Tampa Bay Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks did not have a good game on Monday as the Rays lost to the Texas Rangers. After the game ended, a fan went way too far in voicing his frustration.
Monday’s game ended when Fairbanks fired a wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Texas’ Josh Smith sprinted home with the winning run.
After the game, Fairbanks shared what happened on the pitch. In doing so, he also shared a troubling message that he received from a fan.
“It was yanked. It felt like it came out of my hand real hot. And unfortunately real not near the strike zone. Tough way to lose. Tough way to try and skirt the danger and put yourself in a spot to escape, then try to do too much and have it end like that. I’m still having a better night than the guy who told me he wouldn’t bat an eye if I drank some bleach — so that’s good. But yeah, just another day in the life of being on the losing end of the bullpen.”
Pete Fairbanks won't be drinking bleach anytime soon, but he's determined to pitch better than ever 😁🔊 pic.twitter.com/sAORdmFnv8
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) July 18, 2023
Fortunately, several fans responded to the message and called out this fan for sharing such a message.
this fan wouldn’t last one day if their workday was broadcast for millions of viewers https://t.co/jgwAz0uB2Q
— Catherine Tinker (@catherinetinker) July 18, 2023
https://twitter.com/phillysportsszn/status/1681133479679885312
This is disgusting. It’s OK to be frustrated, but some of y’all really need to think before you tweet/open your mouth. Athletes are real people you need to treat as such. Do better. https://t.co/qXYC8DZ9Xf
— dani 🖤 (@trulymadlydani) July 18, 2023
Don't be this guy on social media https://t.co/MWxj5QIW8v
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 18, 2023
Fans have a right to be frustrated with a team or a player. They have a right to boo and can even decide to stop the spending time or money needed to support a team altogether. But when it gets beyond that and into threats and wishes of actual harm or even death, it’s gone way too far.
Telling a player to do something that will inflict bodily harm (or in this case, death), is not OK. It would be beyond the pale if it happened in Game 7 or the World Series, let alone a mid-July game.
Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of fans understand this. Unfortunately, the minority that doesn’t is often far too vocal.
[Bally Sports Sun: Rays, Tricia Whitaker]
