Sausage race turns serious
Bucs’ Simon interrogated after striking runner
By Abe Winter and Adam McCalvy / MLB.com |
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MILWAUKEE — Pittsburgh first baseman Randall Simon was interrogated by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department after a strange incident in which he struck a participant in the popular sausage race during Wednesday’s game between the Brewers and Pirates.
The race, which takes place after the sixth inning, features runners wearing costumes of various sausages — bratwurst, hot dog, Polish and Italian. As the runners passed the Pittsburgh dugout, Simon hit the Italian sausage with his baseball bat, perhaps harder than anticipated.
The woman wearing the Italian costume (on the left in photo above) collided with the female runner in the hot dog costume. Both fell and were taken to a Miller Park first aid center for treatment.
“It was hard to see from the angle, but whether it was intentional or joking, the outrageous conduct remains,” said Rick Schlessinger, Brewers executive vice president/business operations. “I was shocked. I was sick to my stomach. It was a very distressing thing to happen.”
Officials from the sheriff’s department, which provides security at Brewers games, questioned Simon in the Pittsburgh clubhouse. The interrogation was later moved to another part of the stadium and, eventually, Simon was taken from the park.
“They were doing the sausage race. He hit her with the baseball bat,” said Deputy Inspector Sherry Warichak. “When he hit her, that other character fell.
“They both were treated at the scene for scraped knees, but at this point I don’t think they have any other complaints,” she said.
Simon drew boos from fans when he was used as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. He grounded out and that’s the only playing time he saw.
“It’s very strange — live and learn. Unfortunately, that’s what life is all about,” said teammate Reggie Sanders.
Sanders said he thought the weight of the head on the sausage costume, plus the strike with the bat, may have been harder than anticipated.
“It maybe made to look worse than it was,” Sanders said. “It was an unfortunate situation and, hopefully, it gets resolved.”
Manager Lloyd McClendon said he would wait to comment.
Dan Hart of the Pittsburgh media relations department said, “At this point in time, other than to say it’s in the hands of the authorities, we have no comment. Until we get more information, that’s all we have.”
“It’s difficult for me to put into words the anger that I feel and the sense of outrage. My concern, and the organization’s concern right now, is to make sure the girls who are the victims are OK.”
Okay…all I have to say is…what in the HELL was Simon thinking?? 
I mean, c’mon…what in the world would possess someone to do that? *shakes head*
~Maria 
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