Dodgers Get Suspensions for Brawl

National League President Leonard Coleman pounded the Dodgers on Friday with severe suspensions and fines stemming from Sunday’s bench-clearing brawl against the Seattle Mariners.

Team officials and players criticized Coleman for what they considered unfair disciplinary action against bullpen coach Rick Dempsey, catcher Todd Hundley and pitcher Jamie Arnold.

Dempsey was hit hardest, being suspended for 17 days. Hundley was suspended for three games and Arnold for five, though Arnold was not among the players ejected after the incident. Pitcher Pedro Borbon was ejected but did not receive disciplinary action.

“I think we got hit pretty hard,” said Manager Davey Johnson, who expressed his disappointment to Coleman during two phone conversations Friday. “I’m all for preventing outbreaks, but once they start, I’m not real keen on guys getting suspended because they are better marksmen.

“The guy who sucker-punched me [Mariner pitcher Damaso Marte] is the guy my guys went after. I’m not happy losing a catcher, I’m not happy losing a pitcher and I’m not happy losing a coach because they were basically retaliating for things done to me.”

Baseball sources said Hundley was fined $2,500, and Dempsey and Arnold were each fined $1,000. Four Mariners were suspended by American League President Gene Budig.

Pitcher Jose Paniagua and outfielder Jay Buhner were suspended for five and four games, respectively. Marte, who the Dodgers said took many “cheap shots,” was suspended for three games. First baseman David Segui, who challenged the entire Dodger dugout, received only a one-game suspension.

Dempsey and Hundley are scheduled to begin serving their suspensions today, and Arnold on Tuesday, or immediately after Hundley completes his suspension.

Johnson tiptoed around whether Dempsey, Hundley and Arnold will appeal the rulings, and General Manager Kevin Malone declined to discuss the situation with reporters at Edison Field.

But all three are expected to appeal.