Jose Offerman is in the news, and once again, it’s all for the wrong reasons.
The former Red Sox All-Star infielder threw a punch at an umpire during an argument in a Dominican winter league game Saturday night, the second time in the last 2 1/2 years that he’s attacked someone on a baseball field.
Offerman, the manager of the Licey Tigers, appeared to punch first base umpire Daniel Rayburn with a right hook during an argument in a contest against the Cibao Giants. Although it’s unclear as to where — or if at all — he conntected on the punch, Rayburn went to the ground.
After Offerman was detained by stadium security, he was taken to a police station to see if Rayburn would press charges.
Back on Aug. 14, 2007 as a member of the Long Island Ducks of the Independent League, Offerman did the unthinkable. After getting hit by a Matt Beech pitch, Offerman charged the mound with his bat in hand and swung it at Beech, a member of the Blueport Bluefish. He struck both Beech and catcher John Nathans.
In 2009, Nathans sued Offerman in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport, seeking US$4.8-million in damages saying the attack left him with permanent, career-ending injuries.