Phillies Nation

110 Responses to “Opinion: Suspend Romero”

1. Greg V. Says:
   July 1st, 2009 at 8:46 am

   Is this Mets Nation or Phillies Nation here? I’m confused!

2. Greg V. Says:
   July 1st, 2009 at 8:48 am

   My own sense? The guy lawyered up and the legal proccess is now handling this. I can’t believe the Romero incident is being compared to the other once mentioned for it doesn’t even come close in comparisson.

3. Griffin Says:
   July 1st, 2009 at 8:57 am

   Whether or not Romero plays for your favorite team should not matter. He admitted that he hit someone. Of course the guy he hit was a duche, but that’s no excuse.

4. Geoff Says:
   July 1st, 2009 at 9:04 am

   I TOTALLY AGREE. YOu dont violently attack fans REGARDLESS of what they say to you. YOu know what the Phillies fans say to some of those guys in the away bullpen? You dont see them attacking anyone.

   I would suspend Romero and then TRADE him promptly after that. REGARDLESS of the return. They have other left handers in the system who are good.

5. Keith E Says:
   July 1st, 2009 at 9:09 am

   Romero crossed the line and for that and that alone he should be suspended.
   My personal take on this is that the loud mouth fan poked a lion with a stick and he got poked in return. Let’s see Mr. Eaton walk into any bar and talk sh*t to any given patron. He will have his hands full! Deep down this gentleman got exactly what he was looking for, trouble. He now goes to a lawyer? Take your beat down like a man. JC Romero is a human being and deserves to be treated accordingly, as do all players and fans. The notion that your ticket purchase includes the right to attack a player personally is nonsense.

   GO PHILLIES!!!!

6. Shawn Says:
   July 1st, 2009 at 9:10 am

   It doesn’t matter whether or not they suspend him, he isn’t helping us anyway. It would just be one more nail in the coffin that is the Phils season.

7. bull Says:
   July 1st, 2009 at 9:14 am

   Keith I agree. Players are still people and they have their moments of weakness. But the fans should have more respect for players as people regardless of what you think of them as a player. I dont condone what JC did but at the same time if one of us were being taunted in a bar what do you think the outcome would be?

8. Don M Says:
   July 1st, 2009 at 9:20 am

   This isn’t the first, or the last time that an athlete PUSHES a drunken fan who said something to cross the line.. or had the beer muscles to get in the guys’ face.

   Good for JC … no chance they suspend him because then they will NEVER have players willing to do thing that involve the public .. if you can’t defend yourself then we have a problem..

   Im sure this has happened 4 million times before, but now with the internet, these stories take off..

   This dude got in his face.. he can say he didn’t feel safe, and felt the need to push the fan away.. He didn’t punch him.. he PUSHED him.. no harm no foul

   because he’s got some balls, I like ROMERO even more than I did last year

9. Geoff Says:
   July 1st, 2009 at 9:26 am

   Romero is a cancer. Hes already been suspended once for either being a dumbass or cheating – depending on how you look at it. He goes out drinking the night before big series. Now he physically assaults a fan. As a pro athlete, you just cant do that no matter what someone says to you. Striking a fan is the cardinal sin of all professional athletics.

   Get rid of this d-bag. Escalona is ok. Bastardo will be just as good at that role as Romero when he gets back from the DL

10. Maverick Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 9:33 am

    Greg V is right… i think this is turning into Mets nation.

    Geoff get a clue.. you want the Phils to Trade Romero! Take your tampon out and get over it…..

    If your drawing a line in the sand and saying Phillies players need to be church going christians then you should probably stop wearing your Brett Myers jersey and you should denounce any support you have for the 93 team….

    because anything else….would be well…Hypocritical.

    get a clue before you start writing in CAPS to trade Romero. moron

11. Johnny Goodtimes Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 9:39 am

    Geoff is out of his mind. Trade the guy because he shoved some big mouth idiot who got in his face? Please. I’m sure Geoff is the 2nd coming of Gandhi, and when people get in his face and talk shit he just meditates but JC Romero and the rest of us are human. Yeah, trade Romero so we can rely on Jack Taschner out of the bullpen. Great idea, genius.

12. Geoff Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 9:44 am

    Who said anything about Christianity? Its not my problem if you have some sort of hatred for people of that faith.

    JC Romero has been relatively ineffective since being SUPPOSEDLY “Clean” – so what does that tell you?

13. Jennifer Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 9:48 am

    Jason, I totally disagree. First, you cite incidents that are far worse than what Romero allegedly did to Eaton. Second, Eaton was clearly looking for trouble. Eaton said himself that he was yelling expletives and other things at Romero. Plus, Eaton was not harmed – he says he was “embarrassed.” Third, Romero has not been convicted or even charged with any crime. If he is found guilty in a court of law, MLB should suspend him. But only IF he is found guilty. I think Eaton is playing up the incident in hopes of getting some of Romero’s cash.

14. NJ Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 9:56 am

    It’s tiring when ‘people of faith’ in sport role out their mantra expecting all to follow and agree using god in every sentence they can get in front of a mic. As it so happens Romero’s meant to be a pretty religious person.

    This is a bad situation, the fan is a disgrace and stepped over the line but Romero’s made his bed and he’ll be suspended for this. The substance abuse suspension shouldn’t even be brought into the conversation and its been made pretty clear it wasn’t a PED he used, just a banned substance.

15. Badaabing Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 9:59 am

    Riod Rage….Romero is nothing more then an over paid 13 pitch clown who has to deal with this and pay the man for his stupidity ….pushing someone is an assault minor yes but you can’t put your hands on someone………its that simple.

16. Georgie Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:05 am

    I swear, some of you fans would condone ANYTHING ANY Phillie player does. I agree with Jason and Geoff, Romero has been nothing but trouble since he was “caught”, he should be suspended and then traded ASAP! Jennifer, of course Eaton is trying to get some of J.C.’s cash, there’s no question there. But the fact is, J.C. has a hot temper which he is unable to control, and the last thing this team needs right now is more controversy and negativity. Jeez, people, get a grip, major league athletes have to suck it up and turn the other cheek when someone taunts them like that, they can’t stoop to the level of drunken, ignorant, moronic fans.

17. Geoff Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:07 am

    Im not even really a person of faith in the common sense of the word. I really dont hold any mainstream religious views one way or the other. I find those people who wear it on their sleeve are often not who they appear to be anyway. Im not even promoting over faith over another or faith at all. I believe what I do, you believe what you do….

    NOW:

    Im just saying that no matter how much of a d-bag a fan is you just gotta be a professional and walk away. It may even be ok to talk back to the fan, but dont strike them. Romero is a negative influence on the team, simple as that.

18. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:08 am

    I can’t believe that people are ACTUALLY sticking up for Romero…wtf. Geoff isn’t wrong AT ALL. I’m not saying trade Romero, but he should be suspended for his actions. Whether or not the fan had it coming, it’s Romero’s job to act like a professional. If you work retail like the Gap or something and someone pisses you off at your place of business are you going to push the customer? You would get fired immediately. All of you defending Romero are just being biased Phillies fans.

19. Maverick Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:10 am

    I wish Jimmay would get back on the Juice….he sucks playing clean.

20. Geoff Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:12 am

    I agree, Phil and Georgie. Maybe Im off saying he should be traded, but you guys all cant let the fact that hes a Phillie cloud your common sense. It doesnt matter who does something like that, thats not what we’re about here. Violence is not acceptable in that situation or in almost any situation.

21. Don M Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:14 am

    There is a difference between someone “taunting” …. and someone being drunk, cursing at you, and getting in your face ..

    I think some of you live in a fantasy world.. or maybe just the cyber-world ..

    In the real world.. if you feel that someone has crossed the line.. or you feel like they are a threat to you.. you deal with it. as Romero did…

    also.. he PUSHED the guy … I’m pretty sure that does count as controlling his temper, because if he wanted to.. he probably could have knocked the guy out for a few hours
    …

    I would love to hear more of the trade, release comments though.. who should be gone… Rollins, Moyer, Madson, Myers, Romero, Bruntlett, Coste, …who am I fogetting?
    You guys (and girls) have quite a list going of players that helped us win the World Series.. but that you don’t want on this team

22. NJ Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:14 am

    That’s kind of harsh… Romero was caught being ignorant and stupid, not doping and this is one incident since that could have happened to anyone. He’s hardly been tearing around like the incredible hulk causing trouble left right and centre.

    It happened to him when most players who’ve been suspended for failing drug test for one reason or another would have walked away, he’s clearly going to be suspended and fined for it. I agree lets not condone his actions here but calm down, there’s too much hatred here of too many players on this team.

23. Maverick Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:15 am

    Phil… i think Romero should get slap on the wrist by the league.. but i dont think we should trade him for the sake of trading him b/c of his actions.

    unless of course that trade invloves a top of the rotation pitcher!

24. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:15 am

    Maverick, stfu…Jimmy had 2 awesome years and that means he did roids? I guess career years means nothing to you. Learn baseball statistics. If you did you’d know what BAbip is. That means batting average for balls in play. His is extremely bad, meaning he is putting balls in play but the ball is getting hit right at people. You know who else is straddling the Mendoza line this year and has a terrible BAbip…A-Rod, but oh wait, you’re going to accuse him of doing roids too. There’s no proof Rollins did roids…I’m sure all 160 lbs of him was on the juice.

25. Brooks Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:16 am

    I do not believe this event it being blown out of proportion. Compare it to the average Joe in a bar, or in school, at any event and a fool gets in your face. 3 choices as I see it;
    1) take matters into your own hands
    2) walk away and ignore the jackass or
    3) get a witness to this harrassment and call the authorities. This idiot may have been shocked when Romero came at him, imagine his reaction if the authorities – police or event authority pressing harrassment charges and slapping a fine on his dumb ass. There is retribution without having to walk away attempting to ignore this fool or getting yourself in trouble by grabbing at him. Not to mention the humiliation that goes along with being charged with this demeanor.
    One of the problems being that this is not urged by either the event managers nor the players union.
    Speaking of these types of clashes, who else remembers Roberto Alomar’s spitting incident?
    The ump clearly crawled into Robbie’s personal life and he snapped. I say there has to be a way to avoid either just getting back physically or hanging your head in shame -

26. NJ Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:17 am

    Don M- Your forgetting Blanton, Werth, Eyre, Taschner, Park, Carrasco and you can’t forget Kendrick…

27. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:18 am

    I never said trade him…I also still can’t believe any of you are sticking up for him. If you worked at the Gap and someone came in there and drunkenly got in your face and taunted you, I guarantee you’d still get fired if you pushed him. The proper thing to do is call security. Romero should have done just that, gotten a security officer. Furthermore, I heard he wasn’t even drunk. This is why I don’t post here anymore. You are all a bunch of homers. If Utley killed somebody out of cold blood I bet you’d all find a way to justify it.

28. Geoff Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:18 am

    Um, A-Rod did roids since high school. Thats ON RECORD in mainstream news.

29. Maverick Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:19 am

    Phil …. all im saying is that Jimmy’s performamce has dropped off and it might be a good idea for him to ask Rauul for some of his juice.

    That way we can win another WS title

30. Maverick Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:24 am

    Phil… really?

    You know who else is straddling the Mendoza line this year and has a terrible BAbip…A-Rod, but oh wait, you’re going to accuse him of doing roids too. There’s no proof Rollins did roids…I’m sure all 160 lbs of him was on the juice.

31. Don M Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:24 am

    This is just a classic overreaction by some… and over-defending by others (myself included)

    Romero should not have done what he did.. but we weren’t there.. and we don’t know the situation.

    a drunk guy got in his face.. and Romero pushed him out of his face..

    he didn’t punched him.. and the guy didn’t get hurt or anything…

    the player’s association will FLIP out if players aren’t allowed to defend themselves like a normal citizen… it was outside of work.. if he went into the stands or something.. suspend him .. if he was defending himself when he felt he needed to, he should not be suspended

32. NJ Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:25 am

    Phil I don’t think anyone’s condoning what he’s doing, this is being blown out of proportion. He pushed a drunken fan who was trying to cause trouble, he should and is going to pay for it but this is should be looked at in context.

33. Chuck P Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:25 am

    I have mixed feelings…

    Romero should have acted more responsibly… I get that, but this Eaton guy (gotta hate this clown… probably a cousin of Adam sent to Philadelphia to heckle our team, a la Happy Gilmore) went out of his way to provoke Romero and took steps towards him, then I don’t really have a problem with Romero pushing him away. Why does he have to let anyone get in his face? You don’t know what your knee jerk reaction would be in that situation. Again, I get it, he could have stepped away but if all we’re talking about is a push, I don’t think that a very minor lack of judgment is worth a suspension. Let’s see what the courts decide… even if a suspension is warranted (if we find out that there’s more to this story), I don’t think that it’s going to be anything major.

34. Georgie Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:27 am

    Ok, Don, so because some of us feel that violence is not always the answer, we live in a fantasy world? No wonder things are so screwed up with the majority feeling as you do, that something like this is “cool” and “manly”. The manly thing to do would have been to laugh at the a-hole and just walk away.

35. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:29 am

    I know A-Rod did roids, Geoff…I’m saying prove that Rollins did roids.

    As for this situation, if Bobby Parnell or some other Mets bullpen pitcher hit a fan I guarantee you would all be calling for his head. You’re all acting hypocritical. What was he defending himself from? A guy yelling over a railing? He didn’t throw anything at him. He didn’t threaten him in anyway. He just accused him of doing roids. My friend threw a water bottle at Chipper Jones at a game in 2003. Chipper didn’t get in the stands and look for who did it, he turned around and gave the finger. My friend was later ejected from the Vet. Romero shouldn’t have pushed him or did anything. He should have gotten a security guard at the park to escort him out of the game.

36. Geoff Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:31 am

    Theres no legitimate evidence to suggest Rollins was juicing. He does fit the pattern and he could have. But its just as likly that he did not.

37. Bob Myers Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:31 am

    A little shove when a fan was aggressively taunting? C’mon, we’re all human. No one was hurt. The idea that this was right on the edge of going more violent and thus tragic is ridiculous.

    Romero should get a gentle slap on the hand. Nothing more. And I’d say the same thing if it were a Met.

38. NJ Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:31 am

    I suspect Don M suggested some live in a fantasy world because their acting like he took out the guys knees, punched him in the throat, stole his kids and held them for ransom whilst shooting-up herion at a hate rally…

    He pushed the guy, it’s bad but he’s no Ron Artest.

39. Geoff Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:32 am

    YOu hear what is said and see whats thrown at the guys int eh visiting bullpen at CBP? its a miracle none of those guys attacked anyone yet…because theyre PROFESSIONALS.

40. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:33 am

    Bob, if you worked somewhere and pushed a customer do you think you’d get fired? His job is to be a professional athlete not to push fans that mock him. Longoria didn’t try to fight Phillies fans for chanting EVA when he was up to bat during the WS. It obviously shook him up. Rollins wasn’t trying to hit Braves fans with a bat yesterday when they were chanting his batting average. Romero should have NEVER pushed a fan. What part of this isn’t getting through to you?

41. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:35 am

    haha Geoff, they’re not going to get it. If Cole Hamels was a terrorist and blew up the Sears Tower the fans here would probably say it’s okay.

42. Don M Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:36 am

    he PUSHED that guy… he didn’t hit him…

    It’s not MANLY or COOL to start fights.. but in my mind, if someone gets in your face.. and you feel the need to PUSH him to get him out of your face.. that is perfectly acceptable.

    again.. he didn’t hit him.. it was such a minor thing that there was no injury or anything.. why this has become such a big story, I don’t know

43. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:37 am

    Don M…what do you do for a living?

44. Geoff Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:38 am

    Exactly Georgie. So many people act macho and try to act cool/tough. Anybody can lose it and snap, but it takes mental discipline to exercise restraint. Who cares what someone says to you? Do you have to strike them to make it even? Will the Universe collapse if you just walk away?

    We live in a violent society – which is the very reason that it is falling apart right now. We just accept something like this as normal and being ok. Well its not ok. Provocateurs exist to GET YOU to become violent. Half of our foreign policy is geared around provoking people to attack us so we can invade their country and rich people can make money off the war.

    The proper way to handle a provocateur is to just walk away. If you or youre friends/family are attacked physically in a serious way, sure you defend youself. But other than that theres really no excuse for it.

45. Geoff Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:39 am

    im sure they would phil, lol

46. Brooks Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:40 am

    Don, so what kind of Phillies fan are you? Should we just keep hanging on to someone like Bruntlett who has proven absolutely worthless becuase of the so-so job he did last year?
    Are you still crying over the Pat Burrell release?
    Dude, this town needs to carry on the winning tradition – Bruntlett and Rollins are showing nothing and have had lots of opportunities. It looks to me like Jimmy is almost asking to be traded at this point.

47. Chub Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:40 am

    He’s human..humans make mistakes…just because he is a pro-ball player Romero should be void of all emotions? I don’t think so. It’s so easy to sit here and say he shoulda done this or that.
    IMO, A**Clown Eaton should be barred/banned from attending any games for a period of time. There’s responsibility from both parties.

48. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:40 am

    I stopped posting here because of that top 100 Phillies thing. Watching everyone yell at Tim and call him a joke and whatever else they had to say was a f*cking disgrace. Now I know why everyone thinks Philadelphia sports fans are the worst.

49. Miles Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:41 am

    I agree that JC deserves a suspension, but I’m not sure he will get one if he isn’t prosecuted, which seems fairly likely.

    To Geoff, as I’ve said before you hated JC from the second the suspension went down, and you continue to make irrational claims about how we should get rid of him. Escalona and Bastardo are NOT, I repeat NOT, going to be as successful in the pen as Romero. I’m sorry you can’t admit that. Romero obviously has command issues but so does half the bullpen. His ERA is in the mid 3s and that’s fine for me. We need him on the team.

50. Geoff Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:42 am

    Its the same reason that when Bill Clinton started wars, half the people LOVED it and half the people HATED it. But when George Bush started a war the other half of the people LOVED it and the other hald HATED it. Now when Obama expends a war or starts a new one its back the other way again.

    People associate too closely with a brand and justify all actions taken by someone bearing that brand. Thats our downfall. People take actions, not a logo. Thus, they are responsible for those actions no matter what they are. Just because someone bears a Phillie logo or a Republican or Democrat logo doesnt mean they are a good person AT ALL and it doesnt mean that the actions they take are noble or justified.

51. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:42 am

    Chub, if that was the case for Eaton then there wouldn’t be many baseball fans at any parks. I was at WS game 5 and you should have heard the $hit being yelled at the Rays BP.

52. NJ Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:44 am

    This is so far out of context. JC pushed an asshole of a fan who was being abusive towards him and is trying to turn a buck from the incident. JC shouldn’t have reacted because that’s the baggage that comes with a $4m a year pay-check to play professional baseball, again he shouldn’t have pushed the guy but he didn’t do anything that would incur criminal charges (that would stick).

    Why are Philly fans perceived as the worst? Because are viewed upon a prima donna’s who have no appreciation of what’s been earned and like to blow things out of context… Like this!

53. Don M Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:44 am

    I’m a security guard at the Gap

54. AmazinSux Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:45 am

    Well, Phil….. aren’t you special. What a tool.

55. Miles Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:48 am

    Phil, you are right. With this, as with all things, most of us view our opinions as facts. A blog site like this is to discuss issues on the team, not to force-feed opinions to others. My opinion here is that JC was in the wrong, but it isn’t that big of a deal, so a short suspension will suffice. Trading him or releasing him would be a terrible idea, just as shrugging off the situation because this Eaton guy (are we sure this wasn’t Adam posing under a fake name?) was an ass.

56. Georgie Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:48 am

    So then, NJ, what you’re basically saying is that it’s ok for a professional athlete to grab a fan by the throat, as long as he doesn’t take it any further? Look, when you sign up for the big leagues, you know there are going to be times when fans of opposing teams, and even your OWN fans, will be yelling obscenities at you and maybe throw stuff at you. Fans used to yell nasty things about Mike Schmidt’s wife at the vet, but I don’t recall him ever doing anything close to what J.C. did. It’s part of the game, athletes know that and must respect the rules, even if it means backing down from threatening fans. There would be total chaos if players and fans were allowed to go at it, there are no gray areas here, what J.C. did was wrong, and I don’t think a slap on the wrist is the answer.

57. NJ Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:48 am

    Phil/Geoff- What do you think should happen here. JC Romero pushed an unruly and abusive fan, what do you do?

    I’m pretty sure your answers going to be one we all agree with but your taking your arguments so far out of context as if it’s a landmark moment in the life of JC Romero, the Phillies franchise and social conscience… Your acting like some of us are defending him killing a guy, instead of just empathising with a crappy situation in which he did something minor wrong and should get a slap on the wrist.

58. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:49 am

    Sounds like you’re f*cking with me. Glad to see how mature you all are.

59. Brooks Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:50 am

    8 P
    Losing gets us all testy brother!
    Phil, I thought you were leaving dude? Phillies nation, blog site for fans, passionate fans – with strong emotions for their players – duh –
    There are way too many of us who immensley enjoyed and appreciated (maybe not always agreed with) Tim’s 100 top Phillies –
    but too there are some that would throw a punch, its what makes the world spin friend -

60. NJ Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:53 am

    Georgie I’m saying a fan accosted JC away from the field, JC pushed the guy which was wrong, he should be fined and receive a short suspension representative of him pushing the guy not attempting grievous bodily harm like Ron Artest.

    He did something MINOR wrong and he will be punished. Stop trying to make out like he assaulted a fan in the stands and should have the book thrown at him.

61. Miles Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:54 am

    Phil, who exactly are you responding to there?

62. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:54 am

    I never once said trade JC…I just agree he should be suspended. I don’t understand how simple this is…JC pushed a fan. The fan and witnesses said he grabbed him by the throat. That is uncalled for. The only reason any of you are defending him is because he is a player on the Phillies.

    And Brooks, f*ck you. I am a passionate fan…just because I don’t condone violence and do not want to see our players attack another fan means I’m not a passionate fan? You know who is the most passionate Phillies fan I know? Tim, and he got trashed for making a list of the top 100 Phillies of all time.

63. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:56 am

    amazinsux and don m, Miles.

64. Don M Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:56 am

    EVERYONE relaxxx..

    here’s my thing ..

    I was kinda pissed that Utley decided to drop F-bombs on live TV, twice last year.. with millions of people, kids that look up to him, etc.. watching and listening..

    to me.. that is a bigger deal than Romero PUSHING this guy that got in his face..

    some may agree, most will disagree..

    Im not trying to defend Romero’s actions as something great, cool, manly, or anything.. I just dont think it was all that big a deal.

    the same way lots of people didn’t think Utley cursing was a big deal.. but I did.

    Im not sure why I felt that way about Utley’s language.. or why I feel this way about Romero’s pushing .. in the grand scheme of things, neither is that big a deal

65. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:56 am

    Cursing is worse than violence? hahahahahahahahahahahaha

66. Miles Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:57 am

    Phil, not trying to be an ass here, but don’t call everyone on here immature but feel the need to throw a f**k into everything you say to try to make a point. Everyone just chill out. Looks like we all have Romero Rage.

67. NJ Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:58 am

    I’d hope we’d be ‘defending’ him even if he wasn’t a Phillies player and it’s hardly condoning violence, it was a player stupidly responding to an abusive fan in a way he shouldn’t, he didn’t throw down his stuff and clock the guy and start beating him while he was lying defenceless on the floor, that’s violence.

68. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:00 am

    No, NJ…he wasn’t able to he wasn’t directly next to him or I’m sure he would have. He just grabbed him by the throat instead.

69. Don M Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:00 am

    Phil.. you’re cool, I was just busting balls about the previous Gap comments.. just trying to make a joke, not trying to be a d!ck.

    I just see this as not that big a deal.. I’d be ok with him getting suspended for a few games.. but if I was the commish, I wouldn’t ..

    it was an off-the-field incident.. that none of us saw.. its his word vs. someone else ..

    If Player A doesn’t get suspended for cursing TWICE on National TV.. with a direct representation of MLB and the Philadelphia Phillies .. Player B shouldn’t get suspended for an off-feild incident (one in which nobody was hurt)

70. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:02 am

    Don, neither of those curses were technically during an on the field thing. One was during the Home Run Derby the other was after they already won the WS. Regardless, would you rather your children saying f*ck or hitting people that pi$$ them off?

71. Miles Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:04 am

    Don, in all fairness though, its not a crime to curse….unless maybe its at a cop or something. I agree that the league could have easily been upset at Utley for his comments, but the law is not involved at all with those incidents.

72. Miles Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:07 am

    On a side note, this will make for an exciting episode of “The Pen.” It will be like the episodes of the Real World where somebody gets too drunk and gets into a fight at the bar.

73. Chuck P Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:07 am

    All I’m saying is that none of us are in a position to judge Mr. Romero. If someone belittles you and gets in your face, you don’t know what your knee jerk reaction will be… we all hope that we would make the right decision but we all make mistakes and Romero is not immune to that. If the facts hold up, a fine/short suspension might be prudent but to compare this “shove” with the Artest/Pacers meltdown and Francisco breaking a woman’s nose with a folding chair is ludacris.

74. Don M Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:07 am

    I would rather have my child shove someone to defend himself (if he felt the need to)

    than use the F-word in front of lots of people… thats just me

    I guess I look at Romero’s actions as more of self-defense than you guys do.. but he technically didn’t HIT him.. he pushed him.. which, as small as it seems, is actually a big difference

75. Don M Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:10 am

    its not a crime to curse.. you guys are right.

    its just still a case of no self-control.. they are both at fault for their actions..

    Utley’s premeditated actions in front of Children, bothers me more than Romero’s reaction with this guy getting in his face..

    AGAIN.. I understand that people feel way different than me about what Utley did.. and way different than me about what Romero

    I’m just giving my take

76. Chuck P Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:10 am

    To me, the cursing incident was worse because it was premeditated…

    I would defend any player that was accused of pushing a belligerant fan… Phils, Mets, Braves… shouldn’t matter. I am that guy that tries to defend players like Barry Bonds and A-Rod. I am that guy…

77. Brooks Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:12 am

    Phil, your the ding dong who said you’d had it with this site – and its easy to see you are a passionate fan, you misread my comment but hey, snappy comeback!

78. Phil Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:14 am

    Don M, Romero grabbed the fan by the throat. You’d rather your kid act violent because someone makes fun of him then drop an F bomb? Romero wasn’t defending himself, he was the attacker…not the defender.

79. mikemike Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:16 am

    Dom lighten up about the f word, I have a eleven year old and don’t like cursing, but in this case it was awesome. I think you have to be in the atmosphere of just coming down broad street , seeing the emotion and the thrill in the eyes of the people. You get caught up in the moment. as far as jc how can anyone say he was right or wrong unless you were there. maybe the guy came at him or just look aggressive. I wasn’t there so to defend him or want him run out of town is crazy.

80. 4daysrest.com Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:17 am

    Does the fan not have any responsibility to act like a normal human being upon paying his ticket? Everyone is so god damn sensitive.

81. JeffS Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:19 am

    (1) Eaton’s credibility is shot. Neck injury claimed at one point, then at another point, just hurt pride, and the police report said no injuries.

    (2) Eaton’s credibility is shot some more. Does it make sense to anyone that, as claimed, he was upset that JC would not sign an autograph? Would you, at the Bank, for instance, get THAT upset if an opposing player on a team you are not a fan of didn’t sign an autograph for you? No, that’s not credible at all. Much more likely, he was drunk and in a concerted effort to impress with how tough he thought he was or taunt someone into doing something so he can get a free lunch.

    If we punish players too much, they are going to be taunted by thousands of fans a day trying to get opposing players to respond and get suspended. A few hundred of us in Philly, using that M.O., could probably get the whole Mets team suspended….hmmm… idea…..

    (3) Romero, smartly, isn’t saying much.

    (4) Fighting words doctrine. Not always the most effective defense, but something for the State’s Atty to hang his/her hat on if s/he doesn’t really want to pursue charges.

    (5) People named Eaton have a history of trying to coax money for nothing out of the Phillies.

    Alright, the last one is a joke (sort of).

82. mikemike Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:20 am

    excuse ,me chuck it was premediated? yeah he practiced it.come on it was spur of the moment . Haven’t any of you got caught up in a moment. One time catching a softball game a guy ran into me and I held on to the ball. and in front of my kids I SAID FU TO THE GUY TRY IT AGAIN. NOW DO YOU THINK I WOULD DO THAT NORMALLY, NO WAY

83. mikemike Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:22 am

    oH I didn’t know phil was there to say romero grab him by the throat, or is that what the guy said.

84. Brooks Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:25 am

    Has anybody heard of plans for arm & bat help? Anything in the stew?

85. Chuck P Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:26 am

    mikemike… since when did dropping the F bomb in a public become “awesome?”

    awesome: inspiring awe or admiration or wonder

    There was nothing “awesome” about it. It was classless and a bad decision on Utley’s part. Does it bother me? No, but it was stupid.

86. Don M Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:26 am

    I dont know what happened … if he “grabbed him by the throat” .. that would be more considered a “choke” ..

    from what I read.. it seemed that this guy was in Romero’s face (im guessing with beer muscles?) .. and Romero pushed him.. did he push him up high and maybe in the face/chest/throat .. I don’t know

    I let the F-word thing go… I was at the parade on Broad St.. loving life … I heard the Utley thing on the radio in the car.. and laughed, because I couldn’t believe it .. but once I saw the video a few times, i realized how planned it was, and so it wasn’t all the cool … it wasn’t like he was overcome with emotion.. he did it just to do it.

    I have World Phucking Champions t-shirt that my buddy got made up .. I wore it Opening Night … it was fun..

    I just didn’t think that was cool that he did that.. on purpose.

    Romero’s thing.. he snapped.. didn’t have time to think.. he just reacted.. and since I wasn’t there.. maybe I should have NO COMMENT instead of calling the fan at fault … Romero AND the fan are at fault I guess

    but the more people try to take advantage of athletes like this.. the less we’ll see of them off the field.. and that’s no good either

87. M.P. aka A.J. #54 Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:31 am

    I am not sure I subscribe to suspending Remero, but I actually would offer him in a trade for a starting pitcher. Not that I dislike him, just an idea.

88. Georgie Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:32 am

    Only in the U.S. would you find people to be more offended by a curse word than violence. Why are people in this country so uptight? Cursing and nudity in films gets an “R’ rating slapped on them here, but you can have ultraviolence galore in there, grab the kiddies, get some of T.O.’s popcorn, and enjoy the show!

    I’ll take sex and swearing ANYDAY over all that macho crap.

89. Chuck P Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:32 am

    It was definitely premeditated… he looked back before he said it. Almost like they dared him to do it or he told them that he was going to do it. He said World Champions first… without the F bomb… then turned around, smiled and said the World F’ing Champions line that has been repeated over and over and over…

    It really doesn’t bother me but I hate that people act like it’s “cool.” Chase is a great ballplayer… that’s why I love him… he’s balls to the wall and you have to admire that but he should have held back, in my opinion.

90. Don M Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:35 am

    Good call Bruce!

    I heasd Scott Hairston on the Padres was a possibility for the Phillies.. He’s an OF

    but he plays just about everyday.. 51 games, 178 at-bats

    .309 avg.. 9 HRs, 27 RBI, 24 Runs, 6 SBs … Numbers are good, but I think that might be inflated because he plays so much.. what would his production be like with only 5-6 at bats per week??

    Pitching.. seems to be slim pickens.. the Reds are said to be looking to acquire a Bat .. meaning they are “buyers” … so they wouldn’t want to deal Aaron Harang … Indians probably won’t trade Cliff Lee because his salary is reasonable enough for them to keep him

    It’s looking like Mariners pitchers.. Bedard, or Washbourn … both would help, but the cost would be high if they are the best names out there..

91. Manny Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 11:59 am

    I completely disagree with this whole article. The 3 other cases mentioned (the basketball fight, the pocket knife incident, and throwing the chair into the stands) are COMPLETELY different from what happened with JC. This is a story that was (and continues to be) blown out of proportion, like Don says. You wanna set a precedent right now to prevent such violent actions? You’ll have to look for a stronger, better example… cause this was a ridiculously mild incident between a player and a drunk adult fan.

    A fine or a warning would be fine… But a suspension??? WTF

92. Kennedy Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    Unless Romero is convicted, it isn’t fair to suspend him. What if the court finds Eaton threatened Romero physically. Even athletes have the right to defend themselves. Romero didn’t break some woman’s nose with a chair or go apeshit on a bunch of random fans.

93. mikemike Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    Chuck sorry didn’t know you were a mind reader, he turn and said a bad word big deal, lighten up, unbeliveable how sensitive people are to a spur of the moment thing. but will not go to vote out bad judges. but will march for convicted cop killers to go free. but a curse word lets hang him. what a joke. and anyone who goes by a report and convicts jc is really out of touch with the world, if you weren’t there, how can you say what happen. its that you are passing judgement on someone without any first hand knowledge. I guess that is okay. sorry that’s wrong. he might be the biggest jerk {romano] but he derserves to be innocent until proven guilty and if it was a push big stinking deal. should he walked away yes but sometimes you can’t people just keep itup until you can’t do anything but react.

94. The Little Guy Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    You guys want to suspend Romero, because he pushed some drunk fan who got in his face when he was signing autographs for LITTLE KIDS while going back into the club house?

    You guys are out of your mind.

    The dude didn’t think anything was going to happen, so thats why he said it, than after it realized he could probably squeeze some money out of a millionaire, so he made those claims.

    He said, “i was embarrassed in front of my family.”

    So basically he wasn’t embarassing his family by bad-loading, cursing his head off at a professional athlete, but when he gets in their face, and they PUSH him away, he is all of a sudden embarrassed?

    Quite possibly the worst logic and excuse to get a couple thousand dollars out of Romero.

    I think it’s funny tho, say they were in NY and a fan got in Utleys face and he shoved him back, no one would be clammering for him to get suspeneded. Frankly the dude that wrote this article wouldn’t even think to write it, but since it’s Romero, and he did “steriods” and is struggling this year, he should be suspended indefinitely, for something that happens millions of times a day around the country.

    How can they compare this to Ron Artest, the father and son who jumped a middle aged 1st base coach? Seriously?

    Answer this question for me….If Robert Eaton wasn’t drinking and probably banged up, would any of this happened?

95. Chuck P Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 1:24 pm

    By the way… is anyone else surprised about the trades, so far…

    Mark Derosa for a bucket of balls…

    Nyjer Morgan (a young Juan Pierre) for recently demoted Lastings Milledge…

    The latter is senseless, to me.

96. Trent Holvick Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    Theres no way Romero should get suspended…..I still cant believe were all talkin about this. This is no big deal at all….jesus christ……hopefully romero kicks some Braves fans a$$ tonight! HA HA…….THAT A BOY JC

97. Papa Thompson Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    Eaton is looking for a payday. And he’s an idiot for asking for an autograph from a player while a game is under way. But the steroid comment seems fair to me. If Romero played for the Mets, we’d ride him relentlessly over his suspension. Heck, when Bonds came to Philly while chasing the record, there was at least one guy at CBP who dressed up as a syringe. And it was funny. There’s a big difference in yelling steroid comments from the upper deck and shouting them in a player’s face. And Eaton’s delivery was classless, for sure. But there’s a lot of classless fans out there, and players have to be better than that.

98. Mike N Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    Romero should be suspended for a few games. If the league doesn’t do it, I hope the Phils front office will. There’s just no excuse for not walking away from this situation. We all know JC is an emotional guy, which is actually one of his good qualities. This time, though, it got away from him, and he should pay a minor penalty for that.

99. Trent Holvick Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 1:37 pm

    Romero isant gonnna get suspended…….he pushed some guy that was way too beligerent and drunk……I think its good what Romero did….Every obnoxious fan like that should get pushed around and their lights knocked out…..the Philadelphia Phillies do not wanna be looked at as PUS$YS do we?

100. The Little Guy Says:
     July 1st, 2009 at 1:38 pm

     Considering Bud Seliq is no Roger Goodell, i expect no suspension whatsoever.

101. Bruce Says:
     July 1st, 2009 at 2:23 pm

     To borrow one poster’s apt description for this thread..”Romero Rage” is what I’m reading here. It’s a case of guilty until proven innocent. What little info we have of the case has been twisted in every possible way to fit the self righteous poster’s argument.

     Don M made a clearsighted point..”its just still a case of no self-control.. they are both at fault for their actions.. Utley’s premeditated actions in front of Children, bothers me more than Romero’s reaction with this guy getting in his face..”.

     Utley AND Romero DO have the responsibility to exemplify those noble qualities..integrity and character especially in a profession of performance before the public. It too bothered me to see Utley chose a public forum (on stage in CBP with media included) to use profanity without thought of families with children. While Romero’s uncondoned reaction occurred outside of CBP, nevertheless, both are guilty for lack of “self control” and the responsibility that goes with their profession.

     That said, let’s not read hypocrisy in some posts and admit there are imperfections in all of us.

102. mikemike Says:
     July 1st, 2009 at 2:34 pm

     Lee is sign for 2010 and then is a fa. I am not giving up any top prospect for a one year pitcher. donald worley type okay, but no taylor, brown, drabek knapp, or marson.

103. Joe Says:
     July 1st, 2009 at 2:47 pm

     Romero probably will get suspended after the way we booed Bud Selig (deservedly so) after the world series win. I do not think what he did warrants a suspension. Drunken bozo Rays fan Eaton does not get his way and like a baby starts taunting a professional athlete to get attention. Unfortunately Romero could not hold his cool, and pushed the guy. Eaton had it coming, and I hope he loses whatever “case” he brings up against Romero. If some loon came up to me and started badmouthing me, pushing him out of my face would be on the table as an option. I dont know about all this Met crap either, but I dont care if its a Met or not, I would feel the same way about it. If I go around mouthing off to people bigger than me, I would expect to get my ass beat. Eaton is a dummy and Romero should counter sue him for being a total doosh.

104. Keith Says:
     July 1st, 2009 at 2:51 pm

     what an incredibly stupid idea, this is getting too much press

105. Keith Says:
     July 1st, 2009 at 2:52 pm

     the fan should be suspended, make sure he doesn’t cry like a baby cuz he doesn’t get an autograph lol

106. beta sigma shag Says:
     July 1st, 2009 at 3:05 pm

     I only read the first nine or ten post but I think most of you are carzy, I do not care what team he plays for, you do not suspend the guy, cause he pushes some guy away from him.
     Let’s say it happened that way,
     A guy gets in your face and starts sceaming at you, you give him a little shove to move him away, what if the guy had a knife, not saying he did, but as the athlete you do not now, you should be aloud to get space from the guy, and move on,
     And as far as saying he has been ineffective as a pitcher since he came back should have no bareing on a suspension. Most of you people here and everywhere need to stop making excuses for bad fan behavior. If these athletes would be allowed to pummell some of these asholes, there would be few of them around. Man all the PC suspend a guy for defending himself people need to get a life.

107. Trent (from jersey) Says:
     July 1st, 2009 at 3:37 pm

     Damn right beta…..im with u all the way man….defense against an obnoxious fan thats all up in your face should just get the shi* kicked outta em’. WHy the hell would we want Romero suspended….sure he hasnt been pitching well lately but he is an integral part of our bullpen…jesus our own fans are turning on our own players…..it disgusts me!

108. Andrew Says:
     July 1st, 2009 at 6:53 pm

     No suspension. Let the police handle it if need be. the end.

109. NoPhilsFan Says:
     July 3rd, 2009 at 12:32 am

     The fact is…if it was Mike Gonzalez who did this, the fans at this blog would be talking about the fact that there is no room for players to push fans back or even lay their hands on them. That Gonzalez should be suspended. But because it was the Phillies’ J.C. Romero, everything is fine.

     If he didn’t like what the guy had to say, he can step back. No, Romero grabbed the fan and pushed him back. Fans are the lifeblood of this game. Sure, you cannot let them do anything they want. They can’t throw things onto the field (unless it’s batteries, right?), charge onto the field, or things of that nature, but you can’t tell me they can’t be loud and obnoxious. The city of Philadelphia is known for loud, obnoxious fans. It’s part of their…charm?

     He should be suspended. Not for too long because he didn’t do all that much, but at least a week because he touched a fan.

110. Baseballbriefs.com Says:
     July 24th, 2009 at 7:28 pm

     Baseballbriefs.com tracking back Opinion: Suspend Romero…

     Baseballbriefs.com tracking back Opinion: Suspend Romero…

Leave a Reply