Sheffield: 'I'm not going'
Jun 30, 2005
BALTIMORE (AP) - Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Kline was suspended for four games and New York Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield for two by the commissioner's office on Thursday.
Kline was ejected following a balk call Monday night in Baltimore, when he angrily protested the decision by plate umpire Marty Foster. Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli went on the field, standing between Foster and the charging Kline.
Kline immediately appealed the decision. Speaking in front of his locker Thursday, the left-hander said, "It's a joke. I've seen worse than what I did. ... Sheffield only gets two games and I get four for something I don't even know what I did yet? Go figure."
Sheffield was ejected after being called out at first base by umpire C.B. Bucknor in Sunday's game against the Mets at Yankee Stadium. Sheffield threw his helmet after he was called out, and replays showed he appeared to beat the throw.
"I think Bob Watson's decision was completely wrong," Yankees president Randy Levine said. "He totally missed the point that this whole incident was precipitated by a now-known erroneous call at first base and an overreaction by the umpire, who prematurely ejected Gary Sheffield.
"We applaud Sheffield for appealing this decision. We will assist him in every manner possible and look forward to demonstrating to the commissioner's office the outrageousness of this decision."
Bob Watson, baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, penalized the pair for "aggressive actions." He also fined Kline $3,000 and Sheffield $2,000.
"You wish that at the moment in time, it's the heat of the moment, that the umpires could just take a step back and turn their back and walk away," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "If that had took place ... there would be no issue we're talking about in terms of a suspension."
The players' association filed an appeal on behalf of both players, meaning the penalties will be delayed until after hearings and decisions.
Kline, who hoped to have his hearing delayed until after the All-Star break, said, "I guess I had to have contact because usually if you argue something, you just get thrown out. I'm guessing they're saying I bumped him or touched him."
Even if he loses the appeal, the suspension probably won't cost him much playing time since he is a situational reliever.
"Four games? That's two-thirds of an inning if I'm lucky and get somebody out," the left-hander said. "They're coming down hard on me a little bit, maybe because they're trying to make a point out of it or whatever."
