Major League Baseball issues disciplinary measures against the Red Sox and Yankees, but comes down a bit harder on Boston.

08:34 AM EDT on Friday, July 30, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

AP photo New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, left, is pushed by Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, right, after Rodriguez was hit by a pitch from Red pitcher Bronson Arroyo in the third inning at Boston's Fenway Park, Saturday, July 24. Rodriguez and Varitek were ejected from the game.

MINNEAPOLIS -- While their on-field altercation with the New York Yankees last weekend may have sparked the Red Sox to a comeback victory and just maybe provided the impetus for a second-half turnaround, the Sox found yesterday that the incident was not without a price.

Major League Baseball issued disciplinary measures against both teams, but came down somehwat harder on the Sox.

Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez, the prime combatants in the bench-clearing brawl, each was suspended for four games and fined $2,000. MLB also suspended Yankee starter Tanyon Sturtze and Red Sox outfielders Trot Nixon and Gabe Kapler for three games apiece and fined each $1,000.

Additionally, three other players -- Curt Schilling and David Ortiz of the Red Sox and Kenny Lofton of the Yankees -- were fined $500 each.

The Red Sox offered no comment on the suspensions other than to say all three suspended players planned to appeal their punishment. The Yankees indicated their players, too,

would appeal their respective suspensions.

Privately, the Sox expected Varitek and Rodriguez would be suspended for the same number of games, since their confrontation along the first-base line after Rodriguez was hit on the elbow by a pitch from Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo triggered the melee.

As Rodriguez walked to first base, he shouted to Arroyo, only to be intercepted by Varitek, who placed himself between the Yankee third baseman and Arroyo to ensure that Rodriguez didn't charge the mound.

Soon, Varitek and Rodriguez engaged in their own war of words, culminating with a shove from Varitek and subsequent response from Rodriguez as the benches and bullpens emptied.

But Kapler's three-game suspension was the most surprising of all, since the Sox believe he was merely defending himself agasint Sturtze, who had placed Kapler in a choke-hold on the periphery of the main scrum surrounding Varitek and Rodriguez.

Nixon and Ortiz came rushing to Kapler's defense, and for a time the three Sox players tangled with Sturtze before Boston coaches separated the quartet.

The three-game suspension for Sturtz is rather toothless since, as a starting pitcher, the three games won't cause him to miss any time.

Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek

Nixon, currently on the disabled list with a quadriceps injury, can't serve his suspension until he's activated. That might not come for several weeks.

In the meantime, the Sox will eventually have to juggle the suspensions of three everyday players -- Varitek, Kapler and Ortiz, the latter of whom was given a five-game suspension for his actions in a separate incident stemming from a dispute with umpires in a July 17 game at Anaheim.

There was no word yesterday on the status of Ortiz' appeal of the suspension, which was heard Wednesday in Baltimore. The Sox would prefer that John McHale Jr., executive vice president of adminstration, wait until early next week to make his ruling. Once McHale issues a decision, Ortiz must begin serving the suspension -- reduced or otherwise -- and the Sox would rather he miss time against weaker teams such as Tampa Bay and Detroit instead of Minnesota, which occupies first place in the A.L. Central.

Also, the Devil Rays and Tigers have left-handed starters, meaning Ortiz' absence wouldn't be felt as much.

Suspensions

SUSPENDED FOR FOUR GAMES

Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

Jason Varitek, Red Sox

New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez

SUSPENDED FOR THREE GAMES

Gabe Kapler, Red Sox

Trot Nixon, Red Sox

Tanyon Sturtze, Yankees

FINED BUT NOT SUSPENDED

Kenny Lofton, Yankees

David Ortiz, Red Sox

Curt Schilling, Red Sox