Philadelphia Phillies Fan Gets Tasered

When the action on the field grows tiresome, too many fans decide to create their own entertainment.

 

That was the case last night in Philadelphia when a 17-year-old Phillies fan hopped the fence and ran onto the field during the eighth inning.

 

At the time the Phillies were down 6-2 after giving up a five-run inning to the St. Louis Cardinals. This apparently was enough to encourage the young fan—whose name has yet to be released because he is a minor—to make his own entertainment.

 

The fan jumped the fence and led two officers on a chase around the outfield at Citizens Bank Park in front of a reported 44,817 screaming fans. The security officers eventually ended the chase when one of the men pulled out a Taser and subdued the 17-year-old.

 

According to both teams, this is the first time a Taser has ever been used to apprehend a trespasser during a game.

 

Phillies spokeswomen Bonnie Clark said the police department is investigating the matter and discussing with the team whether using the stun gun was appropriate.

 

Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore told The Philadelphia Inquirer that police internal affairs will open an investigation to determine if the firing “was proper use of the equipment.”

 

The 17-year-old will be charged with trespassing and likely suffer years of public humiliation amongst his friends.

 

After an incident like this, one can’t help but wonder if this is taking things too far.

 

In the past, officers would make a half-hearted attempt to catch the trespasser and more or less wait until he’d run out of energy. Then they’d simply escort him off the field to spend the evening in jail.

 

Who knew that those were simpler times?

 

I’m all about keeping people off the field, but the Taser seems just a bit extreme given that this guy was clearly not a threat to anyone on the field.

 

Let’s hear it in the comments, folks. What do you think? Was the use of a Taser too much, or is it a sufficient means of crowd control in this type of situation?

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Placido Polanco Signs with the Philadelphia Phillies

Placido Polanco is coming back to Philly.

 

After spending four and a half years in Detroit, the Phillies have reportedly signed the 34-year-old to take over as the club’s everyday third baseman.

 

The contract is believed to be a three-year, $18 million deal with a fourth-year mutual option for 2013.

 

As is customary with all deals, finalization of the contract is pending a physical.

 

Polanco spent parts of four seasons in Philadelphia and posted a very solid .297/.352/.439 line during that time while posting of the best power numbers of his career.

 

The Phillies will be moving Polanco from second base, where he has two Gold Gloves, to third base to replace the departed Pedro Feliz.

 

Polanco isn’t a stranger to the hot corner, having originally started his career as a third baseman before shifting to second base full-time during his last stint in Philadelphia.

 

He posted above average numbers at the hot corner, but has only played nine games at third since the end of 2004.

 

The addition of Polanco gives the Phillies more flexibility in the lineup as well as in the field.

 

Polanco, a career .303/.348/.414 hitter can hit anywhere in the lineup.

 

He is renowned for his plate discipline. He struck out once every 14.7 plate appearances last season, good enough for the second-best mark in all of baseball.

 

Over the past five seasons, he’s averaged just one strikeout per every 17.5 plate appearances, which is also good for second-best in the Majors.

 

He has hit primarily out of the two-hole in recent years. His penchant for clutch hits and moving runners makes him an ideal candidate to continue that role in Philadelphia.

 

Another option would be to hit him lower in the order, to allow more turn-over at the bottom of the lineup. Shane Victorino has handled the two-hole in recent years and has thrived in the role.

 

No matter where manager Charlie Manuel decides to hit him in the lineup, Polanco figures to be an exciting addition to one of the most potent lineups in all of baseball.

 

The Phillies were rumored to be interested in Mark DeRosa and Adrian Beltre as alternatives at third base, but the Phillies pursued Polanco very aggressively after it was learned that Detroit would not offer him arbitration.

 

As a Type A free agent, the Tigers could have gained a first-round draft pick and as supplemental pick for Polanco had they offered him arbitration.

 

Without the offer, Polanco instantly became more attractive as a free agent option.

 

 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com