Scioscia Seeking Justice
TEMPE, Ariz. — As major league officials opened their disciplinary investigation into Saturday’s twin brawls between the Angels and San Diego Padres, Angel Manager Mike Scioscia suggested a severe suspension would be in order for San Diego pitcher Bobby Jones.
Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman said he has fulfilled a request to provide video footage of the incidents to the office of Bob Watson, who handles discipline for Commissioner Bud Selig. Watson is scheduled to visit here Thursday on unrelated business.
Scioscia would not explicitly say who among the six ejected he believed should be suspended, but he left no doubt that he hoped officials come down hard on Jones, who triggered the second bench-clearing brawl by throwing an inside and high fastball to the Angels’ Troy Glaus.
“If they throw at someone’s head, they should step in and suspend the guy and make it a deterrent--not just a one-day or two-day thing--so there are consequences,†Scioscia said. “Then players wouldn’t have to take it into their own hands.â€
After the Angels’ Aaron Sele hit the Padres’ Ryan Klesko on the back, a plunking Klesko said Sele had previously vowed to deliver, Klesko charged the mound, and the first fight was on. In response, Jones threw a fastball high and tight to Glaus, who charged the mound, and the second fight was on.
Jones acknowledged trying to “protect my hitters†by throwing inside to Glaus in retaliation for Sele hitting Klesko.
“If you read the quotes, it was obvious there was intent on their part,†Scioscia said. “That’s what was disturbing.â€
Scioscia did not care for Jones’ explanation that the pitch was intended to be inside but not that high.
“The risk you run if you’re throwing at somebody is, you’re human, you miss by a foot and you run the risk of killing somebody,†Scioscia said.
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.
If Glaus and Scott Spiezio--the two Angels ejected--are suspended, the Angels hope the suspensions would not be enforced simultaneously, so that Spiezio could play third base during the games Glaus could not.
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Tim Salmon drove in four runs, three on a home run, in a 13-6 Cactus League victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Salmon is hitting .412 in 17 at-bats this spring, and his two home runs and 10 runs batted in already exceed his totals for last spring, which preceded the worst season of his career.
“It’s like night and day for me,†he said. “I wanted to feel the swing I’ve had in the past, and I’ve done that. This is a confidence booster.â€
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Second baseman Adam Kennedy went three for three and is hitting .600 in 15 at-bats.... Catcher Jorge Fabregas is expected to miss five to seven days with a badly bruised toe suffered on a foul tip. The Angels sent him for X-rays, which revealed no broken bones.... The Angels wouldn’t mind adding another left-hander to their bullpen. They’ll watch the waiver wire, but they’re not excited about available left-handers such as Pedro Borbon of Toronto and Mike Magnante of Oakland.... The Angels sent 14 players to minor league camp and put pitcher Steve Green, still rehabilitating from reconstructive elbow surgery, on the disabled list.
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