Dodgers players and staff are calling for harsh penalties against two Yankees fans who aggressively reached for Mookie Betts’ glove and arm during Game 4. Several Dodgers suggested that these fans should be permanently banned from all ballparks.
The Yankees identified the fans, Austin Capobianco and John Peter, who attempted to snatch a foul ball hit by Gleyber Torres from Betts’ glove in the first inning. In response, the team removed them from the game, revoked their tickets for Game 5, and gifted those seats to a pediatric cancer patient and his family. A Yankees spokesperson mentioned that further actions are being considered.
Max Muncy expressed his outrage, stating, “It should be an instant lifetime ban. They should never be allowed in any ballpark ever again. If it was an accidental bump while trying to catch a ball, that’s one thing. But here, you have two guys actively trying to grab Mookie’s glove and his hand—that’s a lifetime ban.”
Muncy didn’t mince words, adding, “That’s borderline assault. You could file charges for that.”
In a tense moment captured on camera, Betts made a catch on Torres’ foul ball while fans were seen reaching into his glove.
Other Dodgers staff questioned the potential consequences had Betts been injured during the altercation, noting the precariousness of his position with arms extended in the air. Had he been hurt, the incident could have cast a shadow over this World Series, reminiscent of the controversial 2017 Astros championship, which still lingers in Dodgers’ memories.
“It was absolutely ridiculous—there has to be some disciplinary action,” said Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux. “You can’t grab a player’s arm and hold on. There’s no room for that.”
The fans, showing little remorse during an ESPN interview, even hinted at premeditation. One of them remarked, “We always joke about the ball in our area. We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up.”
Fortunately, Betts escaped injury. When asked about the incident, he simply replied, “I don’t care.”
Max Muncy reiterated the importance of Betts’ safety: “Thankfully, Mookie’s OK, that’s the biggest thing.”
Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez found the situation amusing at first but later acknowledged its potential seriousness. “I’ve never seen anything like it, but now that I see the pictures and videos, it’s a little crazy. Fans know they cannot do that.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was satisfied with the outcome. “We didn’t need them to be here, so [the Yankees] refunded their tickets. So that’s perfect, right?”
Alex Verdugo, who has faced the passionate Yankee crowd during his time with the Red Sox, remarked on the incident as “extreme” but not necessarily a safety concern. “At the end of the day, I didn’t feel it was too serious. I think Mookie kind of shook it off too. That’s just kind of the passion New Yorkers have.”
However, some Dodgers were troubled that the fans in Yankees gear received applause from those around them.
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