Deadspin: jose offerman

Victim Of Jose Offerman's Bat Rage Not Doing So Well

Tommy Craggs — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:00:00 EDT

Two years ago, John Nathans wound up on the wrong end of Jose Offerman's bat. And now? The Boston Globe finds him, oh this is sad, getting rubber balls bounced off his face.

Nathans, a former catcher in the independent Atlantic League, was struck in the head trying to stop a bat-wielding Offerman as he charged the mound. He recently filed a $4.8 million lawsuit against Offerman and the Long Island Ducks, alleging that the attack ended his career and left him with a range of injuries — concussion, inner-ear problems, vomiting, headaches, vertigo, post-concussion syndrome — from which he's still rehabbing.

This apparently entails, in part, having a large red rubber ball lobbed at his face, which he only occasionally catches.

Other times it bounces off his face and he has to stop because he's dizzy or nauseated. Or worse, he has to go home, pull the covers over his head to shut out the world, and try again tomorrow. He can't tolerate much outside stimuli.

Offerman got two years probation and some anger management treatment. He didn't talk to the Globe, but his attorney did. "Jose may have made a poor decision on that day," says Offerman's attorney, Frank Riccio II, "but the question now is, did he make a poor decision to the tune of $4.8 million?"

The guy was a professional catcher, and now he can't catch large rubber balls lobbed at his face? Yeah, $4.8 million seems about right.

A dizzying turn [Boston Globe]

Jose Offerman's Lawyer Is Awesome

Leitch — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:20:17 EDT

We are not experts in legal matters — we leave this to Deadspin LLP — but we'd have to think Jose Offerman is gonna have a difficult time convincing a jury that he didn't attack a minor league pitcher with a bat. But what do we know? Maybe he'll use the "I thought I saw a mosquito" excuse.

Yes, Offerman has pleaded not guilty in his August attack. His lawyer's explanation: "Offerman's attorney Frank Riccio has said he does not believe his client struck the players with a bat." Oh. OK.

We remind everyone to check out the slideshow, considering there is no video. We think Offerman's case is incredibly strong.

Jose Offerman Pleads Not Guilty [The Angry T]
Offerman Slideshow [Connpost]

The Shocking Jose Offerman Video

Leitch — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:00:10 EDT

As everyone struggles to come to terms with Jose Offerman's blatant attack with a baseball bat on Tuesday, we note that apparently no video of the incident exists. Which is probably for the best. In fact, this was the best we could find. Major League-ready swing, that guy.

OK, fine: Actually, this was the best we could find.

Jose Offerman's Comeback Attempt Hits A Minor Snag

rickchand — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:00:35 EDT

As you surely knew, everyone's favorite smoldering volcano of goodness, ex-major league All-Star Jose Offerman, is playing for the Long Island Ducks of the Independent Atlantic League this season. Or, he was, until he went after opposing players with a bat on Tuesday night. Let's see Bonds try this.

Offerman homered in the first inning. The next inning, he was hit by a pitch from Bridgeport's Matt Beech and charged the mound with his bat. Offerman hit Beech in the hands and struck catcher John Nathans in the head. The game was delayed for about 20 minutes because of the melee. Offerman, Beech and Bridgeport manager and former major league pitcher Tommy John were all ejected.

Offerman was arrested following the game (exact charges remain unspecified) and bailed himself out last night. He is now resting comfortably in a padded room.

Hey, what I want to know is, where was the team's goddamned duck mascot? If own the Long Island franchise and I sign Offerman, I make sure that duck's only job is to keep an eye on him and if things go wrong, charge out there and distract him like a rodeo clown. Even during away games.

Ex All-Star Arrested For Hitting Foes With Bat [MSNBC]
Ex-Big Leaguer Offerman Arrested After Bat Incident [USA Today]