Campanis Is Hospitalized

Al Campanis, former Dodger general manager, was admitted to St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton for tests and observation.

The Dodgers did not disclose a reason for the hospitalization but they expect him to be released by the weekend.

Two years ago this month, Campanis, 80, suffered two minor strokes and was hospitalized for several days in Palm Springs.

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Veteran National League umpire Bruce Froemming ripped acting Commissioner Bud Selig and the two league presidents Tuesday.

“I see where Bud says that he’s worried about making a travesty of the game,” Froemming said of Selig’s reaction to the umpires’ recent announcement that they will stand for less arguing this season. “That was the first time in five months . . . that anybody would take any action at all, and it’s always when it comes to an umpire. And then to take appropriate action, enforcing the rule, and calling it a travesty. . . .

“Well, not to enforce the rules last September and October [in the wake of the Roberto Alomar spitting incident] was a travesty, in my opinion. . . .

“We begged . . . and pleaded all winter to get this resolved, and it’s just like a square dance--when it’s all over, you’re right back where you started.”

Dodger Manager Bill Russell, who talked to Froemming, informed his team in a meeting that they better adhere to the changes. No arguing. Don’t take longer than 20 seconds to throw a pitch. Don’t step out of the batter’s box.

“We’ll find out real quick how serious they are,” Russell said, “but there better be some players who start getting along better with umpires.”

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Center fielder Brett Butler is testing his stamina this week. He played Tuesday in the Dodgers’ 7-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, plans to play today against the Montreal Expos and again Thursday on the road against the Houston Astros.

“I’m feeling better than I thought I would,” said Butler, who sat out most of last season because of throat cancer. “This will be a good test. If I feel fatigued, then it might make me think that I’m not as far along as I think I am. If I come through it OK, that will be a real positive sign.”

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Russell will miss the Dodgers’ spring training games of March 14-15 to attend his daughter’s wedding. . . . .Ismael Valdes was rocked for eight hits and four earned runs in three innings against Baltimore. His fastball was clocked at 85-87 mph, about five mph slower than usual. Third baseman Todd Zeile, who has been sidelined because of lower back pain, played his first game of the spring and singled in his first at-bat against his former teammates.