Mota’s Appeal to Be Heard Next Week

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The Dodger opening-day roster should become clearer after reliever Guillermo Mota’s appeal hearing next week.

Mota’s agent, Adam Katz, filed an appeal Friday with the union, hoping to reduce a five-game suspension and $1,500 fine the right-hander received for his role in a March 12 bench-clearing brawl with the New York Mets. Mota’s appeal is one of three union representatives will present Tuesday in Florida to Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer, whose rulings are expected before the season, major league officials said.

The appeal of Met All-Star catcher Mike Piazza, also suspended for five regular-season games and fined $3,000 for his actions after Mota hit him with a pitch, won’t be heard until after the season begins, enabling Piazza, as planned, to be in the opening-day lineup March 31 against the Chicago Cubs at Shea Stadium. Mota could have dragged out the process until after the Dodger season opener, but Katz and the club sought closure because the situation is complicating roster decisions.

“At least we’ll know what his status is for opening day in terms of length [of suspension], and that’s really an important thing as we formulate our roster,” General Manager Dan Evans said. “We’re a little bit more than a week out from finalizing things, and what happens to him, in terms of days, could affect some decisions.

“When you’ve got the answer to that question before you make your decisions, it makes it easier. This has taken some of the gray area out of the process for us. Hopefully, it will work out well.”

Manager Jim Tracy said he has contingency plans for the outcome of Mota’s appeal, but “the timing of this particular situation causes you to possibly make some decisions you might not have otherwise made.”

Outfielder Calvin Murray, utilitymen Jolbert Cabrera and Terry Shumpert and infielders Ron Coomer and Jason Romano are still fighting for the final two position-player spots with nine games remaining in Grapefruit League play.

The Dodgers had planned to carry 11 pitchers and would have to decide if they can commit 12 of 24 spots to pitchers.

Katz is optimistic.

“I’d say that if I didn’t have some level of confidence, I wouldn’t have filed the appeal,” he said. “Maybe we can get it reduced or eliminated altogether, so we do have some hope.”

As for Piazza, he had planned to file his appeal Monday, but moved forward when it became evident DuPuy would not be able to conduct his hearing until after opening day. Officials said it is unclear when Piazza and DuPuy will meet.

“I can’t say when it will happen for sure because Bob DuPuy is a very busy man,” said Bob Watson, baseball’s administrator in charge of on-field discipline. “And it’s not only Bob’s scheduled that has to be worked out.

“Remember, the union has a role in this too. They have to make it work with their schedule too.”