Suspended Dodgers Take Their Case to League Today

By JASON REID

June 20, 2000 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

HOUSTON —

The Dodgers are finally getting their day in court.

After pleading their case publicly for a month, they go behind closed doors here today, hoping for an easing of the unprecedented penalty ordered by major league baseball after the club’s brawl with fans May 16 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

The Dodgers hope to persuade baseball officials to reduce the largest mass suspension and harshest penalties stemming from one altercation in baseball history. Twenty Dodgers, including three coaches and a nonroster bullpen catcher, were suspended for a total of 89 games and fined $77,000 for their roles in the melee that erupted in the bottom of the ninth inning of the team’s 6-5 victory over the Cubs.

A fan seated behind the uncovered visitors’ bullpen at Wrigley Field allegedly struck backup catcher Chad Kreuter on the head and took his cap. Kreuter went into the stands and his teammates and coaches followed, triggering fights that delayed play for nine minutes. Three fans were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

One fan, Ronald Camacho of Chicago, has filed a lawsuit against both teams and several players, Kreuter among them, claiming Kreuter choked him while other Dodgers pummeled him.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, the commissioner’s office had 10 days to rule on the suspensions and fines.

The clock started May 24 after Frank Robinson, baseball’s vice president of on-field operations, handed down the penalties and the Dodgers announced they would appeal. They stand to lose players for a total of 60 games, leaving the team short-handed at times because suspended players cannot be replaced.

The Major League Players Assn., handling the players’ appeal, said they needed more time to prepare. Dodger executives, handling the appeals of the coaches, agreed with the players’ association and the commissioner’s office cooperated.

The commissioner’s office determined that the hearings should take place while the team was on a trip. The Dodgers will begin a three-game series with the Astros here tonight at Enron Field.

Paul Beeston, baseball’s chief operating officer, will hear arguments today and Wednesday, then will rule after consulting with Commissioner Bud Selig and Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of baseball operations.

No timetable for Beeston’s ruling has not been announced, but baseball sources said a decision is expected within a week, once the hearing is over.

Players have not commented on the penalties, but Dodger officials continue to express their disappointment at the severity of the penalties and are optimistic that many suspensions will be reduced.

“This is definitely important to our season,” said Derrick Hall, Dodger senior vice president and one of the officials coordinating the club’s efforts in Houston. “I wouldn’t say that our season is riding on [the appeal process], but it could definitely have an impact on our competitive equality for an important portion of our schedule.

“And, as we’ve said before, this will not only have an effect on our pennant race, it will have an effect on many pennant races throughout baseball. When you’re trying to plan your upcoming schedule, it is difficult to plan ahead if you don’t know who’s going to be available, so we have to get this resolved. We’re hopeful that, in the final decision, there will be reductions.”

Beeston is scheduled to meet with the three coaches, Rick Dempsey, Glenn Hoffman and John Shelby, and bullpen catcher Travis Barbary today in a conference room near the team hotel. They will be represented by Dodger Chairman Bob Daly, President Bob Graziano and team counsel Sam Fernandez.

The 16 players will go before Beeston as a group Wednesday. A cadre of lawyers from the union is handling the players’ appeals with assistance from several of the players’ agents.

Beeston hopes to conclude the hearings Wednesday, but he’s prepared to hear arguments Thursday if necessary. Robinson also will be there.

The Dodgers and union plan to present Kreuter as a victim and the others as peacekeepers who followed Kreuter into the stands to protect him and restore order. Videotapes, still photographs and court records pertaining to some of the fans’ criminal backgrounds will make up the crux of that argument.

Players were recently briefed by Bob Lenaghan, the union’s assistant general counsel.

“The meeting was designed to update players and interested agents on the [union’s] strategy for the appeal,” said Jeff Moorad, who represents first baseman Eric Karros and right fielder Shawn Green, among the players penalized.

“At this point, I choose to remain optimistic that Paul Beeston and baseball see to it to dramatically lessen the fines and suspensions that have been handed down to date.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

SUSPENSIONS

Punishment issued May 24 by major league baseball to the Dodgers, stemming from May 16 incident with fans at Wrigley Field.

EIGHT GAMES

Chad Kreuter Backup catcher

Rick Dempsey Bullpen coach

Glenn Hoffman Third-base coach

John Shelby First-base coach

FIVE GAMES

Carlos Perez Starting pitcher

F.P. Santangelo Utility

Gary Sheffield Outfielder