Fan Sent to Jail for Assaulting Mike Piazza

Last summer Eamonn (then still known to the world only as PostmanE) shared with us the story of Mike Piazza getting hit in the head by a water bottle that a fan threw at him in a game against the Angels. This did not amuse Mike at all. In fact, after the game he made it clear to the media that he was going to press charges against the "gutless" fan. "That's a complete lower level of stupidity," Piazza told reporters after the incident.

Mike wasn't lying because he did in fact press charges against the fan, and now that fan is going to spend a month in jail for what he did.

Roland Flores, 23, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and has been ordered to stay away from the stadium for three years for the assault on Oakland Athletics designated hitter Mike Piazza on July 25.

Flores pleaded guilty last week to misdemeanor counts of using force and violence while assaulting Piazza and for intentionally throwing a substance while in Angel Stadium, Anaheim police said.

Maybe it's just me, but doesn't that seem a bit extreme? I completely understand where Piazza is coming from here, because after being hit in the head by a flying water bottle at a concert once, I know that it hurts like hell. Still, jail time? Really? Did Piazza die from the resulting head wound?
Couldn't they just ban him from Angels Stadium, make him pay a fine, and then send him to clean up a freeway for a few hours? I guess the only way to avoid going to jail in Los Angeles is if you're a celebrity.

Spring Training 2008

Detroit Tigers' Placido Polanco is congratulated by Magglio Ordonez after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning of a Grapefruit League spring training baseball game in Lakeland, Fla., Thursday, March 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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Chicago Cubs shortstop Ronny Cedeno, left, is greeted by Milwaukee Brewers baserunner Mike Rivera, right, during a timeout for a pitching change in the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 27, 2008, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

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Chicago Cubs' Derrek Lee tosses his bat after striking out to Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Sam Narron in the second inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 27, 2008, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

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Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Lorenzo Cain slams into the wall as he attempts to make a play on a fly ball hit for a triple by Chicago Cubs' Mark DeRosa during the fourth nning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 27, 2008, in Mesa, Ariz.(AP Photo/Paul Connors)

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Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano, second from right, is greeted at home plate by teammates, from left, Derrek Lee, Henry Blanco and Mark DeRosa after Soriano hit a three-run home run off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Sam Narron in the second inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 27, 2008, in Mesa, Ariz.(AP Photo/Paul Connors)

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Cleveland Indians pitcher Masa Kobayashi, of Japan, throws out Tampa Bay Rays' Andy Cannizaro in the seventh inning in a spring training baseball game, Thursday, March 27, 2008, in Winter Haven, Fla. Kobayashi pitched one inning and gave up one hit and no runs. Tampa won 9-7. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Chris Burke, top, watches his throw to first after forcing out Chicago White Sox's A.J. Pierzynski during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 27, 2008, in Tucson, Ariz. The Diamondbacks won 8-4. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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Chicago Cubs' Mark Derosa, right, dives safely back to the base before Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, left, can apply the tag in the second inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 27, 2008, in Mesa, Ariz.(AP Photo/Paul Connors)

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Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Augie Ojeda can't make the catch on a single by Chicago White Sox's A.J. Pierzynski during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 27, 2008, in Tucson, Ariz. The Diamondbacks won 8-4. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren reacts after Chicago White Sox's Paul Konerko's solo home run during the second inning of a spring training baseball game on Thursday, March 27, 2008, in Tucson, Ariz. The Diamondbacks won 8-4. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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