Belcher Says Nationality Wasn’t Issue in Scuffle

To Tim Belcher, it was adding insult to injury.

The Angel pitcher emphatically denied Dodger right-hander Chan Ho Park’s insinuation on Tuesday that Belcher may have instigated the brawl between the two last Saturday because Park is Korean.

“That made no sense to me,” Belcher said after pitching the Angels to a 2-1 victory over the Giants at San Francisco Wednesday. “It’s not even worth addressing. What instigated it was a forearm to the face. It had nothing to do with him being Korean and me being American. It’s a non-issue.”

Park is serving a seven-game suspension for throwing a forearm at Belcher and trying a martial-arts kick after he felt Belcher had tagged him too hard on a sacrifice bunt.

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Outfielder Todd Hollandsworth won’t be back quite as soon as his manager had hoped.

Hollandsworth, who is suffering from a strained stomach muscle, is eligible to come off the disabled list Saturday.

Manager Davey Johnson, short of manpower in the outfield, wanted to use Hollandsworth as soon as possible, but the outfielder informed his manager Wednesday that he will need a few additional days.

“It would be reaching a bit,” Hollandsworth said of a Saturday return. “I’ll probably need a little bit longer. My strength is not all the way back where I can reach back and fire when I have to.”

Said Johnson, “We’ll take it day by day. But Tuesday is probably more realistic.”

While Hollandsworth’s return is on hold, Johnson figures it is realistic to expect outfielder Devon White back by the weekend. White has been sidelined since leaving in the third inning of Monday’s game against the Texas Rangers because of a groin pull.

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Faced with his first visit to an American League park as the Dodger manager this weekend when the Dodgers go to Oakland to face the Athletics, Johnson must decide on a designated hitter for the first time.

“Maybe we’ll call up the Triple Crown winner,” Johnson said with a smile.

Johnson was referring to outfielder Brent Cookson, who is having a torrid season for triple-A Albuquerque with 18 home runs, 48 RBIs and .333 average.

Of course, as has been proven time and again, from Greg Brock to Billy Ashley to Paul Konerko, big numbers at Albuquerque don’t necessarily mean a big career with the Dodgers.

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Texas third baseman Todd Zeile, born and raised in Southern California, says he misses days like Monday when his 5-year-old son, Garrett, came with his kindergarten class to Dodger Stadium to watch his dad in action.

Zeile’s wife, former Olympic gymnast Julianne McNamara, and their two kids have remained at their Westlake Village home until school is out, but will join Todd in Texas during the summer.

“It would be nice to live at home and take Garrett to school every day,” Zeile said. “I think about it. But I’ve landed on my feet. I’m in a very good situation with a team that has a chance to win.”

Zeile, who has played for 11 teams, major and minor, in 14 years, says his wife accepts the lifestyle.

“The sacrifices I make are minimal,” Zeile said, “compared to the sacrifices she made to win a gold medal. She moved away from her home when she was 12 years old, so she understands. It doesn’t make it any easier, but she has been every bit as supportive as anyone ever could be.”

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Three-year-old Rex Spjute of Meridian, Idaho, sung the national anthem, the youngest to ever do so at a major league stadium.