Talk of Suspension Hangs Over Glaus

The Angels are bracing for possible suspensions that could remove slugger Troy Glaus from the lineup for several games during the regular season.

Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman said Sunday that umpires filed a report to major league officials about two bench-clearing brawls--and six ejections--in Saturday’s game against the San Diego Padres.

Stoneman said he was uncertain if disciplinary action would be taken.

Chicago Cub pitcher Julian Tavarez was suspended for five regular-season games and San Francisco Giant infielder Russ Davis for three after a spring training brawl last year. Tavarez struck out Davis, then made a gesture that prompted him to charge the mound. Tavares karate-kicked the onrushing Davis.

The Padres’ Ryan Klesko charged the mound Saturday, after being hit by the Angels’ Aaron Sele. Klesko was ejected. Glaus later charged the mound after being hit by the Padres’ Bobby Jones. Glaus and Jones were ejected, along with the Padres’ Phil Nevin, the Angels’ Scott Spiezio and San Diego Manager Bruce Bochy.

If there are suspensions, Klesko stands to get the longest one, since he was ejected after the first fight and returned to the field--in street clothes--for the second.

Glaus, who hit 41 home runs last year and a club-record 47 two years ago, said he reacted out of instinct and had no time to consider whether his action might result in a suspension.

“If it does, it does,” Glaus said. “I can’t change it.”

Said Manager Mike Scioscia of possible suspensions: “You’ve got to be able to adjust to every situation. Hopefully, it won’t come to that. But it’s in the league’s hands.”

*

When major league owners promised not to lock players out of spring training, players did not respond with a no-strike pledge that could have ensured this season would be completed without interruption.

The players believe they need to retain the strike option as a last resort in case owners declare an impasse, a provision of labor law that allows management to unilaterally implement new work rules if a collective bargaining agreement cannot be reached. But owners believe the threat of impasse might be all that forces the players’ union to negotiate rather than stall in an effort to preserve the current system.

Commissioner Bud Selig, asked Sunday whether owners would rule out impasse as an option, twice declined to directly answer the question, but said, “We haven’t said anything about impasse.

“We’re playing another year with the same contract,” Selig said. “That isn’t a good thing for the clubs, obviously.”

In the absence of a new labor agreement, the one that expired last year remains in effect.

Selig said he felt “sadness” upon hearing players had discussed boycotting the All-Star Game--in Selig’s hometown of Milwaukee--if progress is not made in negotiations.

Union chief Donald Fehr said the union has not considered that option.

*

Angel split squads lost to the Oakland Athletics, 4-2, at Tempe and to the Chicago Cubs, 6-5, at Mesa. At Tempe, outfielder Jeff DaVanon, slowed by a strained hamstring, made his spring debut and joined Clay Bellinger and Jose Nieves in the battle for a bench job. Leadoff hitter David Eckstein, who had two hits, is batting .526 (10 for 19) and has scored nine runs in seven games. At Mesa, outfielder Orlando Palmeiro, who started the spring 0 for 15, had two hits.... Scioscia said outfielder Tim Salmon, hampered by back stiffness and a toe infection, should return today.