NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : ‘Bill White Doesn’t Like Me,’ Dibble Says of Suspension, Fine

Cincinnati reliever Rob Dibble on Wednesday accused National League President Bill White of being biased against him after White gave the pitcher a three-game suspension for throwing at a hitter.

Houston shortstop Eric Yelding, who charged the mound last Thursday when Dibble’s pitch sailed a foot behind his back, was suspended one game for the incident.

“Bill White doesn’t like me very much,” said Dibble, who appealed the suspension and $1,000 fine. “He’s told me that before behind closed doors. He said my reputation precedes me.

“I’m not going to say I’m one of the nicer pitchers in the league, but I have this reputation of being a head-hunter and some god-awful guy. Look at the stats, I hit only one guy last year.

“To hear Art Howe, a major league manager, tell me I’m a head hunter, that’s ridiculous. He doesn’t know what side of the neck he’s talking out of. With the way they were throwing at people last year, he should be the last guy to call me a head hunter.

“Everybody keeps saying what a fair man (White) he is, but I haven’t seen it. It just gets worse and worse, while the other guys gets a slap on the wrist.”

Dibble also was a little baffled considering that Padre starter Bruce Hurst was not fined or suspended when he hit Giant outfielder Kevin Mitchell in the foot last week. Mitchell charged the mound and received a three-day suspension and $1,000 fine for the incident.

“That’s incredible, Bruce Hurst doesn’t get anything,” Dibble said. “Bruce is a nice guy, and I’m not a nice guy? It’s ridiculous.”

White, who was in town on business, surprised Dibble on Wednesday afternoon when he showed up at the Reds’ clubhouse. He talked briefly with Reds Manager Lou Piniella, then had a 15-minute meeting with Dibble and Norm Charlton, the Reds’ player representative.

White denied that he holds any ill will toward Dibble and said: “I’m not going to comment on what we said during the meeting, but I want to make it clear that you can’t throw at people anymore.”

Dibble will have his formal hearing with White in mid-June when the Reds travel to the New York. He hopes White will at least reduce the suspension, but will gladly pay the fine.

“I’ll keep paying the fines; that doesn’t bother me,” Dibble said. “I’ll do more card shows or this or that to raise the money. But being out three days, that really hurts the team.”

Piniella, joking about White’s stringent attempt to limit brawls now that he is National League president instead of a broadcaster: “When he was a commentator, he wanted a little controversy. Now he doesn’t need it, right?”

Dennis Rasmussen, recovering from tendinitis in his left shoulder, allowed two hits in three innings of a simulated game Wednesday and reported no discomfort. He’s scheduled to pitch one more simulated game before a rehabilitation assignment at triple-A Las Vegas.

“I thought he pitched great,” said Tom Lampkin, who was catching Rasmussen. “His fastball was really popping, and his curveball was sharp.”

Said Rasmussen: “I know I’m getting close. I think one more simulated game, and a couple of starts in Las Vegas, and I’ll be there. I know what I’m getting myself prepared for, and I can’t wait.”

Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said that when Rasmussen returns, it will be strictly as a starter, which leaves a bit of a dilemma. Eric Nolte is the Padres’ fifth starter, and he allowed only five hits in 6 2/3 innings in his first outing against the Dodgers.

So once Rasmussen returns, and with Atlee Hammaker still on the disabled list, who’s the odd man out?

“It’s a nice problem to have,” said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager. “It’s just like when I was with the Mets, people talked about all the problems we had because we have so much talent. I said, ‘What problem?’

“It’s the same way now.”

The Padres, who have an average salary of about $750,000, caught California Lotto fever like everyone else Wednesday and pooled their money to purchase 240 lottery tickets.

“Geez, can you imagine if we win it?” one Padre said. “We’ll never hear the end of it. (Fans) think we make so much money, anyway. They’ll be mad that we even entered.”

Former Padre pitcher Calvin Schiraldi signed a triple-A contract with the Houston Astros and reported to Las Vegas to join the Tucson Toros.

Schiraldi replaces Jim Corsi on Tucson’s roster. Corsi was called up to replace Mike Scott. Schiraldi also can thank Stars outfielder Thomas Howard for the opportunity. Howard stepped on Tucson pitcher Lee Tunnell’s right foot in Tuesday night’s game, leaving him with a severe gash that caused tendon damage.

Schiraldi will open the season in the bullpen.

Padre reliever Larry Andersen, who has two bulging discs between his sixth and seventh vertebrae, said Wednesday that his neck feels worse after pitching Tuesday night. Yet, he said, that he will continue to pitch through the pain. ... McIlvaine said he’ll keep a close watch on Andersen’s progress but does not consider his injury to be a severe risk. “A lot of it depends on the aptitude of the patient,” McIlvaine said, “and he’s been great. It’s just something you have to watch each day.” . . . Padre pitcher Andy Benes, when asked how he felt Wednesday after being allowed to throw 154 pitches in Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat: “I feel great. I told Greg I can throw two innings if they need me.”