Blue Jays security is “on alert after recent unruly, alcohol-fuelled behaviour,” according to Mark Zwolinski of the TORONTO STAR. The Jays “realize they’re getting a bad reputation around the majors after the recent incidents, including during the series against the Yankees when a man was ejected after tossing peanuts into the Yankee bullpen.” The team “logged roughly 20 fan ejections” at its home opener. The bigger numbers “come on Friday nights, but settle down on Saturdays and Sundays when more families come to the Rogers Centre.” While the club said that it is “cracking down on drunkenness with police, security staff, security managers and alcohol compliance officers, ejections are common when emotions run highest -- when the team is winning, or when expectations are high, like with the 2013 Jays.” In the World Series years of ‘92 and ‘93, there “were 100 ejections on some nights” (TORONTO STAR, 5/1).
ABIDE BY THE RULES: SPORTSGRID.com’s Rick Chandler noted when it comes to “saying stuff in an MLB park, you’d be surprised at how few rights you actually have.” Yankee Stadium security policy “prohibits things like briefcases, laser pens and vuvuzelas, which seems perfectly logical.” But it also prohibits "any other devices that may interfere with and/or distract any sports participant, other patron.” That could “be a whole lot of things, and the Yankees get to make up what they are.” In addition, fans who “are or appear to be intoxicated and/or unmanageable will not be permitted into Yankee Stadium.” The Dodgers’ Fan Code of Conduct states any fan “acting disrespectfully” can be ejected. Giants Senior Security Dir Tinie Roberson confirmed that each team is “left to its own devices.” Roberson said, “Although there are some procedure similarities on what warrants an ejection, there is no standard league-wide policy." Roberson added fans are "not automatically ejected at the request of a player. There has to be justification by observing and reporting and then the appropriate action is taken, which could be a verbal warning and/or ejection warranted depending on the reported incident” (SPORTSGRID.com, 5/1).
