Camden Yards in Baltimore was the first of the new ballparks to bring fans closer to the action -- and thus closer to the field. For 99.5 percent of the fans, it was a great idea. But unfortunately, a small percentage of fans think they're part of the action.

Memories of unruly fans

Once, when I was playing with the Reds at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, fans were throwing batteries out of the upper deck onto the field. I remember telling officials that if they forced us to play and I got hit, I would sue the league. I didn't get hit, but I ended up playing second base with a helmet on. My teammates at first base and in right field also wore helmets (the batteries were coming from the first-base side). Another time, at Dodger Stadium, a fan threw a wine bottle from the upper deck toward Pete Rose in left field. Our manager, Sparky Anderson, pulled us off the field. Sparky said we wouldn't go back until the fan who threw the bottle was found and removed from the park. Other fans pointed out the perpetrator, and we resumed play. When any fan who loves the game witnesses such behavior, I believe it's his or her responsibility to point out the culprit. The only person I remember rushing the field when I played was Morganna the Kissing Bandit. Yes, she was the woman who would run onto the field at various ballparks and kiss unsuspecting players. I don't remember many other fans rushing the field. Occasionally, a fan would run on the field and slide into second base. But you weren't thinking about the potential for violence in those days. Sadly, that's changed. -- Joe Morgan

The most publicized problems in recent months have been in Chicago, but it also happens elsewhere. What sets the Chicago incidents apart is the aspect of violence. In most incidents, fans run around on the field until they're apprehended.

But at the former Comiskey Park last week, umpire Laz Diaz was attacked by a drunken fan. Last September, Kansas City Royals coach Tom Gamboa was assaulted there by a father-son duo.

This is partly a byproduct of moving fans closer to the field, though I still think it's a good idea to have fans close to the action. I've heard plenty of proposed solutions for the problem of unruly fans. Rangers outfielder Carl Everett may have provided the best deterrent when he said he would sue the fan who hit him with a cell phone.

It should be the same story if players attack fans. When some Dodger players went into the stands at Wrigley Field several years ago, they should have been sued. It's simple: The stands are for the fans and the field is for the players. Whoever violates that line should be punished and sued.

In most states, running onto the field is a misdemeanor, but we need stiffer penalties. Mandatory jail time is too harsh for someone who runs on the field. But if someone runs on the field and attacks anyone, there should be mandatory jail time. Major League Baseball and the law both need to get tougher on such clowns.

Alcohol has been cited as a key factor in the attack on Laz Diaz. Unfortunately, baseball can't control alcohol as much as we'd like. Fans can drink before they get to the ballpark. How do you stop that? Once at the park, a fan might need only two more beers to take him over the edge.

Some have proposed per-person quotas at the stadium, but fans would find ways to work around that -- such as getting a buddy who isn't drinking to buy more.

I'm not sure you can control excessive drinking, other than stopping the sale of alcohol after the sixth inning, which is common practice already.

The best way to improve security at ballparks is to post more guards at the edge of the field. You don't want a barrier up, as in hockey. This is baseball. More guards would be a deterrent.

Another overlooked factor is that people are so passionate about baseball. As a result, there's always the danger of fans running out on the field. Baseball brings out the passion in people like no other sport. You don't see this problem in basketball, where fans are much closer to the game.

I remember a quote from Bryant Gumbel: "All the other sports are just sports, but baseball is a love." That explains part of what we're seeing -- fans who care so much about the game that they sometimes lose perspective and cross the line of acceptable behavior.

Yanks' starters unblemished; same for Torre-Steinbrenner?
At 15-0, the Yankees starters' are off to a great start, to say the least -- which is a marked contrast to their performance in the American League Division Series last October.

Neither Roger Clemens nor Andy Pettitte nor Mike Mussina nor David Wells could stop the Angels in October (combined ERA in ALDS: 10.38).

	Torre

Wells is a tough competitor, and he continues to respond to the pressure he created with the controversial statements he made in his book. He pitched another gem on Monday, allowing one run in a complete-game win over the Twins. In four starts, Wells is 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA, 20 strikeouts and only one walk.

I expected the Yankees to pitch well to start the season, but not this well. Because of their collective age, though, we'll have to watch closely to see how they hold up as the season moves along. Joe Torre must manage his starters carefully so they have gas left in the tank for the playoffs.

Ironically, a pitching decision has caused some tension between Torre and owner George Steinbrenner. Torre wanted Jose Contreras sent to Triple-A Columbus, but Steinbrenner assigned the Cuban right-hander to the team's minor-league complex (in Tampa, Fla.).

What has always impressed me about Torre is that he's a stand-up guy. He's willing to call players into his office and look them in the eye and tell them what's going on, what he believes. When you're used to doing that, you don't like to be wrong when you tell a player something that turns out to be untrue. Torre felt that Steinbrenner's decision undercut what Torre had told Contreras previously. "Turns out, I'm the liar here," the manager said.

I respectfully disagree with Torre, though -- I don't believe you're a liar when you thought you were telling the truth. To me, a lie is an untruth told intentionally.

If Steinbrenner made the Contreras decision after the fact, I understand why Torre is upset. He prides himself on being open, honest and factual with his players. But let's be blunt: This isn't the first time that Steinbrenner has overruled a decision at Yankee Stadium that everyone else thought was etched in stone.

In terms of fallout, there could be some lingering issues between the two principals involved. Torre stands up for what he believes in, while Steinbrenner will stand by his right to make any decision he wants, because it's his team. But I don't see this affecting the team's play on the field much, if at all.

Baker getting most from his Cubs
I'm not surprised that the Chicago Cubs are in first place in the NL Central. The new guy on the block, Dusty Baker, is a very special manager. The manager's job is to get the most out of his players' abilities -- and he does that.

	Baker

And I expect Chicago to get better as the season goes along. Over time, Baker will have the opportunity to truly put his stamp on the Cubs.

Speaking of the Cubs, Sammy Sosa had a scary experience on Sunday when he as hit by a pitch on the helmet -- and part of the helmet's bill shattered. I've never seen that happen in all my days as a player and broadcaster. The Cubs ought to ask the helmet manufacturer to look into why this happened.

I'm not surprised to see more batters getting hit (on the head and elsewhere). The approach of most hitters today is to dive into the pitch, which makes it virtually impossible to avoid being hit.

I've always thought that the head was the easiest part of the body to get out of the way of an errant pitch. You used to see guys hit the deck as their helmets flew off their heads. But not anymore, because batters are striding in and then getting clipped by inside pitches.

An analyst for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan won back-to-back World Series with the Reds. He contributes a weekly column to ESPN.com.