BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Harnisch Suspended for Eight Games

New York pitcher Pete Harnisch was suspended for eight games and coach Steve Swisher was suspended for two for their parts in Saturday’s brawl between the Mets and the Chicago Cubs.

National League President Len Coleman also fined the pair and nine other players in the 16-minute brawl, with the fines ranging from $350 to $1,000. The players’ association appealed Harnisch’s suspension, and he will remain eligible to pay pending a hearing before Coleman.

Also fined were John Franco, Paul Byrd, Blas Minor and Todd Hundley of the Mets and Scott Servais, Turk Wendell, Scott Bullett, Leo Gomez and Terry Adams of the Cubs.

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Florida Marlin slugger Gary Sheffield, who helped provoke a bench-clearing confrontation Monday after being hit by a pitch from the St. Louis Cardinals’ Andy Benes, says that is to be expected against a club managed by Tony La Russa.

“It’s unfortunate his teams are always involved in brawls,” Sheffield said. “It happens for a reason. Everyone is aware he’s a beanball specialist.”

La Russa bristled when told of the comments, saying, “I suggest he check with any of the pitchers who ever pitched for me and find out what my philosophy is, and after that, he can just shut up.”