Andy,

I can't claim to have had the best vantage place in the Park, I was in the Left Field Bleachers (I did have a portable TV to watch the replays). I can tell you that when you are in a packed Yankee Stadium you can feel everything that is going on.

I can tell you that at the time of the incident, it was clear to everybody in the ballpark that Clemens wasn't throwing the bat AT Piazza (even the Mets Fans). You could just feel it was too relaxed. It was only afterwards that the idea began fermenting (helped by FOX).

If you watch the replay there are a few signs that this was not intentended to hit Piazza. First the bat goes quite a bit in front of Piazza. Second the bat was thrown to the ground. And Third if you watch Roger's eyes he is looking down, and only seems to see Piazza after releasing the bat. Also keep in mind that Roger did not issue a Base on Balls all game. This would have been his wildest throw the whole game.

I am not suggesting that he should have thrown the bat, all I am saying is that because he clearly did not intend to hit Piazza and he didn't hit Piazza his "crime" is minor . . . the equivalent of kicking over the water cooler. If any penalty is warranted it is a small fine.

If you have watched Rocket, you know that he gets very pumped up when he pitches. He is often seen punching the air. This really was just the equivalent of punching the air, except that unfortunately someone was nearby.

And as far as Yankee fans not critizing Yankees. It there was any chance of a lynching last night it was going to be Jeff Nelson's neck. Yankee fans were yelling at Nelson and Torre, Mets Fans pretty much justed chanted "Let's Go Mets", but than again that is probably there whole vocabulary.