Jose Offerman PUNCHES UMPIRE: Punch Caught On VIDEO

Jose Offerman punched an umpire in the Dominican Republic today, a maneuver that may cap his 15-year Major League Baseball career. Offerman, who played for the Dodgers and Red Sox (as well as five other MLB teams) let his anger get the best of him during a squabble with an umpire. According to the AP, Offerman struck first base umpire Daniel Rayburn and was taken to a police station following the incident. Scroll down to see video of the punchy moment.

While Offerman is busy punching a baseball official in the Dominican Republic, other parts of the same island are enduring tremendous pain and suffering. Haiti is reeling from a devastating earthquake that has likely claimed tens of thousands of lives, at a minimum. Click HERE to find out how to help.

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Comments

[Balzac]

05:22 PM on 02/03/2010

A lifetime ban seems excessive. There was a lot of ambient stress when this incident went down. He should miss a season, and pay a fine, no more.

[callmecrazy831]

12:39 PM on 01/19/2010

That was definately a big whiff! Where is the punch? That looks like a Monday night football punter falling over with the intent to make it look as though he has been accosted by a nearby lineman...lol. He shouldn't have swung, but he certainly didnt make any contact with that swing.

[Weathermaker]

06:50 AM on 01/19/2010

That was not a punch. Intention? Maybe. Punch? No. Sorry.

[gthang91582]

10:34 PM on 01/18/2010

Looks like he whiffed to me. Looked like bad WWE

[eddiesengola]

01:19 PM on 01/18/2010

Actually the other guy touched Jose before he get punched. It even shows that Jose didn't want to really punch him.

A black man is punching a white man and that's the reason why I see many negatives about Jose on this thread.

[InfosolutionWiz]

04:38 PM on 01/18/2010

EXACTLY!!

[marley22]

05:34 PM on 01/18/2010

But of course! It has nothing to do with past history, like when he charged the mound SWINGING HIS BAT, hitting the pitcher and catcher.

The new PC rule is we have to look the other way when a 'person of color' athlete hits someone else. What a great country we've become. We must coddle 'minorities of choice' when they do what others would be ashamed of doing themselves.

[LeeCalif]

01:09 PM on 01/18/2010

If his career isn't over, it should be.

[a hernandez]

11:45 PM on 01/17/2010

Typcial...Al Campanis would never do something like that...

[the-lexicon]

10:52 PM on 01/17/2010

It's such a shame that there isn't a category in the Academy Awards that this fits into.

[Boston88]

10:16 PM on 01/17/2010

That looked like one of those Pro Wrestling punches, except Offerman never body slammed him after he fell down. Somethin' stinks here.

[Gasparilla]

07:38 AM on 01/18/2010

Yeah, your trying to excuse inexcusable behavior stinks.

[ramper]

09:18 PM on 01/17/2010

No! You have to make contact for it to be a punch. Not that he did not try to assault the guy so that will be all that is needed.

[valhalladad]

08:38 PM on 01/17/2010

Whiff! Swing and a miss! Even so, the fact that he swung on an umpire will (and should) be the end of his career.

[Michael Johns]

08:01 PM on 01/17/2010

The video clearly shows Jose Offerman did NOT punch Daniel Rayburn. Why the misleading title?

[futpilot]

08:03 PM on 01/17/2010

Did you watch the same video?

[Boston88]

10:20 PM on 01/17/2010

He never touched him, this is an act. Pretty pathetic one too considering their neighbors in Haiti.

[TheMuckraker]

08:16 PM on 01/18/2010

I didnt see any contact.... the umps head did not jerk on impact.
The speed of that swing would have knocked his block off.

Just the swing alone should be heavily penalized.
If he DID connect, ban him for life. Hes in the wrong business.

[realitytrumpsbull]

05:33 PM on 01/17/2010

Why aren't all the people in DP helping the people in Haiti, instead of playing baseball? Right next door...

[RBN]

10:07 PM on 01/17/2010

Maybe they don't want to get shot by the Haitians.

[ramper]

03:48 PM on 01/17/2010

I am still waiting to see a punch. I saw an attempt at a punch, and a dive, but no punch.

[coolguyinla]

08:57 PM on 01/17/2010

A punch is a punch whether he hit or missed up. Attempted robbery is still a crime.

[Jeff1958]

06:19 PM on 01/18/2010

So is attempted mur. der.

[georgiegirl]

03:46 PM on 01/17/2010

I watched it three times, and it looked like he missed.......he had to try hard NOT to land the punch!!!!