In my 34 years in the business, I thought I'd seen everything.
Boy, was I ever wrong.
It was the eighth inning in Thursday's Golden Baseball League game between the San Diego Surf Dawgs and the Reno Silver Sox when San Diego manager Terry Kennedy left the playing field and came up into the press box.
Kennedy was steamed at the Silver Sox PA announcer Michael Anthony for what he deemed lack of respect toward his players. Anthony, in an effort to entertain fans, likes to take liberty with player's names, and Kennedy had heard enough.
Kennedy was standing over Anthony waiting for him to finish. Kennedy's entrance caught everybody by surprise. Jack Kuestermeyer, the Sox's official scorer and a member of the Nevada media relations staff, tried to politely steer Kennedy toward the door and politely told him that he didn't belong in the press box. Pushes were exchanged before order was restored and Kennedy left the press box.
Moments later, Reno manager Les Lancaster stormed up into the press box and berated Anthony for his announcing. It was Lancaster's second tirade toward the announcer within a week.
It was an ugly scene to say the least.
Calls to the GBL office in Pleasanton, Calif. were not returned. However, I can't see Amit Patel, one of the co-founders of the GBL, being pleased about the incident.
I talked with Dwight Dortch, the Silver Sox GM, and he said that as far as he knew no charges had been filed in the incident. In fact, Dortch said that Kennedy called him late Thursday night and apologized for his part in the incident. Dortch also said that Kennedy had not talked to him at all the previous two nights.
"If there was a problem, somebody should have come and got me," Dortch said. "Don't get mad when it's the third game of the series and you haven't said a word to me the other two nights. That's not right."
Though he had not talked to any league officials, Dortch indicated that he thinks Kennedy will be suspended and Lancaster will be fined for their actions.
Lancaster said after the game that he hoped Kennedy wouldn't be disciplined by GBL officials. Lancaster thought that Anthony should be fined.
Personally, I think both managers should be suspended. They are both former Major League players. They know the difference between right and wrong. They know their actions wouldn't be condoned in affiliated professional baseball. What makes them think it should be tolerated in independent baseball?
If you're a manager, you don't leave the field in the middle of the game and go into the stands/press box for any reason. The only reason why Kennedy should get a stiffer punishment is that there was a physical confrontation. Lancaster said a few choice words to his own people, including Anthony, and then stormed out.
To me, this is a classic case of what happens to a new franchise. A lot of things get missed. I would have thought that Lancaster and Dortch would have discussed stuff like this and had some ground rules in place before the season started.
Doug Collyer, director of operations, said in the press box prior to Thursday's game that the Silver Sox are in the entertainment business. He's right and wrong.
Put a good product on the field, and fans will come. Having the bounce house and other things for kids to do during the game, and the between-innings contests, is the entertainment part of the package. Young kids get bored just watching, and letting them blow off some energy, with supervision, is a good thing. I still believe when all is said and done that baseball has to be the selling point.
Collyer gives Anthony a lot of latitude behind the microphone. Lancaster believes the fun should be limited to the beverage batter and the rest of the time the announcer should play it straight.
"Doug and Mike are working together trying to make it fun," Dortch said. "That's what they're here to do. The league may want me to have Mike lighten up a little."
I have to admit, I'm old school like Lancaster. The announcer shouldn't be part of the show. The game is the show.
And, while we're on the subject of the Silver Sox, Dortch said that the team left right after the game Thursday night on its new team bus. Dortch said that the 44-seat bus has a television set, but somebody forgot about a VCR or DVD player. Oh well, those things will happen with a first-year franchise.
• According to sources at the University of Nevada, outfielder Drew Johnson, a part-time starter last season, is seeking his release from the school's baseball team.
Johnson managed just one hit in his freshman season. He hit .203 with five homers and 15 RBI this season.
Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281