Minor League Baseball brawl where pitcher throws BALL AT FANS!!!!

On ESPN there was a clip where two  minor league managers are aruguing. The benches clear and suddenly a pitcher throws the ball at a fan, and it hits them. The pitcher was arrested and is going to be in court tommorow. Should he be arrested or not? Heres the clip so you can decide......   http://youtube.com/watch?v=EHobmeuQBxM

I can only hope that the fan that got hit was acting like the one whose voice is on the tape.

Fans are warned that the ball may enter the spectator seating area.  The fan should have been paying attention.

What are you saying. The video tape fans were bad, but they should be looking out for a pitcher to deliberately throw a ball at their face. The fan could have been killed. The ball wasn't even in play, so they didn't have to be paying attention.

No jail time.  The player should be disciplined by his team and the league.  Nothing more.

If the fan can prove that he was not threatening and jeering the player, then I'd look at possible charges being filed.

Wow that was crazy. Everybody was going at it. To bad the camera was so damn shakey. :(

"No jail time.  The player should be disciplined by his team and the league.  Nothing more.

If the fan can prove that he was not threatening and jeering the player, then I'd look at possible charges being filed.
"

Damn, that was crazy, Pitcher shouldn't have done that.

Dude was definitely on Steroids or something...

That's terrible, he could have killed someone. He should be banned from baseball, it's disgraceful

Wheres the throw!?!?!? I don't see it. What time?

He will get suspended...dumb move

Legally, the pitcher could both criminally be charged with battery and sued at civil law by the spectator.  The act of throwing the ball was an 'intentional tort,' and the fact that he may have been aiming at somebody other than the person the ball hit does not matter.  Because of something called 'transferred intent,' you are legally liable for your torts, even if you are a bad aim and hit / shoot someone other than the person you intended to hit.

As to FragStains point that fans are warned that balls may enter the stands; that argument is not applicable.  The ball did not enter the crowd during the course-of-play, the ball entered because of an intentional non-game related action of the player.  However, this is actually good news for the team owners, because generally employers are not liable for the 'intentional torts' of their employees.  Because the pitcher intentionally threw the ball intending to batter someone, the team itself is probably not liable, only the player.  However, in all likelihood, if the owners are smart they will just settle quickly with the injured fan rather than go through the expense / embarrassment of litigation involving the themselves. 

Also, this isn't the first time this has happened.  In the 1970s(?) a similar thing happened in an MLB game. 

"Legally, the pitcher could both criminally be charged with battery and sued at civil law by the spectator.  The act of throwing the ball was an 'intentional tort,' and the fact that he may have been aiming at somebody other than the person the ball hit does not matter.  Because of something called 'transferred intent,' you are legally liable for your torts, even if you are a bad aim and hit / shoot someone other than the person you intended to hit.

As to FragStains point that fans are warned that balls may enter the stands; that argument is not applicable.  The ball did not enter the crowd during the course-of-play, the ball entered because of an intentional non-game related action of the player.  However, this is actually good news for the team owners, because generally employers are not liable for the 'intentional torts' of their employees.  Because the pitcher intentionally threw the ball intending to batter someone, the team itself is probably not liable, only the player.  However, in all likelihood, if the owners are smart they will just settle quickly with the injured fan rather than go through the expense / embarrassment of litigation involving the themselves. 

Also, this isn't the first time this has happened.  In the 1970s(?) a similar thing happened in an MLB game. 
"

the pitcher tried to throw the ball in the dugout, but it hit a fan who went to the hospital.

You can see the thrower better in this video. Jail-time would be nice.

"the pitcher tried to throw the ball in the dugout, but it hit a fan who went to the hospital."

"

Also, this isn't the first time this has happened.  In the 1970s(?) a similar thing happened in an MLB game. 
"