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.
Rogers
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.
Rangers officials said they don't know if Rogers' appeal will be heard Thursday or Friday. However, no hearing date has been set, according to MLB and players' association officials Monday.
"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.
