Atlanta Braves Were Blinded by the Light, Mets Fan Pleads Not Guilty

Baseball, like any other sport in it's major league, can become severely competitive, especially when it comes to the fans. Fans have been known to do crazy things at games to disrupt a game, or try and get their three seconds of fame. Some fans have either ran on the field, threw things onto the field, and so on. But this one instance has a somewhat stealthier approach, as the fan that has pleaded not guilty to it was using a high-powered flashlight while merely sitting in the stands.

The fan, Frank Martinez, age 40, has pleaded not guilty to blinding the Atlanta Braves pitcher and shortstop with the high-powered flashlight last Friday according to Newsday. Newsday also says that this incident occured at the bottom of the eighth inning. Martinez was sitting behind home plate. After being discovered for blinding the players, he was ejected from the game.

Queens District Attorney, Richard Brown, has this to say to Newsday about the issue at hand:

""The defendant's alleged actions recklessly endangered the lives of players and spectators and caused a temporary delay to the game." (Queens District Attorney Richard Brown to Newsday)

Martinez indeed did cause a delay to the game, and also endangered lives if you think even deeper. What if the pitcher throws the ball, the batter hits it, and then Martinez blinded the shortstop in which the ball was going directly for? The shortstop could have been fatally injured if it were to hit him in the chest, head, and so on. The same could have happened to the pitcher as well, if the ball were to be hit directly at him. The delay in the game effected everyone in the stadium, although it was harmless compared to what could have happened to the Atlanta Braves pitcher and shortstop.

At the time of the incident, the Atlanta Braves were beating the New York Mets 7-0. Tim Hudson, the Atlanta Braves pitcher at the time was temporarily blinded by the flashlight, and then called to the umpire about the situation. The umpire called security, whom quickly removed Martinez from Shea Stadium. Among Martinez's belongings, they found a "small, streamline flashlight" in his backpack. Just a coincidence? I think not.

According to Newsday, Martinez is being represented by Legail Aid Society. If Martinez is successfully convicted he could face up to a year in jail and a $5000 fine for his actions.

Aside from the flashlight incident, the Atlanta Braves still beat the New York Mets 7-3 in the end. It seems like Martinez's plan didn't work after all, and now he has the burden of jail time and a $5000 fine on his back as well.

As a fan, it is best to watch the game, and not participate in any sort of way, especially when it endangers the lives of other players, and puts a time delay on everyone else in the stadium. With all of the evidence being pointed at Martinez, and himself being in possession of a powerful flashlight, he will most likely be convicted.

Questions/comments? E-mail me at chem1calburn@yahoo.com or simply message me via Associated Content.