Mets GM Steve Phillips Stalked

[Wolf Hopper]

This is what you get when you're a GM who keeps throwing himself into the spotlight. There have been many bad GMs in the history of baseball. Few had stalkers. Maybe a nasty letter or two - but, this guy has taken it to the extreme. These things are no joke - remember the young girl from "My Sister Sam." Think Met owner Wilpon is factoring this into anything?

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0520/1556989.html

Brooklyn man was charged Tuesday with stalking New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips after a series of alleged tirades at Shea Stadium.

A judge ordered Matthew Barnes, 27, held without bail until the defendant can undergo a psychiatric exam.

Prosecutors said that since early January, Barnes repeatedly showed up outside offices at Shea, where he yelled, cursed and demanded to see Phillips. When asked to leave, he refused until removed by security, prosecutors added.

Barnes, who is unemployed, had no direct contact with Phillips "but acted in a way that caused (the general manager) to be fearful and concerned for his safety," Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said in a statement.

"That's what those people do," said Phillips, who referred all other questions to the district attorney.

If convicted of stalking, harassment and trespassing charges, Barnes could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

It was the second time this year Barnes was arrested for outbursts at Shea. A call to his lawyer was not immediately returned.

[pathogan]

...things show how small in the great scheme baseball is.sigh.sad,disturbing...

[RichG]

Originally posted by Wolf Hopper
This is what you get when you're a GM who keeps throwing himself into the spotlight. There have been many bad GMs in the history of baseball. Few had stalkers. Maybe a nasty letter or two - but, this guy has taken it to the extreme. These things are no joke - remember the young girl from "My Sister Sam." Think Met owner Wilpon is factoring this into anything?

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0520/1556989.html

So you're putting part of the stalker's reason for stalking on Phillips?

If it was a person you liked who was stalked would you still put partial blame on the person being stalked?

[Wolf Hopper]

Interesting point.

But, on the flip side, Brian Cashman is not being stalked.

So, I think, maybe the best way to go is - not to be hated, or loved - just do the job and keep a low profile.

[pathogan]

... I dont think he's being stalked because of his personality. he's being satlked because some guy has a head full of bad wiring.

[Craig S.]

Yeah, this one's on the stalker. I know Phillips is pretty visible, but I don't think that means he should be blamed.

If the Yanks had the Mets' record, then Cashman too would likely be watching his back. Sounds like someone taking the game way too seriously.

[Jim Rice]

Originally posted by Wolf Hopper
So, I think, maybe the best way to go is - not to be hated, or loved - just do the job and keep a low profile.

So, by that reasoning, all of these actors and actresses who are stalked are at least partly to blame because they have high-profile jobs? Does that include the actress who was shot to death by her stalker on her doorstep? Sorry, I just don't see where the victim of a stalker bears any of the blame unless they go public with a comment like, "Go ahead, stalk me. I dare ya."