players before the fracas, saying he would let the man speak for himself at a news conference today.
"There is no justification for what they did," Gwilliam said. "Fans are fans and they have a right to have some fun and do some badgering if they want."
