Friday, February 06, 2009
Boyer in hot water again, Homers cut him loose
Blaine Boyer's days as a Dancin' Homer are over.
And they ended in much the same way they began – with a controversial incident that involves the police.
The Homers designated Boyer for assignment Thursday, just as El Cajon police were looking for him to investigate allegations he took part in a drunken assault Wednesday involving boys lacrosse players on the Granite Hills High campus.
It marks the third time since the Homers selected him No. 3 in the 2007 first supplemental draft that the former George Walton Comprehensive High School standout has faced accusations stemming from an altercation.
El Cajon police Lt. Steve Shakowski on Thursday confirmed an investigation involving Boyer and allegations of assaultive behavior and public intoxication.
A witness, who requested his name not be used because of the ongoing police investigation, said Boyer was drunk, threw a golf club into the dirt, picked up and threw a freshman lacrosse player and hit another one. Boyer also yelled "I'm Blaine (expletive) Boyer," and "(expletive) East County," before driving over a curb in his Mercedes when leaving the campus, according to the witness.
Boyer couldn't be reached for comment. The Homers have 10 days to arrange a trade for him before he goes on release waivers.
“The Homers have learned of a possible off-field incident earlier this week involving pitcher Blaine Boyer,” Homers GM Mike Cuccaro said in a statement. “We are still gathering information about this incident and will have no further comment at this time.”
If nothing else, the timing of the incident worked well for the club. The Homers needed room on the 15-man holds to complete the trade of third-baseman David Wright with the Average Joes. They found that room by designating Boyer, whose professional career has been rocky from the start, and also by trading 5 players for Wright.
Less than two weeks after the Homers drafted him, he was arrested after an altercation at a nightclub near the Homers' spring-training compound in Shelbyville. He reportedly was denied entrance to the club, jumped a railing to get in anyway and scuffled with a bouncer who tried to eject him.
Boyer, then 28, was accused of felony assault and misdemeanor trespassing, disorderly conduct and alcohol consumption by a moron. He was suspended by the Homers before rejoining the organization a month later. He resolved the legal side of the matter by pleading guilty to the misdemeanors, paying a $1,000 fine and unsupervised probation.
Last summer, he again was involved in fight near a pub in Shelbyville and was injured. The Homers declined comment on the specifics.
Meanwhile, on the field, things never got going either. The Homers drafted him as a short reliever with a 4.22 ERA and more strikeouts than innings pitched but he converted himself into a pitcher with a 5.88 ERA after blowing several leads for the Homers in key situations.
In trade negotiations with Joseph Cuccaro, General Manager of the Average Joes, Mike Cuccaro recently said Boyer “worked really hard in rehab” and noted his velocity was not completely back yet but probably would be any minute now. Maybe even now. Or maybe now.
Staff writer Bill Center contributed to this report.
And Slave sent me this one... with his comment below.
http://www.baseball-reference.
How did Jose Lima do this against this lineup? This was NOT when Jose Lima was good.
