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Baseball Hits bird, Player Could Face Charges
WorldNetDaily.Com ^ | 4/23/03

Posted on 04/23/2003 4:11:25 PM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!

Minor-league Cubs player strikes out at osprey in nest


Posted: April 23, 2003
5:40 p.m. Eastern


© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

A minor-league pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization has created a major flap after aiming for and knocking down an osprey from its perch with a baseball.


Pitcher Jae-kuk Ryu

South Korean Jae-kuk Ryu of the Daytona Cubs could face animal cruelty charges for striking out at the bird Monday night at Florida's Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

"The bird's eye was gushing blood," Chad Efron, a trainer with the Port St. Lucie Mets told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. "I started yelling at [Ryu]. I got all fired up."

The bird, known locally as Ozzy, had been nesting with its mate and chicks on a 40-foot light pole over left field, when it was struck after several pitches by Ryu during pre-game practice time.

"He laughed when he missed," Efron, said. "Then he acted like he was sorry when the bird was laying there."


'Ozzy' the Osprey (WKMG-TV)

The osprey is being treated for a serious eye injury at the Animal Clinic of Edgewater, Fla., where veterinarians are using anti-inflammatory drugs and are trying to get Ozzy to eat.

"We're just keeping him warm and quiet," said technician Jennifer Rosenfeldt. "It's unfortunate that people don't have respect for nature."

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are tight-lipped about its investigation into the incident, but it says ospreys are recognized by the state as a species of special concern, meaning their habitats are vulnerable.


Osprey nested in left-field light pole

Wounding or killing one is a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500 and 60 days in jail.

"You can't intentionally harm an animal," said Daytona Beach Animal Control officer Melody Baum. "If somebody deliberately threw the ball, it's animal cruelty."

Team officials are still trying to determine details of the incident.

"I've got to look and see what happened," Cubs manager Rick Kranitz said. "I'm sure the intention was not to kill the bird."

According to WKMG-TV in Orlando, angry phone calls and e-mails have been pouring into the park, with most messages suggesting the pitcher be punished for his actions.


Diamondbacks' Randy Johnson strikes dove in 2001 spring training

This is not the first incident involving baseball players hitting birds with balls.

In March 2001, pitcher Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks struck a dove in mid-flight as he delivered a pitch in a spring-training game against the San Francisco Giants. The dove was instantly pulverized.

In 1983, Yankees outfielder Dave Winfield killed a seagull in Toronto with a warmup throw. Police charged him with animal cruelty, though the charge was later dropped.




TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: atosprey; baseball; bird; chargesminorleague; could; cubsplayer; face; hits; innest; player; strikesout
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
There's a lot of these type jerks around. Years ago, I worked the window at my family's golf sports center. Twenty-two acres of green grass and river abutting the practice range.

In season and in the mornings, the migrating geese (the big, tall ones) would rest in a line across the range about 75 yards from the tee line for about an hour.

I had to watch for the golfers aiming for these beautiful birds. They thought they were in a shooting gallery at an amusement park. They would deliberately hit fast grounders at their targets. A direct hit would kill or maim these stately creatures.

These sadists were not riff-raff....they were educated, well-to-do residents in an affluent area. I can't tell you how many times I had to run to the line to tell them to knock it off or I'd kick them out and ban them from ever coming in again.

Most were sheepish and stopped doing what they were doing, but I was afraid that some of them would conk me on the head with their golf club.

Leni

61 posted on 04/23/2003 8:06:41 PM PDT by MinuteGal (THIS JUST IN ! Astonishing fare reduction for FReeps Ahoy Cruise! Check it out, pronto!)
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
anal sphincter
62 posted on 04/23/2003 8:17:16 PM PDT by gitmo ("The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain." GWB)
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
LOL!!! Typical Chicago Cub!

Sorry I'm a White Sox Fan.

63 posted on 04/23/2003 8:37:11 PM PDT by Dengar01
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To: bigfootbob
You forgot to mention his bedwetting.

And also that he is likley a chronic masturbator.

64 posted on 04/23/2003 8:39:33 PM PDT by j_tull (My words but a whisper, your deafness a SHOUT!)
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hmm I was looking for sungirl on this thread. Looks like she got booted?

and thankfully "tabitha soren" has been gone a while.
65 posted on 04/23/2003 8:56:08 PM PDT by KneelBeforeZod (Deus Lo Volt!)
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no birds at my local baseball hangout (muni stadium in San Jose) but during night games you can see bats chasing bugs in the lights.
66 posted on 04/23/2003 8:58:42 PM PDT by KneelBeforeZod (Deus Lo Volt!)
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
Sorry, but if he did it on purpose, he deserves to do the time. I have a lot of wild birds at both of my places in Florida and they are wonderful animals. Don't pick up the soap you loser Cubbie, you might get a higher pitched voice while you do the time.
67 posted on 04/23/2003 9:01:40 PM PDT by Beck_isright ("We created underarm deodorant, and the French turned that down too."-Mitch Daniels, Budget Director)
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To: TheRedSoxWinThePennant
DITTO!
68 posted on 04/23/2003 9:01:49 PM PDT by dagoofyfoot
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!

Pathetic Loser.
I hope he gets beaned.


69 posted on 04/23/2003 9:04:16 PM PDT by Skooz (Tagline removed by moderator)
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To: mustapha mond
Wow. Would it make me a bad person if I said I don't care about a stupid bird.


Yes. Need details - please respond.
70 posted on 04/23/2003 9:05:36 PM PDT by Tunehead54 (Support Our Troops!)
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To: bigfootbob
Chill. The kid is Korean, he probably doesn't know strange white custom of elevating a cousin of the vulture to such a higher level of man in natures hierarchy.

I was gonna say somewhat the same thing. Perhaps where he comes from animals aren't held in higher esteem than people like they are here in the US. Now granted if he'd been told not to do what he did in the past, then yes he should get slapped with a good size fine, but no jail time. And imagine the headlines back home in Korea,

LOCAL PROSPECT JAILED BY RACIST COUNTRY

Sounds line another PR nightmare for the US.

71 posted on 04/23/2003 9:13:16 PM PDT by mrb1960
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To: TheRedSoxWinThePennant
He is that and more!
72 posted on 04/23/2003 9:15:21 PM PDT by TLBSHOW (The gift is to see the truth.....)
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
Anyone who injures my namesake has to be punished. I think he should be put in stocks and let me pitch baseballs at his head. Justice
73 posted on 04/23/2003 9:31:05 PM PDT by fish hawk
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
It had to be intentional - the bird and its mate and the chicks were in a nest atop a 40-foot lighting pole behind the outfield fence. He did this during pre-game warm-ups, and was said to have laughed after missing on his first few attempts. Ospreys are incredible birds; I watched one fight a bald eagle in the air over a fish one of them had plucked from a tributary of the Potomac River.
74 posted on 04/24/2003 10:33:52 AM PDT by HenryLeeII
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
...and my bad regarding your reply. I didn't see your #21 before posting my assertion that it was intentional.
75 posted on 04/24/2003 10:36:35 AM PDT by HenryLeeII
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To: hotpotato
Yes, ospreys are magnificent. Thanks for the pics. (Post 57)
76 posted on 04/24/2003 7:33:46 PM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
the face of the criminal.
77 posted on 04/24/2003 7:37:27 PM PDT by green team 1999
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