ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Angels left fielder Jose Guillen was
suspended for the rest of the season Sunday for his outburst after being lifted for a pinch runner a day earlier.
Guillen was informed of the club's decision after batting
practice, when the Angels closed their clubhouse for 75 minutes.
Anaheim said he was being suspended without pay and the suspension
would continue into the postseason if the Angels qualify for the playoffs.
"He was obviously not happy with the decision," Anaheim
general manager Bill Stoneman said. "Unfortunately, this was not
the first time something has cropped up with Jose."
Guillen was hit by a pitch to open the eighth inning of
Saturday's 5-3 victory over Oakland. Angels manager Mike Scioscia
sent Alfredo Amezaga in to pinch run.
Guillen walked off the field as the A's changed pitchers, tossed
his helmet toward the side of the dugout Scioscia was standing in
and walked to the opposite side of the dugout before entering. He
tossed his glove against the wall.
Scioscia downplayed the incident, as did Guillen after the game. However, Scioscia said he didn't sleep Saturday night.
"We had to do something with Jose,"' he said. "This is about
the organization, not one guy. Bill wanted to be loud and clear
with the message. It was an issue getting in the way of winning."
Stoneman said the club advised the commissioner's office of
Guillen's punishment and send a fax to the players' association.
Stoneman said the decision was based on the team's opinion that
Guillen violated the conduct provision in the uniform player's contract.
Guillen's agent, Adam Katz, declined comment.
"It's certainly not conduct that we would expect," said
Stoneman, who reached the decision with Scioscia.
Scioscia wouldn't say whether Guillen was contrite when told of
his suspension.
"He understands the line he crossed," Scioscia said. "It was
needed. It wasn't just from yesterday."
Guillen will not be allowed to be with the team the rest of the
regular season, which ends next Sunday. Stoneman said the decision
was "very difficult" because the Angels are chasing
division-leading Oakland in the AL West.
"This is something we considered very carefully," he said.
Guillen, who signed a $6 million, two-year contract during the
offseason, went on a profanity-laced tirade after being beaned in a
game at Toronto in May, complaining that his teammates weren't
retaliating on his behalf. Anaheim pitcher Jarrod Washburn was
annoyed Guillen went public with his complaint.
"I can't answer right now, if this is going to affect his future
with the team," Stoneman added. "This is our decision and not
Major League Baseball's. Guillen violated rules in his
contract."
The Angels were aware of Guillen's past when they signed him in the offseason.
"He's been with other teams, so we knew his past," he added. "We
considered this thoroughly before making this decision, given
the timing of this incident. Yesterday's incident is what
really triggered this decision. This doesn't have any intent to
send a message, just a disciplinary action."
Adam Riggs started in place of Guillen.
Guillen had just three RBI this month after driving in 20 runs
in August. He hit .294 with 27 homers and a career-high 104 RBI in
148 games.
Catcher Bengie Molina and utility outfielder Jeff DaVanon
expressed surprise at the sanction.
"He's aggressive, he's a good teammate," Molina said. "I
would be more than glad to have him back."
Reliever Troy Percival said the team's focus has to remain on
the pennant race.
"It's not shock level because we don't have time for that," he
said. "If we start thinking about anything else than winning
ballgames, it's not going to help us at all."
Information from The Associated Press and SportsTicker was used in this report.