Baseball for the Thinking Fan

Login | Register | Feedback

btf_logo
You are here > Home > Baseball Newsstand > Baseball Primer Newsblog > Discussion
Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Friday, April 11, 2008

Rays pitcher Al Reyes slugged, Tased, arrested at Tampa bar

Affbayray!

Tampa Police arrested Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Al Reyes early this morning, saying the reliever was drunk and disruptive after falling down, picking a fight and spitting blood at the patrons of a popular Hyde Park night spot where Jessica Sierra was arrested last year for throwing a glass at a patron.

Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn said this morning: “We are looking into the situation as we are just learning of it.’‘

Thursday was Reyes’ 38th birthday.

...The bouncers tried to control Reyes, but the 6 foot 1, 230-pound right-hander kept pushing them away. A Tampa Police officer working extra duty at the bar tried to calm the fracas, but Reyes “continued spitting blood and thrashing about,” Tampa Police Lt. William Ferguson wrote in the release.

Moments later, the officer Tased Reyes, knocking him to the bar floor. Ignoring police commands to stay down, authorities said Reyes got up and was Tased a second time.

Repoz Posted: April 11, 2008 at 03:45 PM | 67 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: rays

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

   1. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: April 11, 2008 at 03:50 PM (#2739446)
Don't tase me bro!
   2. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: April 11, 2008 at 03:52 PM (#2739448)
too slow.
   3. Shooty is in the Trust Tree Posted: April 11, 2008 at 03:56 PM (#2739454)
picking a fight and spitting blood at the patrons of a popular Hyde Park night spot

Ewwwwwwwww.
   4. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: April 11, 2008 at 03:56 PM (#2739455)
Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn said this morning:


"Reyes hates to be shut out at hotels and restaurant-type places"
   5. jwb Posted: April 11, 2008 at 03:57 PM (#2739456)
I used to see Harold Washington eating breakfast at the Hyde Park Coffee Shop. The Hyde Park Cafe seems like a much more happening place.
   6. joker24 Posted: April 11, 2008 at 03:57 PM (#2739457)
*Waiting impatiently for video*. I really, really want to see a crazy drunk Al Reyes spinning around spitting blood at people I can't even imagine what that actually implies.

On a sidenote, a pro-boxer I knew always said that of all the athletes, pitchers would actually make the best boxers: "loose shoulders". I'd imagine the athleticism to throw 100 mph are at least similar to that of throwing a haymaker.
   7. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:00 PM (#2739458)
[French accent]

"Now go away or we shall Tase you a second time-a"
   8. Craig Calcaterra Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:01 PM (#2739459)
Nolan Ryan threw a decent punch.
   9. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:07 PM (#2739465)
Just goes to show the similiarities in places named "Hyde Park." From the description of events this could just as easily have been Chicago as Tampa.
   10. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:08 PM (#2739466)
pitchers would actually make the best boxers: "loose shoulders". I'd imagine the athleticism to throw 100 mph are at least similar to that of throwing a haymaker.
Might make sense. I think some pitchers fit the power forward/tight end mold. Bob Gibson, Scott Burrell (Blue Jays minor league system), Dave Debuscherre, and Gene Conley all played hoops. Nowadays, you have NFL teams converting ballers like Tony Gonzalez and Marcus Pollard into TEs.
   11. Greg (U)K Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:10 PM (#2739467)
Am I the only one not surprised in the least to see Rick Vaughn working for the Rays?

Let's hope he can turn that franchise around like he did in Cleveland
   12. Dr Love Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:12 PM (#2739470)
It doesn't say he was spitting his own blood.
   13. Shredder Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:13 PM (#2739473)
Don't tase me bro!
Umm, I believe it's "¡no el tase yo, hermano!"

At least that's what babelfish thinks it is.
   14. BDC Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:24 PM (#2739484)
Are there any historical examples of pro baseball players who were also prizefighters? The further back in time you go, the more the milieus converge (think of the boxers who hung out with ballplayers and helped fix the 1919 Series). Admittedly, boxing isn't the best way of staying in shape to hit or throw a baseball ...
   15. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:32 PM (#2739489)
Bob, there was one guy who's name escapes me. He was a White Sock, IIRC, and he played during the 20s or 30s.
   16. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:35 PM (#2739492)
It doesn't say he was spitting his own blood.

Chris Truby and Albert Belle better have solid alibis.
   17. Gaelan Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:44 PM (#2739499)
Bob, there was one guy who's name escapes me. He was a White Sock, IIRC, and he played during the 20s or 30s.


Art the Great. Funny I can't remember his last name.
   18. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:51 PM (#2739506)
Umm, I believe it's "¡no el tase yo, hermano!"


If we wanted a culturally appropriate translation, it would probably be "¡no me tase, amigo!"

Which actually retains the punchy & pithy grammar of the original pretty well, IMHO.
   19. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:53 PM (#2739507)
"Are there any historical examples of pro baseball players who were also prizefighters?"

IIRC, Dave Clark, ex-Pirate outfielder and coach, was a pretty decent Golden Gloves boxer in his younger days.
   20. Padraic Posted: April 11, 2008 at 04:58 PM (#2739512)
This will inevitably lead to jokes, but Brett Myers was a very good boxer as a kid. Actual good Conlin.

Edit - Well, maybe not so good. A metaphor about a "beacon that has shined a lot of hope." Ugh.
   21. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:01 PM (#2739516)
I'm not surprised by the incident, but I always thought it would happen to this guy.
   22. phredbird Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:07 PM (#2739518)
sandy koufax was often referred to as having a 'prizefighter physique'. he was very strong in the upper body. also, basketball was his favorite sport when he was younger.
   23. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:08 PM (#2739519)
"Are there any historical examples of pro baseball players who were also prizefighters?"

This guy was pretty good, although I remember him being bigger than his listed weight.
   24. Moe Greene Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:10 PM (#2739520)
I've heard positive reports regarding the fighting abilities of Wil Cordero and Elijah Dukes.

*ducks*
   25. AROM Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:14 PM (#2739523)
The Nolan Ryan beatdown of Robin Ventura is a classic, but nobody can watch that and confuse Ryan with a prizefighter.
   26. Chris Hansen, NBC Dateline Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:25 PM (#2739527)
Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn said this morning: “We are looking into the situation as we are just learning of it.’’


Spokesman and not pitching coach? Or was that California Penal League line on his resume too much of a turn off?
   27. zonk Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:29 PM (#2739530)
The Nolan Ryan beatdown of Robin Ventura is a classic, but nobody can watch that and confuse Ryan with a prizefighter.


Yeah, that was more of a professional wrestling beatdown... all Ryan needed was a turnbuckle to smack Robin's head into.
   28. Sexy Lizard Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:31 PM (#2739531)
Just goes to show the similiarities in places named "Hyde Park." From the description of events this could just as easily have been Chicago as Tampa.

This is the sentence that proves that this is not true:

the patrons of a popular Hyde Park night spot where Jessica Sierra was arrested last year for throwing a glass at a patron.


The descriptor "popular night spot" excludes the Chicago variant of Hyde Park. A Chicago version would read:

University of Chicago campus police arrested Chicago White Sox pitcher Jack Keefe early this morning, saying the reliever was drunk and disruptive after falling down, picking a fight and spitting blood at the patrons of a place in Hyde Park where people go to get drunk because there isn't anywhere else to go, where Saul Bellow lost his hat in 1962.
   29. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:31 PM (#2739533)
Art Shires.

Dolph Camilli's brother was killed by Max Baer in the ring.
   30. Wakefieldfan Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:31 PM (#2739534)
Another gem from the Scott Spezio school of event planning
   31. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:34 PM (#2739535)
Yeah, that was more of a professional wrestling beatdown... all Ryan needed was a turnbuckle to smack Robin's head into.

That fight was fixed.
   32. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:35 PM (#2739538)
Funny, I have Reyes on my Lounge League team, and there's no alert next to his name.
   33. Moe Greene Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:44 PM (#2739545)
I've heard positive reports regarding the fighting abilities of Wil Cordero and Elijah Dukes.

To be even-handed, I guess I should follow-up and say that I've heard Chuck Finley isn't much of a fighter.
   34. Uncle Willy Posted: April 11, 2008 at 05:55 PM (#2739558)
Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn said this morning:


"Reyes hates to be shut out at hotels and restaurant-type places"

I saw Rick Vaughn's name in the intro, and planned to make a joke, but this was better than whatever I would have come up with.
   35. BDC Posted: April 11, 2008 at 06:19 PM (#2739580)
Art Shires, very cool – thanks, GGC. Find-A-Grave has a story of Judge Landis telling Shires to choose between baseball and boxing, and Shires choosing baseball; his major-league career was pretty short, though. He seems to have been a character.
   36. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: April 11, 2008 at 06:21 PM (#2739581)
Just goes to show the similiarities in places named "Hyde Park." From the description of events this could just as easily have been Chicago as Tampa.

Or the home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The Poughkeepsie Journal archives are chock full of stories of drunk athletes being dragged out of that place spitting blood and shouting about what they will and will not fear.
   37. Rusty Priske Posted: April 11, 2008 at 06:22 PM (#2739584)
Who the hell is Jessica Sierra?
   38. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: April 11, 2008 at 06:30 PM (#2739586)
Ah, yes. There's the alert.
   39. Greg (U)K Posted: April 11, 2008 at 06:32 PM (#2739587)
I googled Jessica Sierra

Apparently she finished 10th in the 4th season of American Idol.

At this rate, by 2015 there will be more "celebrities" than normals.
   40. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: April 11, 2008 at 06:34 PM (#2739590)
Like Guy Caballero, FDR didn't need that wheelchair, he used that wheelchair for respect. For respect, and also somewhat for the polio.
   41. Greg (U)K Posted: April 11, 2008 at 06:41 PM (#2739594)
That's what's missing from today's politics

Respect

and maybe just a pinch of polio
   42. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: April 11, 2008 at 06:51 PM (#2739605)
that's what's missing from today's politics

Respect

and maybe just a pinch of polio


friggin Jonas Salk ruined everything
   43. depletion Posted: April 11, 2008 at 06:56 PM (#2739611)
George Magerkurth.
Ray Knight (ask Eric Davis).
   44. There are no words... (Met Fan Charlie) Posted: April 11, 2008 at 07:07 PM (#2739624)
Don't tase me bro!


Don't Rays me bro!

Fixed.
   45. aleskel Posted: April 11, 2008 at 07:17 PM (#2739634)
jeez, 38?! Seems a little late in life to get in mischegas like this. At least Scott Olsen was just a scrappy 20-something.
   46. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: April 11, 2008 at 07:23 PM (#2739640)
friggin Jonas Salk ruined everything

The boosters stormed the field and tore the Polio Grounds to shreds.

(crickets)

(crickets)

I'll let myself out.
   47. 44magnum Posted: April 11, 2008 at 07:32 PM (#2739648)
Man, every time I think of that Knight cheap shot, my blood boils. Knight also tried to de-rail Davis awesome '96 comeback in Spring Training.

Celebrating ($6M contract) in Tampa didn't go so well for Robert "Hog Tied" Person either.
   48. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: April 11, 2008 at 07:47 PM (#2739670)
Just goes to show the similiarities in places named "Hyde Park." From the description of events this could just as easily have been Chicago as Tampa.

The U. of Chicago is in Hyde Park. Those nutso treehuggers and feminazis would go down if you "tased" them with a bar of soap, or perhaps an insert from the Sunday Trib.
   49. Willie Mayspedes Posted: April 11, 2008 at 07:47 PM (#2739671)
jeez, 38?! Seems a little late in life to get in mischegas like this. At least Scott Olsen was just a scrappy 20-something.


At least it wasn't Cole Hamels again.
   50. Willie Mayspedes Posted: April 11, 2008 at 07:50 PM (#2739675)
in places named "Hyde Park."


So Dr Jeckll came out to play on his birthday?
   51. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: April 11, 2008 at 08:17 PM (#2739706)
Anybody have an info on Derek Lowe's fighting prowess?
   52. streak of perros Posted: April 11, 2008 at 08:27 PM (#2739718)
Proof that Reyes is actually two years older than his reported age.
   53. Sexy Lizard Posted: April 11, 2008 at 08:31 PM (#2739723)
The U. of Chicago is in Hyde Park. Those nutso treehuggers and feminazis would go down if you "tased" them with a bar of soap, or perhaps an insert from the Sunday Trib.


You mean the nutso treehugger followers of Milton Friedman in the University of Chicago school of economics? Or maybe the Straussian feminazis in the Committee for Social Thought?

Before I lived in Hyde Park I lived in Cambridge, MA. I know treehuggers. We don't have treehuggers here in the HP. We have libertarians, NIMBYs, gargoyles, and the occasional drive-by shooting.

EDIT: The NIMBYs simulate treehuggers, because they don't want you to cut down their trees. But if there were only stumps they wouldn't want you to plant trees there. And they generally resent the trees for growing, but their letters to the Hyde Park Herald have thus far produced no results.
   54. Neutral Milk Dotel (Dan Lee) Posted: April 11, 2008 at 08:52 PM (#2739745)
"That's enough about me. Tell me how you got down here into Ybor City."

He said, "I got through the part about the exodus. Up to then, I only knew it was a movement of the people."

Edit: Yes, I know Hyde Park is a few miles from Ybor City. Close enough.
   55. RMc and His Roster of Rubbish Posted: April 11, 2008 at 08:54 PM (#2739749)
For 37 points and control of the board...what do the initials in TASER (yes, it's an acronym) stand for?
   56. Kirby Kyle Posted: April 11, 2008 at 08:54 PM (#2739751)
Art Shires, very cool – thanks, GGC. Find-A-Grave has a story of Judge Landis telling Shires to choose between baseball and boxing, and Shires choosing baseball; his major-league career was pretty short, though. He seems to have been a character.

Shires figures prominently in one chapter of The Catcher Was a Spy. "The Great Shires" was a nickname he gave himself, and how he preferred to be addressed. In his rookie year, he was suspended by the White Sox for getting drunk on gin and beating up his manager.
   57. Neutral Milk Dotel (Dan Lee) Posted: April 11, 2008 at 08:57 PM (#2739759)
what do the initials in TASER (yes, it's an acronym) stand for?

The Anti-Sh!thead Electronic Ray?
   58. aleskel Posted: April 11, 2008 at 09:01 PM (#2739764)
what do the initials in TASER (yes, it's an acronym) stand for?

well, I recuse myself since I just looked it up on wikipedia, but damn, that is not even close to what I would think. I was expecting it to be something akin to "laser"
   59. Ron Johnson Posted: April 11, 2008 at 09:07 PM (#2739773)
Are there any historical examples of pro baseball players who were also prizefighters?


As far as I know he never fought professionally, but Boss Schmidt did fight exhibitions with Jack Johnson (as well as spar with him)

Ty Cobb fought him a couple of times and lost badly every time.
   60. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: April 11, 2008 at 09:11 PM (#2739778)
"Dolph Camilli's brother was killed by Max Baer in the ring."

He wasn't the only one, either. Baer was hella tough.
   61. Boots Day Posted: April 11, 2008 at 09:12 PM (#2739779)
Ty Cobb fought him a couple of times and lost badly every time.

And here I thought Jack Johnson was like the mellowest dude on earth.
   62. The Bones McCoy of THT Posted: April 11, 2008 at 09:24 PM (#2739788)
Dolph Camilli's brother was killed by Max Baer in the ring.


How rude.

Didn't Baer's kid play Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies?

Best Regards

John
   63. Booey Posted: April 11, 2008 at 11:13 PM (#2739895)
Wasn't Sammy Sosa into boxing in high school? Pretty sure I read that somewhere, and that it was his future wife or some other family member that convinced him to quit and focus solely on baseball. Maybe my memory is just going south as I near 30...

His face always LOOKED like it's taken a few punches anyway...
   64. Eraser-X is emphatically dominating teh site!!! Posted: April 11, 2008 at 11:43 PM (#2739997)
At this rate, by 2015 there will be more "celebrities" than normals.


This reminds me of the old Martin Gardner paradox about the "most boring person in the world".

And no, U of C is not a bastion for crazy treehuggers, they are actually the shitheads who came up with the gentrification campaign that we are currently getting our asses kicked by.
   65. cardsfanboy Posted: April 12, 2008 at 04:28 PM (#2740637)
jeez, 38?! Seems a little late in life to get in mischegas like this. At least Scott Olsen was just a scrappy 20-something.


at first I thought the same thing, then realized "Hey I'm 37 and I come close to getting into similar trouble on a twice annual basis so I guess I can't judge too harshly"

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

 

 

<< Back to main

BBTF Sponsor

Support BBTF

donate

Thanks to
Didi Dodo Doodoo (1k5v3L)
for his generous support.

Bookmarks

You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.

Hot Topics

NewsblogPosnanski: Jeff Francoeur and ANT
(55 - 1:05am, May 22)
Last: Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66)

NewsblogOT: NBA Monthly Thread - May 2013
(1049 - 1:05am, May 22)
Last: Maxwn

NewsblogOMNICHATTER for MAY 21, 2013
(116 - 1:03am, May 22)
Last: boteman

NewsblogJM Catellier: Is Pedro Martinez a First Ballot Hall of Famer?
(128 - 12:57am, May 22)
Last: Sonic Youk

NewsblogYanks, Manchester City awarded MLS expansion team
(23 - 12:47am, May 22)
Last: HowardMegdal

NewsblogSB Nation: Five lost scouting reports
(11 - 12:44am, May 22)
Last: Perry

NewsblogWhite Sox Ace Chris Sale Eats and Eats and Eats Without Gaining Any Weight
(76 - 12:42am, May 22)
Last: McCoy Wilfong for Money

Newsblog[OTP-May] Politico: Congressional baseball game, May 1, 1926
(3830 - 12:41am, May 22)
Last: Jolly Old St. Nick Done Jumped The Ship

NewsblogBarry Bonds: Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera 'the best' ... but not better than me
(60 - 12:33am, May 22)
Last: Cooper Nielson

NewsblogLATimes: Microsoft unveils new Xbox One console
(4 - 12:23am, May 22)
Last: Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house

NewsblogBBTF SOFTBALL GAME IN NEW YORK--AUG 17
(311 - 12:07am, May 22)
Last: Rafael Bellylard: Built like a Fielder

NewsblogPrimer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-21-2013
(22 - 12:01am, May 22)
Last: esseff

NewsblogOT: The Soccer Thread, May 2013
(1048 - 11:05pm, May 21)
Last: Textbook Editor

NewsblogUSA Today: “Diamondbacks’ Pat Corbin continues dominance vs. Rockies”
(1 - 7:42pm, May 21)
Last: ShoeGrit

NewsblogWaPo | Ryan Mattheus breaks throwing hand punching a locker, adds to bullpen disarray
(15 - 7:39pm, May 21)
Last: John DiFool2

Demarini, Easton and TPX Baseball Bats

 

 

 

AllianceTickets.com has cheap MLB Tickets. Get all your Colorado Rockies Tickets, Seattle Mariners Tickets, San Francisco Giants Tickets and all your favorite baseball tickets here. We also carry cheap Denver Broncos Tickets, Seattle Seahawks Tickets and Denver Nuggets Tickets.

For wholesale prices on baseball gifts and equipment, check these stores out!

Baseball Autograph Signings
Baseball Card Supplies
Baseball Memorabilia
Baseball Collectibles
Baseball Equipment
Baseball Protective Gear

Page rendered in 0.3149 seconds
50 querie(s) executed