Charlton Admits He Tried to Hit Scioscia : Dodgers: Reds’ reliever says he was angered that catcher was stealing signs and that he might throw at him again.

Norm Charlton has stunned and angered the Dodgers by admitting that he purposely hit catcher Mike Scioscia for stealing signs and that he intends to hurt him again the next time they meet.

The Cincinnati Red reliever hit Scioscia on the right arm with a pitch during the Dodgers’ 10-4 victory Monday night. Charlton later claimed it was a payback for Scioscia stealing signs from the catcher while on base.

The comments brought a reprimand from Manager Lou Piniella and angry criticism from Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda.

“He made a big mistake by saying that,” Lasorda said. “It’s a disgrace to baseball for a guy to make a statement like that.

“Who does he think he is? If he doesn’t like (Scioscia), why not just meet him one-on-one downtown somewhere and find out how tough he is?”

Piniella talked to Charlton privately after reading the reliever’s comments in the Cincinnati Post. Charlton, one of the Reds’ three Nasty Boys pitchers, said he tried to hurt Scioscia for stealing the catcher’s signs.

“I threw at him,” Charlton said. “I hit him on the arm, but I didn’t mean to hit him on the arm. He’ll be lucky if I don’t rip his head off the next time I’m pitching.”

It’s common practice for baserunners to try to steal a catcher’s signs and relay them to hitters. It’s also common for pitchers to discourage the practice by throwing inside when they think a batter’s getting help.

Piniella, who admits he stole signs as a player with the New York Yankees, wasn’t happy about Charlton’s comments.

“You can’t condone it,” Piniella said. “It’s just a foolish statement. I was more surprised than anybody when I saw it.

“I think people tend to learn from their mistakes. If I were a pitcher and I hit somebody for whatever reason, I think I’d have about eight reasons why I wasn’t throwing at somebody.”

Charlton declined to discuss his statements Tuesday before the teams concluded their two-game series.

“I’m not going to have any comment at all,” Charlton said.

Charlton and Scioscia were involved in one of the most celebrated home-plate collisions of 1990. Charlton ran through the third base coach’s stop sign and bowled Scioscia over to score a run last June at Riverfront Stadium.

The left-hander hit Scioscia in the sixth inning Monday night, but there was no indication it was on purpose. Reds pitchers walked 10 batters during the game, and Scioscia said he just thought a pitch got away.

He was surprised to learn it was on purpose, but declined to say much about it.

“It’s his problem, not mine,” said Scioscia, who wasn’t hurt. “That’s all I’ve got to say.”

Charlton’s statements were the talk of the Dodgers’ clubhouse, although players were guarded in their statements. Pitcher Tim Belcher said he was stunned to read Charlton’s admission and threat.

A spokesman for National League president Bill White said his office was looking into the matter.

Fellow Nasty Boy Rob Dibble has been suspended twice this season by White: for throwing behind Houston’s Eric Yelding and for hitting a grade school teacher in the stands with a throw. White gave him only a fine for throwing at a Chicago Cubs baserunner.