The Yankees fans who grabbed Mookie Betts need a lifetime ban

We need to talk seriously what really happened on Tuesday night at the New York Yankees’ Game 4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Bronx.

Two Pinstripes fans decided that it was perfectly OK to grab Mookie Betts’ glove as he made a catch in foul ground and rip the ball out of there. They were rightfully removed from Yankee Stadium.

Now, that was all awful on its own. In case you need to be told: those actions from those fans are NEVER OK. It’s dangerous and disgusting behavior. But it gets worse thanks to the quotes from one of the fans.

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers caught up with Austin Capobianco and John Peter. Capobiano said they had planned for the possibility of a foul ball coming their way in this manner: “We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up.”

That’s right, they thought about this. Ahead of time. Really?

And on top of that, Capobianco claimed they were told by the Yankees “they would be allowed back for Game 5 on Wednesday” (Capobianco is a season-ticket holder). Rogers didn’t get a response from the Yankees whether that was true or not.

Let’s just cut to the chase: his season tickets should be revoked, and he and Peter should be banned for life. In what world should that be rewarded? How would Betts feel showing up in right field again to see those fans there again? What if the same situation comes up and he doesn’t try to make the catch because he’s worried about fans ripping his arm off?

This is simple, Yankees franchise and Major League Baseball. Do the right thing.

Fans assault Mookie Betts. If this is not, at least a lifetime ban, the MLB is not serious. pic.twitter.com/n1vzITBhZ7

— Jeff DeCola (@JeffDeCola) October 30, 2024

Lifetime ban and an assault charge for the POS Yankees fan here.pic.twitter.com/UJ672562RY

— Jeff (@BeastQuake) October 30, 2024