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Easy Choice for Izturis: Family First

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Times Staff Writers

Team or family?

For Cesar Izturis, there was no question about it. He made it clear Friday upon returning to the Dodgers that there was no doubt in his mind he made the right decision in skipping the team’s four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix to stay with his wife, Liliana, and newborn daughter, Daniela.

His wife gave birth on Monday by caesarean section but didn’t come home from the hospital until Thursday.

“I got to take care of my family,” Izturis said. “I got no choice.”

Izturis made the same decision six years ago when his other child, Cesar Daniel, was born. That was in Izturis’ native country of Venezuela, where he was playing at the time. He rushed to the hospital but arrived too late to witness the birth of his son.

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He was determined not to make that mistake again.

Izturis said his wife remained at the hospital this time until her bleeding had sufficiently subsided, and he remained there as well, going home only for a change of clothes.

“If the team had been at home,” he said, “I would have played every day.”

Although Dodgers officials had given him permission to leave the team, he was expected back by Wednesday.

“I didn’t think it would be four days,” he said. “I was told by [Manager Grady Little], ‘We need you. She needs you. Do whatever you’ve got to do.’ Anybody who has a child understands why you want to be there. They only come along once in a great while.”

Although the Dodgers, who lost three of four against the Diamondbacks, were eager for Izturis to return, General Manager Ned Colletti said they understood his absence.

“He’s been a great teammate,” Colletti said. “He changed positions [from shortstop to third] when we asked him to, and [his wife] giving birth is a great milestone. It’s one of the great blessings a family can have.”

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Mariano Duncan proclaimed his innocence but served his punishment Friday for his hat-throwing incident in Arizona.

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Duncan was suspended two games and fined by Major League Baseball for his actions in the Dodgers’ 8-3 loss to the Diamondbacks on Monday, when he flung his hat toward umpire Angel Hernandez during an argument after Hernandez had ejected him for protesting a check-swing call.

“I feel like I didn’t do anything,” said Duncan, who had been in the dugout when he was kicked out. “And I just got punished.”

After hitting infield and hanging around the batting cage Friday, Duncan left the dugout as required and began his suspension. Bench coach Dave Jauss replaced him as first base coach.

Duncan’s ejection Monday followed a check swing by Arizona’s Chad Tracy. Umpires thought Duncan had voiced his displeasure with the call. Duncan insisted he had been silent in the dugout, and charged out to plead his case only after being tossed.

“I just tried to defend myself,” he said.

This week, Duncan spoke with Bob Watson, baseball’s head of discipline, hoping to appeal the case. He was reminded that coaches and managers aren’t allowed to appeal suspensions.

“I hate to tell you,” Little said, chuckling, “it doesn’t work. He did make some calls. We stated our case. And that’s all you can do as a coach.”

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Duncan’s suspension will end after tonight’s game against the Cardinals.

“As a coach I want to be on the field,” Duncan said. “I want to do the best I can for the ballclub. But I’ll do whatever I have to do.”

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