sheffield fielded th ball right there as the guy's hand was near sheffield's face.  his head did not move and his hat wasn't knocked off or even knocked askew.  IF there was contact it was a brush on the cheek or ear.  and it was a motion by the fan that began before sheffield's face was within reach.

and, under the circumstances, his reaction was unquestionably wrong.  first, that's just not the society we operate in.  you don't get to attack people that touch you in a non violent manner.  second, he's a professional athelete and he should act like a professional.  i have to believe that after the chair incident last year in oakland that every MLB player has gotten training on fan violence.  third, he knows that the stadium is FULL of security and that he is in absolutely no danger.  fourth, the fact that after he threw the ball to the infield (remember, he attacked while he still had the ball and runners were presently scoring) he went BACK and did a fake lunge at he guy and started yelling at him.  that says to me that he was pissed, not in fear of attack.  you don't get to attacke people because they piss you off.