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Baseball briefs

By Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 29, 2000

Galarraga suspended, but appeals

NEW YORK -- Braves first baseman Andres Galarraga was suspended for three games and fined Monday for charging the mound and fighting after John Wasdin hit him with a pitch last week at Colorado.

Rockies manager Buddy Bell and Wasdin were suspended two games each and also fined by Frank Robinson, baseball's vice president of discipline.

Galarraga appealed the suspension and was available for Monday's home game against Cincinnati. Galarraga feels his actions were justified because Wasdin challenged him to fight.

"I had no choice," he said. "It's too many days for that. I'll have to appeal it and see what happens."

Wasdin also appealed and was available for Colorado's game at Philadelphia. Bell served his suspension and was replaced by bench coach Toby Harrah.

Robinson said Galarraga was suspended for "charging the mound, fighting and provoking a bench-clearing incident," while Wasdin was suspended for "instigating a fight, fighting and provoking a bench-clearing incident."

Bell was suspended for "multiple occurrences" this season of "prolonged and excessive arguing" and "delaying the game."

When players appeal, the suspension cannot start until after a hearing before Paul Beeston, baseball's chief operating officer.

CUBS: Jim Hendry, director of player development and scouting, was promoted to assistant general manager, a prelude to him becoming general manager. Cubs president Andy MacPhail took over as general manager after Ed Lynch resigned last month and has said he'll do both jobs through the end of the 2001 season. By promoting Hendry now, it will give him a year to observe and gain experience. "There's no set timetable. But being back doing this for a month, I don't want to do this for the rest of my life," MacPhail said. "I want to give him, or whoever it is, as good a chance to succeed. You don't just throw somebody into the deep end." John Stockstill was promoted to director of scouting and Oneri Fleita was appointed director of player development.

METS: Concerned about the health of reliever John Franco, the team purchased the contract of right-handed reliever Jerrod Riggan from Double-A Binghamton and optioned utilityman Joe McEwing to Triple-A Norfolk.

ORIOLES: Infielder Mike Kinkade was optioned to Triple-A Rochester and outfielder Eugene Kingsale was activated from the 60-day disabled list and assigned to Rochester. Kinkade, 28, was named to the U.S. Olympic team and will report to San Diego this week for workouts.

REDS: Pitcher Scott Williamson, bothered by a lower back strain, was placed on the 15-day disabled list. ... Catcher Benito Santiago "is not afraid to get down and dirty" in a former live-in girlfriend's lawsuit seeking $2.35-million in damages, his lawyer said Monday. "We think that basically this individual is jilted and scorned by the fact that Benito ended up with someone else who he's now having a baby with," lawyer Roy Oppenheim said of the suit, filed by Maria Lopez.

AWARDS: Angels outfielder Tim Salmon was named AL Player of the Week, and Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre won the award in the NL.

Players association extends labor agreement

NEW YORK -- Assuring baseball will have labor peace through next season, the players' association on Monday exercised its option to extend the sport's collective bargaining agreement through Oct. 31, 2001.

The union's move had long been expected, since players generally are happy with the deal, which went into effect in November 1996 and was reached only after a 232-day strike wiped out the 1994 World Series, the first cancellation of baseball's championship in 90 years.

Players had until Thursday to exercise the one-year option, a provision contained in the current labor contract, which originally covered 1996-2000.

By exercising the option, the union ensured baseball will have six straight years of no canceled games -- regular season or spring training -- for the first time since 1966-71.

"I am grateful and pleased with the players' association's decision," commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "Nobody understood the heartache and difficulty associated with the strike more than I did. Our relationship with the association is better than it has ever been, and I am hopeful that we can find a peaceful way to solve baseball's problems."

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