ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers had another run-in with a cameraman Monday when he turned himself in on
misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an earlier tirade against two cameramen.
The three-time All-Star, who is appealing a 20-game suspension and $50,000 fine, was released after posting $1,500 bond.
Rogers jawed at a cameraman for Dallas-Fort Worth television
station WFAA as he was booked into the county jail. Just as with
the incident that led to the charges, the exchange was caught on tape.
WFAA reported on its Web site Monday that photographer Mike
Zukerman was videotaping the procedure when Rogers turned to him
and said, "You're getting really close; you know that? Do you hear me?"
A few seconds later, Rogers again turned to the camera, saying, "You must be pretty proud of yourself, too."
After Zukerman replied, "It's just my job, Kenny," Rogers responded: "Yeah. Your job. That's just your excuse."
Rogers was not available for comment before Monday's game
against the New York Yankees at Ameriquest Field. He is scheduled
to pitch Thursday at home against Oakland.
The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday that Rogers' appeal will be heard on Friday.
"We'll miss him in those three, four starts he'll miss,"
Rangers owner Tom Hicks said. "He's our best pitcher."
The Rangers lost three of four games in a weekend series at
Oakland, and Rogers (11-4, 2.54 ERA) was the winning pitcher in the
only victory. A circus pregame atmosphere returned to Ameriquest
Field with the arrival of the Yankees and news of Rogers turning
himself in.
"It's not a distraction as long as we can go out and do what we
do on the field," Rangers shortstop Michael Young said. "That's
what we do best, and [Rogers' situation] doesn't translate onto the
field."
Rogers, 40, faces a Class A misdemeanor charge of assault with
injury in the shoving of KDFW-TV cameraman Larry Rodriguez,
Arlington police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour said.
Police also will mail to Rogers' attorney a Class C misdemeanor
assault citation for the shoving of Fox Sports Net Southwest
cameraman David Mammeli, Gilfour said.
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail and
a fine of up to $4,000, or both. A Class C misdemeanor is
punishable by a fine of up to $500.
On June 29, Rogers lashed out at the cameramen as they taped him
walking to the field for pregame stretching. The episode led to
Rodriguez being treated at a hospital after the camera was ripped
from his hands and thrown to the ground.
Rogers apologized a week later, saying the incident was out of
character and would never happen again.
Gilfour said Fox Sports -- which owns the camera Rogers damaged
in the shoving of Rodriguez -- has declined to press criminal
charges.
Rogers was booed at last week's All-Star Game, but he said he
came because he wanted the players who voted for him to know he
appreciated it. He didn't want those votes to be wasted.
Before giving up six runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings at Los
Angeles on June 22, Rogers won nine straight decisions, a career
best, and was the AL ERA leader. It wasn't known until after he
pulled out of a start June 28 against the Angels that he had a
broken bone in his non-pitching hand by punching a water cooler 11
days earlier.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.