Sheffield Wants Clean Slate

While Gary Sheffield is glad his five-game suspension for his role in the May 16 Wrigley Field melee is history, the Dodger left fielder is still upset that he was slapped with the penalty in the first place. In fact, Sheffield is holding out hope that the suspension may be stricken from his record by major league baseball this off-season.

“Any time you didn’t do anything or you’re falsely accused, it stings,” said Sheffield, who dropped plans of an appeal when he was stricken with flu last week. “I’ll admit it--I read the papers. And when I saw that I was called a thug because I went in there [into the Wrigley stands during the brawl] . . . I’m no thug.”

Sheffield maintains that he was merely acting in a peacemaking role during the incident.

“I’m always the one that gets singled out,” he said.

*

Luke Prokopec had his bags in hand and was about to walk out the door and catch a flight from San Antonio to his native Australia earlier this week when his phone rang.

Prokopec, who was supposed to pitch for Australia in the Olympics, got the bittersweet call from the Dodgers that his contract from the double-A Missions had been purchased and that he’d be joining the parent club and, as a result, miss the Games.

“For sure, that’s the exact words I use to describe the situation--bittersweet,” Prokopec said. “You spend years trying to make it [to the big league level] but then I had to decide between that and a little bit of Olympic glory.

“If I had a couple years of experience under my belt and was settled in [on the big league roster] I would have just given up my last month’s salary to go home and play in Sydney. But it was a welcome surprise.”

*

Mike Fetters tweaked his back during Friday night’s 2-1 win over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and experienced similar tightness after playing catch before Saturday night’s game.

But the setup man, who was diagnosed with a strained muscle in the middle of his back, said he’d be ready to pitch if called on.

“It’s nothing serious that would keep me from doing my job,” Fetters said.

*

The third annual “Viva Los Dodgers” Latino Heritage Celebration, which will feature Dodger players, Latino recording artists and giveaways, will take place today in Lot 38 at Dodger Stadium from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free with the purchase of a ticket to tonight’s game.

TODAY

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK

(14-8, 3.60 ERA)

vs.

PHILLIES’ ROBERT PERSON

(7-4, 3.19 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 5 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2

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

* Update--Park, who is 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA in his last three starts, including a career-high 14 strikeouts in a one-hit performance at Milwaukee on Tuesday, was beaten by the Phillies, 3-2, on July 30 at Veterans Stadium. He is 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA in 11 career outings against the Phillies. Person was the winning pitcher in a 7-6 victory on May 27 at Dodger Stadium. In his career, he is 1-1 with a 4.58 ERA in three games.