Making Players Accountable for their Actions

When asked about his run-in with a fan after the April 14th Yankees-Red Sox game, Gary Sheffield's had this to say:

It all happened so quickly -- I don't really remember what happened. It seemed like the fan was taking a shot at me and so I reacted without thinking, and I apologize for that. The fan was wrong to have reached into the field of play, but I was wrong to react as I did in confronting that idiot fan.

Of course, Sheffield didn't say this. He offered a self-congratulatory statement instead, "It could have been worse if I didn't hold my composure" (Ulman, "Gary Sheffield scuffles with fan, Sacramento Union, 4/15/05). Baseball, of course, has backed this up, praising Sheffield for his "restraint" and not disciplining him, while inconceivably suspending Boston's bench coach for yelling from the dugout (because that has never been done before) (4/21).

Sheffield made a mistake -- he took an unnecessary swipe at a fan that only seemed less despicable because it was not in the form of a punch. Then he ran back to the wall and began screaming with the fans in the area, until a stadium security guard arrived. And we are supposed to praise his "restraint" because he did not leap over the barrier like a madman and barrel into the stands? Has the Pistons-Pacers debacle set the bar so low? Is an athlete to be commended now for not doing what should seem obvious?

But it is not even Sheffield's actions that I think should earn him a sanction (albeit a minor one, perhaps one game and a fine). He clearly overreacted, but I think many people in the same situation would have done exactly the same thing. It is the fact that he never took any responsibility for his overreaction. Thus, he has become another athlete excused for "defending his honor" and then praised by the league because at least he didn't start a brawl. Does anyone think this is going to prevent similar incidents in the future?

Baseball officials should ask themselves this question: what is more dangerous to the sport? Coaches yelling at umpires from the dugout, as has been done for 100+ years? Or players and fans getting into altercations, with the players having immunity so long as they do not go into the stands? The answer seems clear, and so too does the absurdity of baseball's decision.

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