Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Postmedia journalist Ken Pagan charged with mischief for allegedly throwing beer can at Rogers Centre

By Bill BaerOct 6, 2016, 8:35 PM EDT
27 Comments

In the seventh inning of Tuesday’s American League Wild Card game between the Blue Jays and Orioles, a fan threw a beer can at outfielder Hyun Soo Kim in an attempt to interfere with a fly ball catch attempt. It didn’t work, as Kim still caught Melvin Upton, Jr.’s fly ball for the final out of the inning, but the incident sparked immediate outrage.

In the aftermath, the Toronto Police sent out a picture identifying Postmedia journalist Ken Pagan as a suspect. Pagan denied being the can-thrower, as the Toronto Sun reported. Pagan said, “I was drinking out of a cup.” This Twitter photo seems to back that up. Of course, one can both drink out of a cup and a can so the image doesn’t necessarily exonerate him.

The Toronto Police have officially charged Pagan with mischief as announced in a news release on Thursday. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 24 at 11 AM EDT.

The Blue Jays apologized to the Orioles for the incident in a statement released on Wednesday.

Blake Snell becomes client of Boras Corporation

Blake Snell
Bob Levey/Getty Images
By Bill BaerMay 26, 2020, 6:55 PM EDT
3 Comments

Ken Rosenthal and Josh Tolentino of The Athletic report that Rays starter Blake Snell has switched agencies, going from Apex Baseball to Boras Corporation. Snell is currently signed to a five-year, $50 million contract and will be under contract through 2023.

Snell found himself in hot water two weeks ago when he said on his Twitch stream that he wouldn’t risk his life to play baseball during a pandemic while receiving significantly reduced pay. Some described Snell as tone deaf for saying, “I gotta get my money. I’m not playing unless I get mine, okay?”

Boras represents many of baseball’s highest-paid players, including Gerrit Cole and Bryce Harper. Snell is not likely to win over any of the people he recently irritated by appearing to go after more money by hiring the highest-profile agent. What often goes unsaid is that players have a very limited window in which to use their elite athletic skills to make money.

Snell won the 2018 AL Cy Young Award, going 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA and a 221/64 K/BB ratio over 180 2/3 innings. He did not have nearly the same success last year, going 6-8 with a 4.29 ERA and a 147/40 K/BB ratio in 107 innings.