NY Mets' Francisco Rodriguez arrested, charged with assault on father-in-law

[catlover79]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big...urn=mlb-261907

Wrong kind of punch-out, K-Rod.

Police arrested Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez after Wednesday night's game at Citi Field and charged him with assaulting his father-in-law, police sources told the New York Daily News and others. The Mets said Thursday that they have suspended the reliever for two days.

The Daily News said Rodriguez and his father-in-law brawled in a tunnel between a family room and the Mets clubhouse shortly after the Colorado Rockies scored a 6-2 victory. Rodriguez's father-in-law suffered facial abrasions and was taken by ambulance to Flushing Hospital about 10:15 p.m.

Investigators believe Rodriguez threw at least one punch. K-Rod, known for his emotional outbursts on the mound, was charged with third-degree assault. He was detained and processed at Citi Field's own police precinct, and arraignment reportedly comes Thursday morning at Queens Criminal Court.

In a statement, the Mets mostly deferred to police.

"There was an incident between Francisco Rodriguez and his family tonight at the ballpark," said Jay Horwitz, the Mets' VP of media relations, in a verbal statement. "He was questioned by police. All other questions pertaining to this incident will be referred to the police department."

This Mets news comes the same day a woman announced she is suing Johan Santana for rape.

Rodriguez, 28, did not pitch Wednesday, but apparently was surly when he was asked why by reporters. Moments later, the fight broke out.

Via the Daily News:

When approached and asked about the scene in the hallway, the visibly angry Rodriguez snapped, "Mind your own [expletive] business," to a reporter who witnessed the altercation.

The Mets have a 56-57 record and stand 9 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East — all of which takes on significantly less importance when compared with alleged criminal activity by their players.

Rodriguez has converted 25 of 30 save opportunities and has a 2.24 ERA, a 1.154 WHIP and 67 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings this season.

[catlover79]

Isn't this the same guy who threw a chair in the stands a few years ago?

[catlover79]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-mets-rodriguez

Rodriguez has torn thumb ligament, out for season
By KRISTIE RIEKEN, AP Sports Writer
5 hours, 37 minutes ago


HOUSTON (AP)—Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez has a torn thumb ligament in his pitching hand sustained during a fight with his girlfriend’s father at Citi Field and will need surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the season.

The Mets announced the injury before Monday night’s game at the Houston Astros. They said the reliever didn’t travel to Texas with the team.

“Obviously I’m disappointed, discouraged, frustrated,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. “When you get this kind of news it’s … we’ve just been through a lot. We seem to continue to have difficulties keeping things from—having these type of injuries or these type of setbacks. Every year it seems like we get a little something here or there.”

Manuel didn’t dispute that Rodriguez will miss the rest of the season but said he didn’t know how much longer beyond that it will take for the reliever to recover.

Rodriguez was suspended for two days without pay following the fight outside a family room at the ballpark last Wednesday.

The 28-year-old reliever was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and second-degree harassment. He was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court Sept. 14.

When asked whether the injury occurred during the altercation, Manuel responded: “I was told during that time frame, yes.” He said he does not think Rodriguez is contesting when it happened.

K-Rod was examined Monday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, and the Mets said an MRI revealed the injury in his right hand.

“It’s a very tough one,” Manuel said. “It’s not a baseball-related thing so that even probably adds to it a bit.”

On the morning after the fight, New York put the four-time All-Star on the restricted list without pay for two days, costing him $125,683 of his $11.5 million salary.

He is owed $11.5 million next year as part of a deal that includes a $17.5 million team option for 2012 with a $3.5 million buyout. The option would become guaranteed if he remains healthy and has 100 games finished this year and next, including 55 in 2011.

It’s possible the Mets could try to withhold Rodriguez’s salary during the time he’s out, but based on past precedent it would be unlikely they could void the remainder of the contract.

Manuel said he is disappointed in the situation, but is not angry at Rodriguez.

“When you have some of the information, not all the information and you can pass judgment on the little information that you have,” Manuel said. “You can see that—you don’t condone it, but you can see why. I think that’s what has to be taken into account with your frustrations and things that go on.”

When asked to provide more details on the altercation, Manuel said he couldn’t because of legal issues surrounding the issue.

“Once you have all that information, as men, I think we all would have reacted in some form,” he said. “Maybe not in that form, but in some form and I think I have to kind of leave it at that.”

When he returned from his suspension, Rodriguez apologized to teammates and fans, then gave up a leadoff double but didn’t allow a run in a 4-0 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday.

Manuel said Rodriguez didn’t indicate he was injured before pitching in Saturday’s game, Manuel said he first learned of the injury on Sunday.

At 58-59, the Mets began Monday third in the NL East. They are 10 games behind division-leading Atlanta. In Rodriguez’s absence, they got complete-game shutouts from Johan Santana and R.A. Dickey.

Manuel said several relievers could be used in the closer role with Rodriguez out.

“(I’ll) go matchups and see what fits best and who’s pitching well,” he said. “It’s whoever I think is hot and I think it could be safe to say that you’ll see (Hisanori) Takahashi getting a shot at closing games. Could be safe to say you’ll see (Bobby) Parnell or (Manny) Acosta, maybe (Pedro) Feliciano, maybe (Elmer) Dessens. Bullpen by committee.”

Third baseman David Wright said it’s tough for the Mets to lose their closer, but that they have to pull together to make up for it.

“We’ve dug ourselves a hole and that doesn’t help us, there’s no question about that,” he said. “But it gives other guys in here a chance to step up and do a job while he’s out.”

Rodriguez is accused of grabbing 53-year-old Carlos Pena, hauling him into a tunnel near the family lounge beneath Citi Field and hitting him in the face. Pena was taken to a hospital with a scrape and swelling above his eyebrow.

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K-Rod should probably use this time off to take some anger management classes.