Suspension Hearings Set for June 20-22 in Houston

The commissioner’s office Tuesday scheduled hearings in the appeal process the Dodgers initiated in hopes of reducing the unprecedented penalties levied against them for fighting with fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

The hearings will take place June 20-22 in Houston while the Dodgers play the Astros in a three-game series at Enron Field. Paul Beeston, baseball’s chief operating officer, will conduct the hearings and rule on the suspensions and fines handed down by Frank Robinson, baseball’s vice president of on-field operations.

Beeston will hear arguments from the three coaches, 16 players and one on-field assistant suspended for a total of 89 games and fined $77,000 for their roles in the May 16 melee during a game against the Cubs. Beeston is expected to meet with the Dodgers in a conference room at the team hotel.

The commissioner’s office instructed the Dodgers not to comment on the hearings. Manager Davey Johnson spoke generally about the process finally moving forward.

“I think it’s important to not have this hanging over us for a long time,” Johnson said. “It’s good to address it, and address it properly, because there’s nothing worse than to have something to deal with and not knowing when it’s going to be dealt with.

“Hopefully, everyone will be able to have some legitimate input. Then we can have a ruling that brings proper closure to it.”

Although a timetable to complete the process has not been revealed, a baseball source said the commissioner’s office plans to announce Beeston’s rulings during the final week of June. However, ongoing discussions with the Major League Players Assn. and the Dodgers could further delay an announcement until July.

Union officials, handling the players’ appeals, had already asked the commissioner’s office to delay scheduling hearings because they needed more time to prepare. The Dodgers, handling the appeals of the coaches and on-field assistant, agreed that the process was moving too quickly with so much at stake for them.

Beeston had planned to travel to Los Angeles to handle the hearings at Dodger Stadium. However, the commissioner’s office determined that hearings should take place while the team was on a trip.

*

The Dodgers are encouraged by Orel Hershiser’s 7 2/3-inning outing Monday for Class-A San Bernardino.

The veteran right-hander said his pitching arm felt strong Tuesday after his longest outing of the season. Hershiser had pitched only 5 1/3 innings total since being bumped from the rotation April 20.

Hershiser has started twice for the Stampede and Johnson said he’s close to regaining his form after weeks of inactivity. Johnson wants Hershiser--who volunteered to give up his 25-man roster spot to ease the club’s roster problems--to be activated soon and rejoin the rotation.

Johnson also wants rookie right-hander Eric Gagne to remain in the five-man group. The club’s window to option left-hander Carlos Perez to the minor leagues is closing, so the club might make a major roster move soon if Hershiser continues to progress.

TODAY

DODGERS’

DARREN DREIFORT

(3-3, 4.87 ERA)

vs.

RANGERS’

RICK HELLING

(7-3, 3.45 ERA)

The Ballpark in Arlington, noon PDT.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Dreifort is struggling after a strong start. The right-hander was pounded and chased early in his previous two outings. He gave up 15 hits and 13 earned runs in only seven innings against the Philadelphia Phillies and Angels combined. Dreifort’s monthly earned-run average has increased from 2.67 in April, to 5.40 in May, to 15.75 in June. Helling has lost his last two starts. He’s 0-2 with a 4.80 ERA against the Dodgers.