Mota’s Suspension Reduced by a Game

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The commissioner’s office acted quickly Tuesday, reducing the suspension of Dodger reliever Guillermo Mota by one game moments after his appeal hearing, enabling the club to move forward with difficult roster decisions.

Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer, said Mota will sit out four games as punishment for hitting New York Met catcher Mike Piazza with a pitch March 12, igniting a bench-clearing brawl between the clubs. DuPuy, who conducted the hearing at Dodgertown, upheld a $3,000 fine imposed by Bob Watson, the administrator in charge of on-field discipline.

DuPuy interviewed Mota and reviewed tapes of the incident and events that preceded an on-field altercation between the players at Dodgertown last spring. Piazza, also suspended five games and fined $1,500, will have his hearing with DuPuy after opening day.

Mota will sit out the opening three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark and the first game of a four-game series against the San Diego Padres at Qualcomm Stadium. The right-hander had hoped DuPuy would reduce his suspension by at least two games, but he’s eager to put the situation behind him.

“Every day, questions about [the incident],” said Mota, who is expected to play a key role in the bullpen. “Now, I’m just thinking about my job and helping my team.”

DuPuy did not return a phone message. Watson was reluctant to discuss the Mota decision until after DuPuy rules on Piazza’s appeal.

“I’m bound by a process, and part of the process is to complete the part that involves Piazza,” he said. “Mota can comment because it was his hearing, but I’m going to wait until after everything is decided before sharing my views.

“I had hoped that we could have had Piazza’s hearing [Tuesday], but that couldn’t be coordinated with the players’ association.”

The Dodgers have not determined their next move.

Manager Jim Tracy said he wants 11 pitchers on the roster because “it would be somewhat risky business to consider 10” with Kevin Brown and Darren Dreifort returning to the rotation after injuries. That would require the Dodgers to commit 12 roster spots to pitchers with Mota suspended, meaning they would carry just 13 position players -- retaining only one player from a productive group that includes infielder Ron Coomer, outfielder Calvin Murray and utilitymen Jolbert Cabrera and Terry Shumpert.

General Manager Dan Evans and Tracy have a good relationship, and Evans values the opinions of Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colborn. However, Evans also seeks input elsewhere.

He’s not especially concerned about going with 10 pitchers while Mota is inactive because Hideo Nomo, Odalis Perez and Brown are set to start the first three games against Arizona, and they’re “throwing well and there are no injury concerns.”

Evans said Kazuhisa Ishii will start the fourth game against San Diego, and Mota would be activated for the fifth game. Moreover, Evans believes the Dodgers wouldn’t be in a pitching bind at that point because Andy Ashby “gives us a lot of protection in the bullpen.”

Evans, who doesn’t make hasty decisions, has until 9 p.m. Saturday to submit the roster to the commissioner’s office.

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Brown traveled to Denver for a regularly scheduled checkup with the specialist who designed his rehabilitation and workout program. The right-hander is scheduled to rejoin the team Friday to start against the Angels at Dodger Stadium.... The Dodgers will provide a shuttle service for fans from Union Station to Dodger Stadium on opening day and Friday nights during the season.