BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Reds Mad About Fines: ‘They Started It!’

The Cincinnati Reds said they are infuriated that they received the stiffest penalties from a bench-clearing brawl the other team started.

National League President Bill White suspended Red pitcher Rob Dibble and outfielder Glenn Braggs for four games each for the June 24 fight with the Houston Astros. Both were blamed for “coming off the bench, inciting a brawl and prolonging fighting.”

Both players have appealed and are eligible to play until their appeal is heard, in August.

Houston coach Ed Ott, whose photo was taken under a pile of players with his arm around Dibble’s neck, was suspended for seven days and pitcher Pete Harnisch three days for their part in the fight, which started when Harnisch threw a pitch behind Reggie Sanders after Hal Morris had hit a three-run homer.

All four also were fined an unspecified amount of money.

‘I’m aghast. I really am,” Cincinnati Manager Lou Piniella said. “First of all, where did Houston get penalized? They lose a coach for seven days and a pitcher for three, and he (Harnisch) doesn’t even miss a start. I could see it if we instigated it, but they instigated it. It’s unbelievable that two of our players get suspended for four days. Something is wrong about that.”