Wave Maker: Red Sox Make A Statement

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Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Red Sox Make A Statement

The Red Sox did what most expected they would do, and yanked Chris House's season tickets for the entire year. In doing so, they have surely made a statement. But I think they need to make their statement clearer.

As the Sox organization points out, the season ticket agreement contains the following language:

"interfering with the play of the game in any way . . . will be grounds for . . . cancellation of subscription privileges.''

Was House punished because he interfered with play, or because he came into contact with Sheffield? Is any first-row fan who reaches over the fence to snag a ball now going to be ejected, or do you have to have the bad luck of doing it in close proximity to an opposing player?

What about the people in row one of the Green Monster seats? If one of them reaches over the wall and catches a ball that was clearly in play, does he get ejected? How about on the left field foul line?

I appreciate the Red Sox making a statement here. The effect of House's action created a potentially dangerous situation, even if his action itself was just stupid. But I think he was somewhat of a victim of his own stupidity. If Sheffield had been ten feet away, there would have been no event at all. If Sheffield had been ten feet away and House had come into contact with the ball, he would have had more than his season tickets to worry about losing.

The Sox need to make it a bright line rule. If you interfere with play, you will be ejected and your season tickets will be revoked. Period.

Posted by: Wave Maker / 12:36 PM/ |