Managers Hit Hard by League

It was hard to tell who the Angels were more upset with Friday--Kansas City infielder Felix Martinez for his sucker punch during Tuesday night’s brawl or American League President Gene Budig for the suspensions he issued Friday afternoon.

Both managers, the Angels’ Terry Collins and the Royals’ Tony Muser, bore the brunt of the blame--and punishment--for the ugly, beanball- and fight-marred affair, receiving eight-game suspensions.

Martinez, whose punch to the face of Angel utility player Frank Bolick sparked the most intense exchanges in the second of two brawls, was suspended five games, and Angel pitcher Jack McDowell, who punched Martinez several times--despite an injured right elbow--was suspended four games.

Angel catcher Phil Nevin, who charged the mound after getting hit in the back with a pitch for the second time, received a three-game suspension, and relievers Rich DeLucia and Mike Holtz of the Angels and Jim Pittsley and Scott Service of the Royals were suspended two games for hitting batters after a warning.

Bolick and Angel outfielder Damon Mashore also received one-game suspensions for fighting. Coaches Rich Dauer and Jamie Quirk of the Royals and Joe Maddon of the Angels, as well as those receiving suspensions, were fined $500 to $1,000.

For those scoring at home, that’s 21 games worth of suspensions for the Angels and 17 for the Royals.

And for the Angels, who claim the Royals started the fight by throwing at Nevin twice and prolonged it with Martinez’s punch, that just didn’t add up.

“The fact that my suspension is even close to [Martinez’s] is ridiculous,” McDowell said. “It seems like every time Mr. Budig has to make a decision regarding baseball and the ethics of the game, as opposed to marketing or something, he makes the wrong decision. Every time.”

McDowell said if Budig wanted to set an example, he should have handed a stiffer penalty to Martinez, who punched Bolick just as tensions seemed to be subsiding during the ninth-inning brawl. Several Angels, including Gary DiSarcina, Ken Hill, Mashore and McDowell, attacked Martinez after the punch.

“The whole team went after that guy--I was the one lucky enough to get to him,” McDowell said. “There would not have been any suspensions had that kid not cheap-shotted one of our guys. I figured I’d get a suspension, but I would teach my kids to do the same thing. If one of your friends or teammates is cheap-shotted, they would have every right to do what I did.”

Collins was ejected in the eighth inning and was in the Angels’ Kauffman Stadium clubhouse when the second fight erupted in the ninth, but that didn’t sway Budig.

“The American League has a right to expect as much from its field managers,” Budig said in a prepared statement. “Managers are expected to be strong leaders and epitomize the highest degree of accountability on the field. . . . There was a clear breakdown in the leadership, and the managers must assume much of the responsibility.”

Said Collins: “It’s hard to stop fights from the clubhouse.”

Collins knew he would be suspended, “but I question the length of it,” he said. He’s scheduled to begin serving the suspension next Friday but has already informed the league office he will appeal.

Nevin, who was ordered by Collins to remain in the clubhouse during the second brawl, couldn’t understand why Collins was questioned.

“He was protecting me--that’s leadership,” he said. Nevin also wondered why Bolick was suspended. “He got one game,” Nevin said, “and all he did was take a punch.”

Nevin thought it was unfair that he received a three-game penalty and Pittsley, who hit him in the back of a neck with a pitch, got only two games.

“What about my side?” Nevin said. “How long do I have to take balls in my back that are obviously intentional? I don’t know if [Budig] knows, but getting hit doesn’t feel good.”

Nevin thinks the two Royal plunks were in retaliation for an incident in 1997, when, as a member of the Detroit Tigers, he knocked down a Royal catcher in a collision at the plate.

“I know who the order came from, and I will deal with that at a later date,” Nevin said. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Nor will the Angels forget Martinez, who was demoted to triple-A Omaha on Wednesday. “If Martinez ever does come back, he’s a marked man,” Nevin said, “and not just by us.”

Nevin is scheduled to begin his suspension next Friday, and the start dates for DeLucia (June 15) and Holtz and Mashore (June 18) were staggered. Like Collins, Nevin and DeLucia say they will appeal their suspensions.

Holtz said he would probably appeal, and Mashore and McDowell, who is on the disabled list, said they probably won’t appeal. Bolick was optioned to triple-A Vancouver on Wednesday.

* ANGELS WIN, 5-0 C7

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Fight Suspensions

Those suspended because of bench-clearing brawls during Angel-Kansas City game Tuesday. Managers and players will begin suspensions Friday. Only one player per team will sit out at a time:

ANGELS

Name: Games

Manager Terry Collins: 8

Jack McDowell*: 4

Phil Nevin: 3

Rich DeLucia: 2

Mike Holtz: 2

Frank Bolick**: 1

Damon Mashore: 1

*

ROYALS

Manager Tony Muser: 8

Felix Martinez**: 5

Jim Pittsley: 2

Scott Service: 2

* Disabled and will serve suspension when reinstated. ** Sent to minor leagues and will serve suspension when recalled.