MLB has talked to the Blue Jays about "banning cans" of beer from Rogers Centre after a fan threw one at Orioles LF Hyun Soo Kim during the seventh inning of the AL Wild Card game on Tuesday, according to Rob Gillies of the AP. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred yesterday said, "I don't think there is another ballpark where beer is served in cans. We've worked really hard to make sure ... that alcohol is served and consumed in a responsible way in all of our ballparks. I think that one of the reasons last night attracted so much attention is it's an unusual ... event in one of our ballparks." Blue Jays Senior Manager of Corporate Communications Sebastian Gatica said that the team is "still discussing all options, including banning beer cans," though no final decisions have been made. Gillies noted Tuesday night is at least the third incident of fans throwing objects on the field in recent years -- fans "tossed bottles and debris on the field" during Game 5 of last year's ALDS against the Rangers, while a fan "threw a drink" at then-Orioles LF Nate McLouth during a May '13 game (AP, 10/5). The CP's Diana Mehta noted the Blue Jays have "vowed to tighten their security and alcohol policies" after Tuesday's incident. The club said that the "safety of fans, staff, players and visiting teams was 'paramount' and promised to bring in 'heightened' security measures and alcohol rules for future games, though it did not provide details" (CP, 10/5).
CAN ANYTHING REALLY BE DONE? The Dallas Morning News' Tim Cowlishaw noted the Blue Jays should be “very concerned” with fans throwing things on the field, but he said, "What you can’t do is prevent stuff from happening." Cowlishaw: "You just have to rely on the sensibility of fans to keep that from happening.” The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan said, "You can’t have 50,000 policemen, but they do have to have increased security." He added the Blue Jays need to "really make a public spectacle if they catch this guy to let people know it will not be tolerated” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 10/5). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said, "I don’t know what you’re supposed to do. Are you supposed to pat down everybody there?” ESPN’s Michael Wilbon: "You can get a wild-card idiot anywhere” (“PTI,” ESPN, 10/5).
MOST-WANTED MAN: In Toronto, Joe Warmington notes Ken Pagan, a copy editor at Postmedia Network, last night "spoke with Toronto Police" and "made arrangements to turn himself in." Pagan "has not yet been charged" with throwing the beer (TORONTO SUN, 10/6). Toronto Mayor John Tory "called the culprit a 'loon-ball' on local radio but noted that the person was just one among about 50,000 fans at the game played at the Rogers Centre." Tory: "It is not typical of what Blue Jays fans do, it is not typical of what Torontonians do" (CP, 10/6). Toronto-based author Stacey May Fowles in a special to the GLOBE & MAIL writes the incident is "sure to sully the reputation of otherwise kind and good-natured Jays supporters." It "only adds more fuel to the fire of us being 'the worst fans in baseball'" (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/6). A TORONTO STAR editorial states, "Dear Baltimore, We’re sorry. Really, we are. We know we messed up. The Blue Jays fan who threw a full beer can ... doesn't represent us" (TORONTO STAR, 10/6). The GLOBE & MAIL's Cathal Kelly writes Toronto is the "new Philadelphia." Blue Jays fans are "officially, the worst." Whoever threw the beer can is "criminally responsible for his actions." Kelly: "But everyone standing around that guy -- to one degree or another -- is also culpable. When it happens again, remember now that it is not one idiot’s fault. It’s Toronto’s fault" (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/6).
CROSSING THE LINE: SPORTSNET.ca's Gare Joyce wrote if it were "only the beer can," one "might be able to put it down to a solitary idiot acting alone." But even "more dispiriting were the reports of racist insults being hurled" at Kim and Orioles CF Adam Jones. Jones "didn’t want to dwell on anything yelled down out of the stands, but after the game told reporters he's no stranger to racist remarks." Joyce: "A jerk had their 15 minutes of infamy. Okay. But if fans heard someone abusing Kim or Jones and didn’t report it to security at the stadium, then it should weigh on their consciences, presuming they have consciences" (SPORTSNET.ca, 10/5).
